In addition to various Meals on Wheels programs throughout the county, MCF supports the soup kitchen at St. John's Episcopal Church in Norristown. Here, organizer Grace Bean dishes out food and love…

The Montgomery County Foundation launched a countywide campaign to increase the amount of support for programs in Montgomery County for people who are homeless and hungry. The campaign which began in the fall of 2002 is far reaching and will continue year round as the difficulties of homelessness and hunger continue to escalate in our county. We urge you to become involved with us by reading more about the campaign and how you can help!

Who are the Homeless and Hungry people of Montgomery County?
What needs to be done to help the people of Montgomery County?
Why Montgomery County Foundation?
How you can help

Who are the Homeless and Hungry people of Montgomery County?

Shelter and Hope

"With the help of the people at these organizations and the love they share…my children and I have a life together again." - Stacey Pugh

The faces of people who are homeless are of both genders, of all ages, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. The majority of people who are homeless in Montgomery County are made up of:

• Women and children fleeing abusive domestic situations;
  
• Families suffering lay-offs or underemployment;
  
• "Hidden" homeless who are temporarily living with friends or family.
  

According to a manual count taken in 2003, there were nearly 753 homeless people staying in shelters in Montgomery County. Tough economic times and a growing population are putting a strain on the organizations working with people who are homeless. More than half of the homeless in Montgomery County are children. The loss of their home is often even more devastating for them because it means being cut off from school and friends.

A Hidden Hunger…

This homebound Ambler resident receives meals and a friendly visit from a volunteer with Meals on Wheels of The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County - made possible with funding from MCF

The level of poverty in Montgomery County is deceiving. Many individuals and families are facing hunger for the first time in their lives and do not know where to turn for help. Mothers often deny their own nutritional needs so that their children receive adequate food. The only way to reach these "hidden hungry" is through outreach programs that can identify those in need and provide compassionate assistance in a discreet way. The elderly in our community are often the hardest hit. Living on fixed incomes, they are faced with a myriad of difficult situations: Many living in apartments are facing huge rent increases. They must pay the price to stay in a neighborhood they know or move to a less desirable area; Many lower income seniors are caught in a predicament wherein they are just over the income cut-off for the Federal prescription plan, but can't afford to pay full price for their medications. They must buy additional insurance coverage or cut back in other ways; Many seniors in our community have never been faced with these kinds of hardship. They are unaware that programs exist to help them and are embarrassed to ask for help.

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What needs to be done to help the people of Montgomery County who are Homeless and Hungry?

• Increase the number of shelters and beds available;
  
• Provide counseling to strengthen job skills and self-esteem;
  
• Develop affordable housing for the transition from homelessness to self reliance;
• Provide homeless children with direct, individualized help to allow them some continuity while their family works to get back on track.

With your support, we can provide the additional resources for food programs already in place to allow them to identify those in need and compassionately provide assistance.

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Why Montgomery County Foundation?

In the summer of 2002, Montgomery County Foundation invited representatives from Montgomery County non-profit organizations who serve people in our county who are homeless and hungry to a meeting to discuss the possibility of a countywide campaign. More than 25 representatives from all areas of the county attended. They gave overwhelming support of the campaign and reported that there are growing populations of men, women and children needing help and a diminishing supply of funds available for programs. From this group, a task force was created who will determine the direction of the campaign and the distribution method of the funds collected through the campaign.

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How you can help

Volunteers from Emmanuel Lutheran Church paired up with Indian Valley Opportunity Center to conduct a holiday gift drive. MCF has long supported Indian Valley Opportunity Center's mission to provide basic needs such as shelter, food and clothing to Souderton-area residents.

Your gift to the Montgomery County Foundation will be pooled with other gifts and will have a much stronger impact on the community. Since we are a registered, IRS-approved nonprofit organization, your gift is tax deductible. We also offer you opportunities to make long-term gifts through estate planning. Your gift can be put to immediate use, while still providing tax advantages and, in some cases, income through our charitable gift annuity program.

A gift today to the Montgomery County Foundation is an investment in the strength of our community. Together we can make a difference. To make a gift or to learn more about the Fund for people of Montgomery County who are Homeless and Hungry, kindly complete the contact form located on this web page and a representative from the foundation will be in touch with you.

Thank You!