Pottstown Cluster celebrates 50 years

POTTSTOWN >> Pottstown has a rich history of dedication to community service.

No one knows this better than the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, who on Sunday, March 19, will be celebrating 50 years of that dedication.

“We wanted to celebrate the fact that we’ve partnered with the community for 50 years,” said Barbara Wilhelmy, executive director of the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities. “We have local representatives and dignitaries coming to honor the organization. We’ll honor board members and we also intend to help people understand what we see ourselves doing for the community for the next 50 years and talk to them about the plans for our new building at 61 N. Franklin St.”

The organization began in 1967 when local religious communities recognized that they could serve their community better as a group than through individual work.

“When they originally created the idea, they saw an opportunity to address issues like housing, emergency services and religious services and education. Over the years, they have touched on each one of those things but have really held on to the recognition that needs in the community was something they wanted to focus on,” said Wilhelmy.

Upon that realization, the cluster became incorporated in 1971 and started providing food, clothes and hot meals to those in need.

Additionally, the cluster created programs designed to transition people in temporary housing situations to more permanent living spaces.

In the mid-1980s, the group hired its first parttime employee after relying heavily on volunteers since it began.

It wasn’t until 2008 that the cluster hired its first full-time employee and now has 100 full-time staff members and eight part-time employees for its eight programs.

The expansion of hired employees is not the only aspect that has helped the cluster grow over 50 years. Wilhelmy said the group partners with several local businesses and organizations that have significantly helped to further their mission of helping the community.

“We have support from several local foundations and from across the area,” said Wilhelmy. “We’re fairly diversified in the support we receive.”

Businesses such as Vanguard, and organizations like the Knights of Columbus and the Rotary Club have helped The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities provide necessities to economically disadvantaged people in the Pottstown area.

The group is also a major partner with organizations like Philabundance, who assist them in providing food for pantries.

“Local grocery stores partner with us or through Philabundance to provide food. We are officially, as of 2016, a redistribution organization with them (Philabundance). We’re helping local pantries in the area who wouldn’t have access to food otherwise,” she said.

To celebrate 50 years of giving to the Pottstown community and beyond, the cluster and guests will be gathering at the Sunnybrook Ballroom on Sunday for a special dinner.

“Personally, this organization runs based on the dedication of hundreds of volunteers and community members that helped to sustain it throughout 50 years. Staff are dedicated and work hard but we recognize that without support from the community, we wouldn’t have gotten to 50 years,” said Wilhelmy.

“We have local representatives and dignitaries coming to honor the organization. We’ll honor board members and we also intend to help people understand what we see ourselves doing for the community for the next 50 years and talk to them about the plans for our new building at 61 N. Franklin St.” — Barbara Wilhelmy