PERKASIE (October 2022) – Penn Community Bank, the largest independent mutual bank in eastern Pennsylvania, is pledging $40,000 to United Way of Bucks County in support of the nonprofit’s HELP Center. The contribution will ensure that the Center can continue to meet growing needs in the community.
The HELP Center, a Healthy Eating and Living Partnership, provides essentials like cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, and home goods – completely free of charge – to local families who are struggling financially. Since opening in March 2020, it has evolved to meet residents’ changing needs.
“The HELP Center has quickly become an essential resource in Bucks County,” said Marissa Christie, President & CEO at United Way of Bucks County. “We serve folks with all sorts of needs – from working families just struggling to get by to survivors of natural disasters. Currently, we’re helping Ukrainian refugees who have arrived here with virtually nothing. None of this would be possible without the support of partners like Penn Community Bank.”
“Penn Community Bank is proud to continue its support of the HELP Center and United Way,” said Jeane M. Vidoni, President and CEO of Penn Community Bank. “As a values-driven organization that’s been a part of this region for 150 years, we know the power of working together and the positive impact collaboration can have on our communities. Whether its financial support or providing critical volunteers, Penn Community Bank is here to empower individuals, families, businesses, and entire neighborhoods.”
According to the nonprofit, HELP Center visits are increasing as families struggle to keep up with the cost of living amid growing inflation. The Center recently opened a food pantry, adding a new service to meet the demand. 97% of HELP Center guests who come to shop for household items also use this pantry.
Community members interested in learning more about the HELP Center, including volunteer opportunities, can visit www.uwbucks.org/helpcenter.
The HELP Center is a collaboration between three nonprofit agencies: United Way of Bucks County, Bucks County Opportunity Council, and St. Mary Medical. Penn Community Bank provides financial support for the project.
About United Way of Bucks County: Since 1952, UW Bucks has been improving lives in Bucks County by uniting donors, advocates, and volunteers around the common good. United Way programs focus on the building blocks for a good life: a quality education, a stable income, and good health. For more information, call 215.949.1660 or visit www.uwbucks.org.
About Penn Community Bank: Penn Community Bank holds more than $2.6 billion in assets, employs more than 300 people, and offers banking and lending services at 20+ bank financial centers and three administrative centers throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania. As an independent, mutual financial institution, Penn Community Bank is not publicly traded and operates with its long-term mission in mind: to help businesses grow and prosper, to provide financial resources to individuals and families throughout their lifetimes, to strengthen the local economy, and to partner with local organizations to act as a catalyst for positive growth in every market it serves.
