FOOD / CLOTHING NONPROFIT ASSISTANCE

6. Friend, Inc. Community Services

Berks County’s got a Friend in Friend, Inc. Founded in 1972, the organization boosts the fortunes of those who need it in the northeastern section of the county through food and pet pantries, a student pantry at Kutztown University, a mobile market and emergency food delivery. Friend also offers social services like rent/utility assistance, medical assistance and career guidance. Its annual Brake the Cycle bike ride fundraiser rides into its 14th year in August.

610.683.7790 | friendinc.org

7. Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank

Celebrating its 40 th anniversary this year, Helping Harvest provides 9+ million pounds of food to the more than 300 programs that feed those in need in Berks and Schuylkill counties, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, after-school programs and senior housing facilities. According to the organization, more than 110,000 people are nourished with food received from Helping Harvest every year helpingharvest.org

8. New Journey Community Outreach

Soon after New Journey United Methodist Church in Reading closed after merging with West Lawn United Methodist Church, New Journey Community Outreach was established in 2014 to continue its services and social outreach programs in the city. The nonprofit operates a daily soup kitchen, a weekly food pantry and a clothing center that distributes new and gently used items free of charge

610.375.2662 | njcoinc.org

9. Opportunity House

Since 1984, Opportunity House has been helping the homeless in Berks. Along with its emergency shelter, which serves hundreds of people and tens of thousands of meals each year, the nonprofit offers a childcare and learning center, and assistance for veterans. Held days before the NFL’s similarly named championship game, the Souper Bowl fundraiser features donated soup and bowls, drawing hundreds annually.

610.374.4696 | opphouse.org

10. Inperium

Based in Reading, Inperium is composed of an affiliation of nonprofits and for-profits providing health-related and other business services to organizations. Its “constellation” of organizations includes many in the area, such as Abraxas Youth & Family Services, Alvarium Personal Care, Community Prevention Partnership, the Children’s Home of Reading and Apis Services. 888.270.5753 | inperium.org

11. Apis Services

A star in Inperium’s constellation, Apis offers general and administrative services to member organizations, including digital marketing and advertising, information technology, human resources, recruitment and retention, insurance and risk management, and compliance and legal services.

833.467.6468 | apismgt.org