Get Help Guide to Berks County Resources From United Way
United Way of Berks County keeps a Get Help page that gathers the main Berks County contacts and practical steps for people whose money is short, covering food, housing and utilities, child care, phone and internet, SNAP, prescriptions, jobs and mental health. It is written for individuals and families who may be facing financial challenges as they navigate the current economy. The page sets no eligibility rules of its own.
The guide starts by asking you to take a snapshot of your monthly expenses and income: what essential bills are due in the next two weeks, whether you have income or savings to work with, and what benefits or resources you can apply for right now. When money is tight, it says to focus on the essentials for survival and safety.
For food, it points to food pantries, meal sites and school meal programs, and lists Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank at 610-926-5802 for information, plus PA 211 for up-to-date locations and hours.
For housing and utilities, it advises contacting your landlord or mortgage lender early, since they may be able to open payment plans, and applying for LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, as soon as it reopens. If you fall behind, call the company and ask whether they offer hardship assistance or payment plans and whether you can defer a payment or reduce your minimum. Keep records of notices, bills and any assistance you apply for, which may help later for housing court, rental assistance or reapplying for benefits.
If you rely on child care for work or school, the guide says to talk with your provider, and if subsidies you receive are not currently available, ask about bridge support or sliding scale options. For phone and internet, which the guide calls critical for work, school and accessing help, ask your provider about hardship or low-income programs.
If your SNAP benefits have stopped or are late, the guide lists three steps: log into your Compass account to make sure your case was not closed due to missing paperwork or recertification; call the PA DHS Helpline at 1-877-395-8930, or 1-215-560-7226 for Philadelphia; and use alternative food support by calling 211 for the nearest food pantries and meal sites or going to Helping Harvest.
For medicine costs, the page describes SingleCare, a no-cost prescription savings discount card that provides up to 80% off medication products at major pharmacies, including Walmart, Walgreens and CVS. It is available for free to anyone who wants assistance paying for prescriptions, regardless of current insurance status.
Other local contacts on the page are Centro Hispano at 610-685-1265, the Berks County Area Agency on Aging at 610-478-6500 for seniors needing help with food, prescriptions and in-home care, PA Career Link Berks County at 610-988-1300, and the Veteran Crisis Line at 988, press 1. For mental health support the page says to call 988, connect with a faith leader, counselor or trusted friend, and notes your local library may offer free services like Wi-Fi, resources or just a warm place to recharge.
There is nothing to apply for. You can read the guide at uwberks.org/guide-for-help, download the at-a-glance Get Help Guide from the same page, and a Spanish version of the page is posted at uwberks.org/guia-de-ayuda. PA 211 is listed first as a one-stop information source for food, housing, utility, mental health and emergency assistance, reached by dialing 211; that is a separate service with its own way of connecting people, not a United Way intake line.
United Way of Berks County can be reached with general questions at 610-685-4550 or unitedway@uwberks.org. The page does not give office hours or say whether staff help people in person with the guide.
Source: uwberks.org/guide-for-help, read November 10, 2026.
The details
In United Way of Berks County’s words
Individuals and families in our community may be facing financial challenges as they navigate the current economy. This resource offers practical steps to help prioritize needs and connect with available resources. PA 211 is a one-stop information source for food, housing, utility, mental health, and emergency assistance. Navigating local resources shouldn’t be a struggle. That’s why we’ve created a quick, at-a-glance guide to the most essential Berks County contacts.
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United Way of Berks County
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This listing summarizes publicly available information from uwberks.org/guide-for-help. Last recorded review: November 10, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.