About Outreach House
The Outreach House provides individuals and families assistance with food, clothing, personal care items and cleaning supplies. We rely on contributions from members of our parish and community. Donations of non-perishable food, personal care items, cleaning supplies and gently used clothing are welcome throughout the year.
Hours
The food pantry is open every 1st Tuesday and Saturday & every 3rd Tuesday and Saturday of the month.
- Tuesdays 9-11am and 6-8pm
- Saturdays 9-11am
Volunteer hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Please call or email for more details.
What We Do
Our program helps local families who are in need on a regularly scheduled basis throughout the year. Outreach House clients have an opportunity to individually select food, personal care items and cleaning products from our pantry shelves. Additionally, during shopping hours, time is provided to browse our clothing area to shop for needed items.
Clients without transportation are able to receive monthly deliveries. A typical box includes soup, beans, vegetables, fruit, pasta, tomato sauce, tuna, peanut butter, cereal and personal care items.
Please be aware that Outreach’s resources are certainly available for St. James’ parishioners and their families in need (INREACH). Contact the Rector if you would prefer confidential assistance.
Ways to Donate
Donate Items
Donate food, personal care items, baby items, cleaning products, and serviceable used clothing. Donations can be dropped off at any time in our gated drop-off area on the front porch. Please do not leave furniture, TVs, books, pillows or stuffed animals. To determine our need for specific large items, please call 610-489-3481.
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations will be used for purchase of food and outreach support.
Recycle
We participate in a recycling program that pays per pound for shoes and fabric items. If you have old shoes, towels, linens or clothing not suitable for reuse, please bag and attach a tag to indicate recycling. Please bag shoes separately…a requirement of the recycling company. Receipts from recycling are used to purchase food.
Ways to Volunteer
Organize a food drive
We rely on food contributions from members of the parish and local food drives held by various organizations/businesses throughout the year.
During the year we supplement our own supplies with those collected by:
- Elementary Schools
- High School groups
- Local churches
- Ursinus College groups
- Scout Pack 119 and Scout Troop 119
- Valley Forge Casino
- Spring Valley YMCA
- Community Club of Collegeville
If you would like to organize a food drive, please call us at 610-489-3481.
Volunteer your time
We have no paid staff. Volunteers pack and deliver food, sort clothing, organize and stock pantry shelves, assist clients, and provide office support. We are always in need of additional volunteers. Some volunteers spend 2-4 hours a week and others 2 hours per month to keep this valuable program operating. To offer your time, email or call the Outreach House at 610-489-3481.
Seasonal Assistance
Back to School Days
Children of our client families are able to select new backpacks and supplies (pencils, paper, notebooks, calculators, etc.) needed for the start of the new school year.
Mitten Tree
This program which matches donors with a child's wish list provides Christmas gifts to registered client children under the age of 17.
Christmas Shop
Clients shop in a Christmas themed area stocked with new or barely used items to fill their gift list needs for friends and family.
Why do we help?
That is what God wants us to do. We know and serve God by serving others. Even though our resources cannot meet all our clients’ needs, they have told us again and again how much our contributions are appreciated and that they do make a difference in their lives. Often what they need most is to know that people care, and we do!
