United Way of Bucks County’s HELP Center is celebrating its 5th anniversary, marking five years of providing brand-new essential items – completely free of charge – to local families in need. This milestone coincides with National Volunteer Month, making it the perfect time for community members and businesses to get involved.
The HELP Center (a Healthy Eating and Living Partnership) opened in 2020 as a collaboration between United Way of Bucks County, Bucks County Opportunity Council, and St. Mary Medical Center, with generous support from Penn Community Bank.
Since then, it has become a lifeline for thousands of Bucks County residents and over 120 community partners – including schools, faith-based groups, and nonprofits – by providing essential items like hygiene products, home goods, clothing, and food.
Many of the HELP Center’s shoppers are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), meaning they work but still struggle to afford the basics. Among these shoppers, 58% work in essential, front-line sectors like healthcare, education, and human services.
In 2024 alone, walk-in visits for emergency services like the emergency food pantry surged by 110%, with more than 6,700 visits.
Volunteers play a crucial role in the HELP Center’s efforts, sorting and stocking goods, assisting shoppers, and ensuring resources reach those who need them most.
“We are incredibly proud of how the HELP Center has grown over the past five years,” says Sheri Ratner, Impact Director for the HELP Center. “What started as a response to a clear need in our community has become a vital resource for thousands of Bucks County residents. But we can’t do it alone – volunteers and community partners make this work possible.”
The HELP Center invites the public to celebrate this milestone by getting involved:
- Volunteer: Individuals, businesses, and community groups can volunteer for a hands-on experience helping their neighbors.
- Host a Collection Drive: Gather essential items like hygiene products, household supplies, and non-perishable food to keep the HELP Center stocked.
- Attend an Open House: See the HELP Center in action and learn how you can make a difference. Join us on Tuesday, April 22 from 5–7 PM for a tour, or Saturday, April 26 from 12–2 PM for a tour and volunteer opportunity.
Julie Frantz, a Bucks County resident who has been volunteering since 2021, shares, “Volunteering at the HELP Center is a great way to assist and connect with the community. In uncertain times, it is important to be there for our neighbors who are struggling, and the HELP Center does so much.”
As the HELP Center celebrates this milestone, United Way of Bucks County urges the community to step up, get involved, and continue making a difference. To sign up to volunteer, host a collection, or learn more about the HELP Center, visit www.uwbucks.org/help-center.