Our Mission
Friend, Inc. Community Services is a social support organization that, for over 40 years, works tirelessly to reduce food insecurity and other household economic pressures on families throughout rural northeast Berks County.
Historical Evolution and Modern Expansion
Based in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, the history of Friend, Inc. reflects a journey of community resilience, adaptation, and expansion to meet the changing needs of the 50,000 residents of the Kutztown, Fleetwood, and Brandywine Heights school districts.
- 1972–1980 (Foundation & Closure): Founded for drug and alcohol counseling, the agency initially closed in 1980 due to funding shifts toward Reading.
- 1987–1988 (Reactivation & Pivot): Revived through local coalitions and a United Way grant, the organization shifted focus to basic needs, opening the Northeastern Berks Food Pantry in 1988.
- 2006–Present (Modern Growth): Adding professional social work in 2006 expanded operations into comprehensive case management. The agency introduced specialized outreach, including opening the Kutztown University Student Pantry in 2015, establishing mobile markets between 2021 and 2023, adding a Pet Pantry in 2020, and collaborating with the Brandywine Food Pantry in Topton in 2024.
The modern era of Friend, Inc. Community Services has been defined by a shift from simple crisis intervention to comprehensive, holistic care. A major part of this evolution has been the integration of on-site community partnerships, transforming the agency into a centralized “one-stop” human services hub for rural northeastern Berks County.
Recognizing that individuals experiencing food insecurity or financial crisis often face overlapping challenges, Friend, Inc. began inviting specialized regional organizations to operate out of their space. This model eliminates transit barriers for rural clients who would otherwise have to travel to Reading for critical care.
Key On-Site Partners & Services
- Safe Berks: To support individuals and families experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, Friend, Inc. hosts dedicated on-site advocacy services. Clients can access crisis intervention, safety planning, and legal advocacy in a private, confidential local setting.
- Maternal and Family Health Services (WIC): Friend, Inc. acts as a local site for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program. This partnership ensures that low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and infants have direct, on-site access to supplemental foods, nutrition education, and healthcare referrals.
- Family Guidance Center: Understanding that economic hardship heavily impacts mental wellness, the agency partnered with the Family Guidance Center to offer specialized, on-site family and individual counseling services, making mental health support accessible without the regional commute.
The New Permanent Location: A Launchpad for Future Growth
The initiation of Friend, Inc.’s milestone 2026 capital campaign, “A Home for Hope: Here to Stay,” explicitly centers on the expansion of this collaborative care model.
The acquisition of their first permanent facility was intentionally designed with extra square footage and dedicated office spaces to expand these co-located services. Moving forward, this permanent location will allow Friend, Inc. to recruit and house additional community-centered agencies—deepening their medical, legal, and behavioral health infrastructure and ensuring that rural Berks County residents can find complete, dignified support under one roof.
