Boyertown Area Multi-Service offers referrals and direct assistance. The agency focuses on helping residents of the immediate region, and a number of assistance programs are administered by the non-profit and its various volunteers. They also collaborate with local organizations, such as Veterans Affairs and Berks County, to optimize their use of resources.
The Community Food Pantry provides food to low-income residents of the organization’s service area. This consists of the large Boyertown Area School District and the smaller townships of District, Pike, Hereford, Oley, and Amity. This program is run with the help of local churches, service organizations, businesses, schools, the Greater Berks Food Bank, and individuals.
If resources are available, food is available for anyone who does not have enough money to meet their families’ nutritional needs. If they meet the requirements, they can get help from this program. The food boxes that are given out usually contain bread and pastries, non-perishable items, meats, and eggs and produce items. The pantry also has various other items that you can’t buy with just SNAP food stamps. This includes things like toiletries, cleaning products, paper products, free diapers, and so on.
The Multi-Service Community Food Pantry has a different approach from other local organizations. Case managers from the center only meet with clients by appointment, which will help ensure their privacy and confidentiality. This also provides an opportunity for staff to recommend other public assistance or social services to help each household, such as food stamps.
If you are a senior citizen who is unable to leave your home, you can sign up for the Meals on Wheels program. This was created as a delivery program, and it is staffed by volunteer drivers who bring low cost, nutritious noon meals, and optional cold evening meals, to the home of those who order them. Most of the aid is for seniors who cannot go grocery shopping or prepare food for themselves because they are either homebound or disabled.
The organization will ask that participants provide a suggested anonymous donation of two dollars per meal, although this is not mandatory and no one is ever denied service due to inability to pay towards this food program. The Multi-Service food pantry prepares balanced and nutritious meals.
Meals on Wheels is also a healthy meal service. This means that a meal should consist of a vegetables, a source of protein such as meat, a starch such as potato or rice, fruit, bread, 1% milk, and a dessert. A cold evening meal typically includes a sandwich, a side, a dessert, and a drink. There may also be seasonal Christmas meals served. The senior center is a place where seniors can go to get help.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income families pay their utility bills. The program is offered in partnership with Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. This program can also help with obtaining heating fuels such as oil, coal, propane, kerosene, wood, or natural gas. The customer’s cash payments for utilities or fuel are paid directly to the utility company or fuel provider.
The Multi-Service WARM Program is a program that helps with heating bills. This option provides home energy conservation improvements, education, and information at no cost to help low-income clients reduce their electricity costs and save money on their bills. To apply, applicants must have an income that meets certain guidelines and use a minimum amount of energy each month. Some of the energy-efficient home improvements that may be available include inspecting the electric water heater, insulating the attic and walls, caulking, and installing energy-saving light bulbs.
The Pennsylvania Customer Assistance Program (PCAP) helps eligible residential customers in Boyertown pay their past-due bills. The goal is to help people keep their electricity running. Taking both energy usage and household income into account, PCAP may offer clients a monthly credit on their utility bills.
The Energy Fund can help with energy and heating bills for those who are struggling financially. This means that people who use it will not have their power source disconnected even if all other types of help have been used up.
The Volunteer Transportation service gives rides to people who can’t drive or who don’t have anyone who can drive them to an interview or medical appointment in Berks County. Non-profit approved dedicated and generous volunteers donate their vehicles and time to ensure that clients do not miss critical appointments.
Holiday assistance is available. Boyertown Area Multi-Service is helping children from local families who are struggling financially by providing Christmas and Thanksgiving meals. They want people to be able to celebrate these holidays despite their financial difficulties. The program may offer a free Holiday dinner or allow families to give gifts to their children at Christmas.
Spring St. The Boyertown Area Multi-Service is located at 200 W. Spring St. For more information, please call their office at 610-369-3050. The address is Spring Street in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. The programs are only available in a certain area, and residents can call 610-367-6957 to find out more.