Community Building
Open Hearth is really about one thing: changing lives for the better, through our effective programs, services and partnerships. Our Mission Statement includes our organization’s commitment to strengthening the fabric of our community through support of and participation in community building efforts that pertain to advocacy, housing, quality of life, financial stability, and empowerment.
In addition to hosting monthly Phoenixville Area Resource Network meetings, and being the home of the OHPACS Community Garden we are active participants in the following —
Open Hearth created and administers the Phoenixville Area Resource Network (PARN), a monthly drop-in meeting attended by local social service agencies and interested community members on the 4th Tuesday of every month. Presentations are provided on topics relevant to the nonprofit sector, while also serving as a community forum to share agency news and updates and a networking opportunity for over 100 agencies. Additionally, we also provide an email blast service for emergency issues and agency announcements between meetings to foster regular partnership among participating agencies.
PARN has been so well received it has been replicated in the Coatesville area as CARN (Coatesville Area Resource Network) and Delaware County as DARN (Delaware County Area Resource Network) using our model.
If you are interested in presenting at an upcoming PARN meeting, please contact Cory Lovera by phone (610) 792-9282 x212 or email [email protected]
Trellis for Tomorrow, Open Hearth Inc, and Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS) have partnered to create a sustainable, volunteer-powered community garden in Phoenixville. This garden grows fresh, organic produce that supports PACS’ food distribution program, helping provide healthier meals to local families.
Active from March through November, the garden is maintained by dedicated PACS volunteers. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a first-timer, all are welcome to join regular volunteer days to help grow food, strengthen community bonds, and support neighbors in need.
To get involved or learn more, contact [email protected]. For more information about our partner Trellis for Tomorrow, visit https://trellis4tomorrow.org/.
Open Hearth is proud to be a partner organization of the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness. The Partnership is a community-based collaborative that strives to end homelessness in Chester County by actively promoting access to safe housing without discriminatory prerequisites or conditions. We’re working together with our partner agencies to leverage resources, provide rental assistance, support the development of affordable housing, and connect individuals to housing via our coordinated entry system.
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness is committed to ending and preventing homelessness in Chester County. The Partnership is open to and inclusive of community-based organizations, nonprofits, local governments, faith communities, landlords, developers, foundations, volunteers, people with lived experience of homelessness, and concerned citizens.
The Partnership is a Continuum of Care (CoC) program that provides guidance, advocacy, and community resources to support Chester County’s homeless crisis response system—led by the Chester County Department of Community Development and powered by a network of nonprofit service providers.
Due to rising housing costs and a lack of affordable housing stock in the region, the Phoenixville Council on Affordable Housing was created to promote housing affordability, stability, and accessibility for people who live and work in Greater Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
The Council has the following three strategic goals:
- Educate policymakers and the public about affordable housing problems and solutions,
- Mobilize community support for more affordable housing, and
- Advocate for more affordable housing resources.
The Phoenixville Hospital Community Benefit Committee (CBC) is a committee of the board of trustees. It assists the board in overseeing the organization’s responsibility to the communities it serves.
The primary objectives are to regularly assess the Hospital’s community benefit in relation to identified community needs and to communicate the extent of that benefit both internally and externally.
The ideal composition will represent a cross-section of the diverse communities Phoenixville Hospital serves including, but not limited to, the elderly, youth, and vulnerable/underserved populations.