Berks and Schuylkill County Salvation Army assistance programs.
The Salvation Army offers several types of assistance throughout the region, including to families in Berks County as well as nearby Schuylkill Pennsylvania. Thousands of struggling and unemployed families turn to the non-profit every month. They can provide assistance in a crisis and the programs operate year round. Basic needs such as food, shelter, and some limited cash assistance is offered.
Fuel, utility and heating bill assistance may be available, mostly during the cold wintertime months in Pennsylvania. Another related service is counseling, which really involves a Salvation Army case worker helping someone apply for government programs such as LIHEAP. Financial assistance may be offered for paying utility bills for low income and working poor households in Berks that have received a shut-off notice from their energy company.
Food banks and pantries are available, often in partnership with local churches and even organizations like Catholic Charities. These sites, along with regional soup kitchens, can offer free meals, groceries, and canned goods to anyone or family in need. The hungry in the community can receive fresh food. Other items available include perishable fruits or vegetables, frozen foods, canned goods, and surplus government commodities.
Job transition classes, counseling, resume assistance, and other related programs are offered. Case managers will provide access to free computers and career advice from counselors. Learn about which employers may have open positions in the Schuylkill County or Berks region. In a crisis, a voucher may be provided to pay for gasoline or clothes for work. Or a volunteer may drive someone to an interview as a last resort.
Other basic needs such as clothing and school supplies can be distributed from thrift stores and clothing banks. The regional Salvation Army thrift stores sell household items and gently used (or new) clothing at greatly reduced prices. The centers are even open to the public, so anyone can “shop” there.
Another resource offered by the Salvation Army is free clothing vouchers for families or maybe single adults that are coping with natural disasters or some other type of financial need. These vouchers or gift certificates for household items are available to families and individuals across local towns and cities in Schuylkill and Berks Pennsylvania. An appointment is necessary with a case manager to request vouchers.
Any type of financial aid provided is usually do to some other circumstance that the applicant is facing. So the Salvation Army will more than often require the client to go through and attend workshops and case management. So receive assistance and advice, referrals, budget counseling, debt reduction and other types of emotional support. Also use the employment services (per above) to find a new, or maybe better paying job. The non-profit wants to ensure people have a path to self-sufficiency before any funds are paid out to an applicant.
Additional feeding assistance programs can include snacks for students. They may be offered during a school break or the long summer months. Senior citizens may also receive home delivered meals, including on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Other people from the community may get help in applying for resources such as food stamps as well. Additional resources include After-School Meals for Children, a Backpack Feeding Program for Children, and Holiday Meal and Gift Baskets.
Holiday programs are wide ranging and extensive. They include toys for children, free holiday dinners, Angel Tree and the Adopt-a-Family program. They rely on generous people to donate time, resources, and energy to the cause. People can actively participate in order to make someone's holiday better. Please do donate gift and clothing items to the Salvation Army, and they will share them with children and families in need.
Apply to Salvation Army in Berks and Schuylkill County
There are three main centers in the region. The sites are at.
- 301 S 5th St., Reading, PA, call (610) 373-5208
- 105 W Broad St., Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, phone (570) 668-0410
- 206 N Centre St., Pottsville, PA. Call this Salvation Army location at (570) 628-3552.
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