Alvernia's SOLAR (Support, Opportunity, Love, Access, and Resources) defines a campus culture of care designed to organize services and opportunities that ensure you have the resources you need to succeed during your academic journey and beyond. Here are additional resources available in the surrounding community.

In This Section

SOLAR

 

 

 

211/Find Help

Get Help - PA 211


Description: Find emergency shelters, housing/utility assistance, healthcare, food assistance, mental health services, community resources and more closest to your ZIP code.
Web:

Findhelp.org

 
Description: Search and connect to social care. Find resources for food, housing and more.
Web:

 

 

 

Advocacy and Referral

The Arc Alliance Advocacy Services


Address: 3075 Ridge Pike, Eaglesville, PA
Phone: 610-265-4700
Web:

Area Agency on Aging


Address: 633 Court St., Eighth Floor, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-478-6500
Web:

Berks Aid Network


Address: 429 Walnut St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-6523
Web: 

Berks Children and Youth Services


Address: 633 Court St., 11th Floor, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-478-6700
Web: 

Centro Hispano Hispanic Center


Address: 501 Washington St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-685-1265
Web:

Council on Chemical Abuse


Address: 50 N. Fifth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-376-8669
Web: 

Disability Rights Network of PA


Address: 301 Chestnut St., Suite 300, Harrisburg, PA
Phone: 717-236-8110
Web: 

Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance


Address: 1234 Penn Ave., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-775-3000
Web:

Keystone Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services


Address: 1290 Broadcasting Road, Suite 1, Wyomissing, PA
Phone: 610-685-4523
Web: kdhhs.net

Treatment Access Services Center (TASC)


Address: 19 N. Sixth St., Suite 300, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-4426
Web:

 

 

 

Child Care Assistance/WIC

COMPASS Child Care Provider Search 


Description: Search for child care providers that accept daycare assistance.
Website:

Early Learning Resource Centers


Description: Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) are the hub of child care information in your area. ELRCs provide you and your family with information on quality child care and personalized child care referrals to child care providers based on your specific needs or preferences.
Website:

Lifeline of Berks County


Address: 612 Reading Ave., West Reading, PA
Phone: 610-685-4523
Web:

Pennsylvania WIC


Description: The Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides nutrition services, breastfeeding support, health care and social service referrals, and healthy foods.
Website:

 

 

 

Clothing

Catholic Charities


Address: 400 Washington St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-376-7144
Web: catholiccharitiesad.org

Clothing Programs in Philadelphia


Web: .

Clothing Programs in Pottsville


Web:

Goodwill


Address: 602 E. Lancaster Ave., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-777-5250
Web: yourgoodwill.org

Hope Rescue Mission Thrift Store


Address: 745 N. Sixth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-4224
Web:

New Journey Community Outreach Inc.


Address: 138 S Sixth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-2662
Web:

Our Closet in Your Neighborhood - Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia


Phone: 866-532-7669
Web:

Spring Valley Church of God


Address: 2727 Old Pricetown Road, Temple, PA
Phone: 610-929-7969
Web:

 

 

 

Community Action Programs

Berks Community Action Program


Web:

Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity - Philadelphia


Web:

Schuylkill Community Action


Web:

 

 

 

Crisis Support

988 Lifeline


Description: 988 is a national suicide and crisis lifeline.
Phone: 988
Web:

American Foundation For Suicide Prevention Support Groups

 
Description: AFSP lists U.S. and international suicide bereavement support groups as a public service to loss survivors.
Web:

Crisis Text Line


Description: Free confidential 24/7 support at your fingertips.
Phone: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor
Web:

Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual disability services


Description: DBHIDS operates a 24-hour call center to assist people and their families with behavioral health crises.
Phone: 215-686-4420
Web:

Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems


Description: Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems provides a comprehensive range of services and supports for people with mental health, substance abuse, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and co-occurring disorders.
Web:

Mental Health America Warmline


Description: A warmline is a phone number you call to have a conversation with someone who can provide support during hard times. Warmlines are staffed by trained peers who have been through their own mental health struggles and know what it鈥檚 like to need help.
Web:

Penn Medicine - 媚娘直播 Medical and Counseling Center


Address: 421 Adams St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-568-1467
Web: alvernia.edu/current-students/medical-and-counseling-center

Schuylkill County Crisis Intervention


Description: Crisis Intervention provides mental health intervention, assessment, support, screening, and referral services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone: 877-993-4357
Text: 63288
Web:

 

 

 

Domestic Violence

National Domestic Violence Hotline


Phone: 1-800-799-7233 
Web:

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence

 

鈥 Web:

Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline

 

Web:

Safe Berks


Address: 255 Chestnut St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-373-1206
Web:

Schuylkill Hope Center for Victims of Domestic Violence in Pottsville


Phone: 570-622-6220
Web:

 

 

 

Drop-In Centers

Dimplez4days Programs - Philadelphia Nonprofit


Description: This safe haven after-school environment aims to provide a haven for Philadelphia children and youth, providing a nurturing environment, building positive relations between residents and decreasing violence in the community between 3 and 8 p.m.
Phone: 267-325-5138
Web:

U-Turn (Family Promise of Berks County)



Description: This program offers case management and drop-in center facilities on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m. to unaccompanied/homeless youth in Berks County. It is designed to help individuals achieve educational, employment and housing stabilization goals.
Address: 325 N. Fifth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-373-3323
Web:

Mary鈥檚 Shelter Drop-In Center Residential Program




Description: Available after school for youth from ages 14-21 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Features a laundry room, gym equipment, recreational activities, a full kitchen and a computer lab for school/job/recreational activities.
Address: 615 Kenhorst Blvd., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-376-1973
Web:

 

 

 

Employment Assistance

Berks Community Action Program


Address: 645 Penn St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-376-6571
Web:

Berkshire Personnel Network


Address: 1015 Rockland St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-288-1448
Web:

Community Skills Program Counseling and Rehabilitation


Address: 1150 Berkshire Blvd # 210, Wyomissing, PA
Phone: 610-276-3380

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation


Address: 3602 Kutztown Road, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-621-5800

PA Careerlink of Berks County


Address: 1920 Kutztown Road, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-988-1300
Web:

PeopleShare Pottsville 


Description: Temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire staffing
Web:

Philly Temps & Perm


Description: Administrative and event staffing agency serving Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs.
Web: 

 

 

 

Food Assistance

Find Food Assistance in Berks County


Description: A comprehensive directory of food pantries.
Web:

Food Map - Helping Harvest


Address: 117 Morgan Drive, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-926-5802
Web:

Food Resources for Philadelphians

 

Web:

Food Resources for Schuylkill County


Web:

Berks County WIC


Address: 1110C Rockland Road, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-373-5545
Web:

Berks Encore


Address: 40 N. Ninth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-374-3195
Web:

Birdsboro Nazarene Church


Address: 715 E. Third St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-582-4700
Web:

City Reach Church's Faith


Address: 1011A Cotton St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-621-5227

Conrad Weiser Food Pantry


Address: 108 S. Robeson St., Robesonia, PA
Phone: 610-393-8313
Web:

Exeter Bible Fellowship Church


Address: 926 Philadelphia Terrace, Birdsboro, PA
Phone: 610-582-4191
Web:

Faith United Evangelical Lutheran Church


Address: 357 Walnut St., Denver, PA
Phone: 717-336-2141
Web:

Friend, Inc.


Address: 658D Noble St., Kutztown, PA
Phone: 610-683-7790
Web:

Hope Rescue Mission


Address: 645 North Sixth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-4224
Web:

Kennedy House


Address: 532 Spruce St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-378-1947

New Journey Community Outreach


Address: 138 S. Sixth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-2662
Web:

Salvation Army Of Reading


Address: 301 S. Fifth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-373-5208
Web: salvationarmyreading.org

Spring Valley Church of God


Address: 2727 Old Pricetown Road, Temple, PA
Phone: 610-929-7969
Web:

Trinity U.C.C. In His Name


Address: 2449 Cumberland Ave., Mount Penn, PA
Phone: 484-509-0706
Web:

We Agape You


Address: 30 Village Center Drive, Reading, PA
Phone: 484-240-9036
Web:

West Berks Mission District


Address: Many locations
Phone: 610-375-8303
Web:

 

 

 

Government Assistance

State 




Federal 



Local




 

 

 

Health and Wellness

Community Prevention Partnership of Berks County


Address: 200 Penn St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-376-6988
Web:

Service Access and Management Inc.


Address: 19 N. Sixth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-236-0530
Web:

Street Medicine 鈥 Be Well Berks


Description: Tower Health Medical Groups鈥 Street Medicine Program offers primary and preventative care to the unsheltered homeless, shelter residents, and anyone who is at high risk of experiencing homelessness.
Web:

 

 

 

Hotlines and Emergency Contacts

Alcoholics Anonymous


Address: 210 S. Fifth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-373-6500
Web:

Council on Chemical Abuse


Address: 50 N. Fifth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-376-8669
Web: 

Holcomb Crisis Intervention of Berks County


Address: 19 N. Sixth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-379-2007

LifeLine of Berks County


Address: 612 Reading Ave., West Reading, PA
Phone: 610-374-8545
Web: 

Narcotics Anonymous


Phone: 610-374-5944
Web: 

Poison Center


Phone: 800-222-1222
Web: 

Safe Berks


Address: 255 Chestnut St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-373-1206
Web:

ruOK? Berks


Phone: 610-236-0530, local; 877-238-4600, toll-free
Web:

 

 

 

Housing/Utility Assistance

Berks Coalition to End Homelessness


Address: 600 Penn St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-372-7222
Brochure:
Web:

Berks County Redevelopment Authority


Address: 400 E. Wyomissing Ave., Suite 2, Mohnton, PA
Phone: 484-987-2524
Web:

Bridge of Hope Berks County


Address: 309 W. Franklin St., Womelsdorf, PA
Phone: 610-568-1250
Web:

Catholic Charities


Address: 234 Grace St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-435-0814
Web:

City of Reading Rental & Utilities Assistance


Address: 815 Washington St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-655-6141
Web:

Hope Rescue Mission


Address: 645 N. Sixth St, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-4224
Web:

Mary's Shelter


Address: 615 Kenhorst Blvd., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-376-1973
Web:

Neighborhood Housing Services


Address: 213 N. Fifth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-372-8433
Web:

Opportunity House


Address: 430 N. Second St., Suite 1, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-374-4696
Web:

Philadelphia Resources





Pottsville Resources




Salvation Army of Boyertown


Address: 409 S. Reading Ave., Boyertown, PA
Phone: 610-367-4089
Web:

YMCA of Reading


Address: 631 Washington St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-378-4700
Web:

Find Utility Assistance In Your Area




 

 

 

Identification

Department of Health Division of Vital Records


Phone: 724-656-3100; 844-228-3516, toll-free
Web:

PennDOT Drivers License Center


Address: 600 E. Lancaster Ave., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-775-7728
Web:

 

 

 

Immigration and Legal Aid

Aldea 鈥 The People鈥檚 Justice Center


Description: The concept of Aldea (鈥淰illage鈥) is a community living together and caring for each other鈥檚 needs. In that spirit, the mission of Aldea is to provide a holistic approach to meeting the multi-faceted needs of our immigrant community members, including through legal services and access to social, educational and health-related services.
Web:

Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP)


Description: The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) sees a future where the United States welcomes individuals fleeing violence. We work alongside our members to make this vision a reality.
Web:

Church World Service Lancaster 


Description: Church World Service Lancaster welcomes refugees, immigrants, asylum-seekers and other uprooted people within the United States who are seeking safety and the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
Web:

Diaspora Law - Immigration Lawyers


Description: Diaspora Law is a U.S. Immigration Law firm that specializes in family immigration, business immigration and deportation defense.
Web:

Immigration and Citizenship Resources


Web:

National Immigration Legal Services Directory


Web:

Office of Immigrant Affairs - Philadelphia


Phone: 215-686-0876
Web:

Pro Bono Legal Service Providers


Web:

Resources For Immigrants And Refugees - Philadelphia


Web:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office Locator


Web:

 

 

 

Legal

Berks County Bar Association


Address: 544-546 Court St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-4591
Web:

MidPenn Legal Services


Address: 501 Washington St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-376-8556
Web:

Philadelphia Legal Assistance




Safe Berks


Address: 255 Chestnut St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-373-1206
Web:

 

 

 

Libraries

Berks County Public Libraries


Web: 

Free Library of Philadelphia 


Web: 

Pottsville Free Public Library


Web: 

State Library of Pennsylvania


Web: 

 

 

 

 

Mental Health Services

Mental Health/Intellectual Disability Services




Substance Use Disorder




 

 

 

Resource Guides

Berks County


Philadelphia



Schuylkill County

 

 

 

Self-Help and Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous


Address: 210 S. Fifth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-373-6500
Web:

Alzheimer's Disease Association


Address: 237 Court St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-4990
Web:

Brain Injury Support Group


Address: 2802 Papermill Road, Classroom #2, Wyomissing, PA; group meetings on third Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m.
Phone: 484-628-2721
Web:

Breast Cancer Support Service


Address: 529 Reading Ave. Suite C, West Reading, PA
Phone: 610-478-1447
Web:

Cardiac Care Support Group


Address: Reading Hospital TG195 conference room; meetings on second Tuesdays at 4 p.m.
Phone: 610-478-1447
Web:

Children's Alopecia Project


Address: 906 Penn Ave., West Reading, PA
Phone: 610-468-1011
Web:

The Circle of Friends


Address: 227 N. Fifth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-478-1984

Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance


Address: 1234 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, PA
Phone: 610-775-3000
Web:

Man-To-Man Prostate Cancer Support Group


Address: Meetings are on the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m., 498 Bellevue Ave., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-775-3000
Web:

NAMI of Berks County


Address: 640 Walnut St., Second Floor, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-685-3000
Web:

Narcotics Anonymous


Address: Meetings on Mondays at 8 p.m., St. James Church, 644 Penn Ave., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-374-5944
Web:

Parkinson's Support Group


Address: Meetings on second Mondays at 3:30 p.m., Tower Health Medical Group Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation - Wyomissing, 2802 Paper Mill Road, Reading, PA
Phone: 484-628-4357
Web:

Transformative Solutions Network


Address: 2395 Lancaster Pike, Reading, PA
Phone: 484-926-5804
Web:

 

 

 

Temporary Employment Agencies

AEROTEK-Reading


Address: 999 Berkshire Blvd., Suite 180, Wyomissing, PA
Phone: 610-750-8360
Web:

ATWork Personnel Services


Address: 945 Berkshire Blvd, Suite 100, Wyomissing, PA
Phone: 610-927-5221
Web:

Champion Personnel


Address: 2045 Centre Ave., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-927-5221
Web:

Ever Staff LLC


Address: 103 Lancaster Ave., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-374-5678
Web:

Gage Personnel


Address: 101 N. Seventh Ave., West Reading, PA
Phone: 610-670-1771
Web:

Mack Employment


Address: 2834 Shillington Road, Sinking Spring, PA
Phone: 610-670-2464
Web:

Manpower, Inc.


Address: 3564 Penn Ave., Suite 102, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-678-1701
Web:

People Ready


Address: 722 Cherry St., Suite 2, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-372-5575
Web:

PeopleShare Reading


Address: 2 Meridian Blvd., Suite 220, Wyomissing, PA
Phone: 610-372-2727
Web:

The Performance Group


Address: 824 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, PA
Phone: 610-378-7818
Web:

 

 

 

Transportation

BARTA


Address: 1700 N. 11th St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-921-0601
Web:

Grab-A-Cab


Address: 5A Antietam Road, Temple, PA
Phone: 610-478-1111
Web:

La Mexicana Express Taxi Service


Address: 534 Minor St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-375-3333

Reading Metro Taxi


Address: 615 Elm St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-374-5111
Web:

Schuylkill Transportation System 鈥 Pottsville 


Address: 300 S. Centre St., Pottsville, PA
Phone: 570-429-2701
Web:

SEPTA - Philadelphia


Address: 1234 Market St., Philadelphia, PA
Web:

 

 

 

Utilities

Berks County Assistance Office


Address: 625 Cherry St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-736-4228
Web:

Boyertown Area Multiservice Inc.


Address: 200 West Spring St., Boyertown, PA
Phone: 610-367-6957
Web:

Catholic Charities


Address: 234 Grace St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-435-0814
Web:

City of Reading


Address: 815 Washington St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-655-6141
Web:

FirstEnergy


Phone: 800-545-7741
Web:

Friend, Inc.


Address: 658D Noble Road, Kutztown, PA
Phone: 610-658-7790
Web:

PPL


Address: 827 Hausman Road, Allentown, PA
Phone: 800-342-5775
Web:

Salvation Army of Hamburg


Address: 700 South Fourth St., Suite B, Hamburg, PA
Phone: 800-342-5775
Web:

Salvation Army Of Reading


Address: 301 S. Fifth St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-373-5208
Web: salvationarmyreading.org

UGI


Address: 1 UGI Drive, Denver, PA
Phone: 800-844-9276
Web:

 

 

 

Veterans Resources

Berks County VA Clinic


Address: 2762 Century Blvd., Wyomissing, PA
Phone: 484-220-2572
Web:

Berks County Veterans Affairs


Address: 726 Cherry St., Reading, PA
Phone: 610-378-5601
Web:

PA CareerLink


Address: 1920 Kutztown Road, Reading, PA
Phone: 610-988-1300
Web:

Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs


Phone: 855-260-3274
Web:

Veterans Multi-Service Center


Web: