Family Promise of Berks County volunteers gave us plenty to celebrate this fall. They assembled furniture, delivered food, and brought warm meals to our shelter homes.
We want to thank them and share what that help looks like up close.
Day of Caring Volunteers Get an Apartment Ready
On September 16, volunteers came out for a Day of Caring and assembled furniture for an apartment we are preparing for youth arriving next year.
[Need source: confirm the Reading Berks Association of Realtors’ role, then credit them here or delete this line.]
Chef David’s Pizza & More stepped in to serve delicious pizza to the crew. Thank you, Chef David!
Two Years of Weekly Food Deliveries
For the past two years, Carol Brown of Pennside Presbyterian Church has helped with our weekly food orders. Carol picks them up, brings them to our office, helps divide everything among our three shelter homes, and delivers the food to each home.
“Carol truly believes in our mission, and it shows in the way she serves,” said Jill Glose, Executive Director of Family Promise of Berks County. “She is dependable, determined, strong, and always willing to help wherever she is needed.”
Thank you, Carol, for showing up week after week.
Churches Bring a Warm Meal Every Monday
Our Monday Ministry Meal and church partners bring a warm meal to families in our shelter homes every Monday. They also support families working toward stability through donations and many other acts of service.
We are grateful for this faith-driven network of care:
- Living Faith
- St. John Evangelical Lutheran Mohnton
- St. John’s-Sinking Spring
- St. Thomas-Bernville
Two Families Find Permanent Housing
Two families in our Hospitality Network program found permanent housing stability. Both shared their gratitude with us.
“My experience with FP was very great! No complaints at all about them. fp went above and beyond to make me & my family feel welcomed and help us get where we are today. I’m very thankful for the opportunities that came along with them & I pray everyone who encounters them feel the same way!” said Xavanna.
“Our experience was above and beyond what we expected!” Sha-Asia told us.
“I was so worried about what my children would go through during this tough time. In those 90 days my children saw normalcy, kindness, hospitality, compassion, and most of all, safety! Family Promise was a huge blessing to our family in one of our hardest times.”
A Social Work Student Learns Alongside Our Team
Gabriela “Gabby” Zabala, a social work student at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, gained hands-on experience with case management, documentation, and connecting individuals and families with community resources during her internship with us.
“This experience has helped me better understand the challenges families face when experiencing housing insecurity and the importance of providing support, advocacy, and resources to help them work toward stability,” Gabby said.
She also told us, “I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from the Family Promise team and be a part of an organization that makes a wonderful difference in the community.”
Join Family Promise of Berks County Volunteers
You can be part of this work too. Visit our volunteer opportunities page to learn more and sign up.
Thank you to the families, volunteers, churches, donors, staff, and community partners who help Family Promise support housing stability. Together, we keep the promise.
