The HeartWorks Team commits to heartfelt acts of conscious service grounded in compassion and respect. Through life’s endless cycle of giving and receiving, we connect with each other and with our personal spirituality. We use our time, energy and resources to provide support and hope to people of all orientations and belief systems – both within our congregation and in our surrounding communities.
Supported Organizations
Local Food Banks and Food Pantries
The HeartWorks Annual Garden Initiative
Members of the HeartWorks Team tend to the WellSprings Garden all summer. This annual initiative helps us to join in the fight against food insecurity in our area. The land is generously donated by the Montgomery School. 100% of the harvest of produce and herbs is donated to local food banks and pantries in Coatesville, Collegeville, Exton, Lionville, Norristown, Phoenixville, and West Chester.
DONATIONS IN POUNDS
- 2019 – 176
- 2020 – 284
- 2021 – 107 (some food banks not weighing produce)
- 2022 – 199
The Franciscan Shelter for Homeless Families at St. Mary’s Parish
The Franciscan Shelter for Homeless Families at St. Mary’s is part of a national, interdenominational initiative. Whereas most homeless shelters are meant for adults by law, this shelter is specifically dedicated to unhoused families. Each family stays a minimum of 8 weeks, has their own family bedroom, and shares communal dining, living rooms, and bathrooms. The shelter serves approximately 25% of Chester County’s unhoused families. Their goal is to be the bridge from homelessness to stable living.
For 36 years, a hot dinner has been prepared by an amazing list of local churches and groups including Wellsprings! Twice a year, HeartWorks Team members request assistance from our congregants with the preparation of dinner meals for 5 days – each family or individual providing a portion of a meal.
Better Days Ahead (BDA)
BDA concentrates solely on unhoused individuals, delivering survival gear and clothing, specifically in our home areas of Phoenixville, Pottstown, Royersford, Spring City, and Norristown; as well as Kensington and Philadelphia.
Since 2021, WellSprings annual Martin Luther King Day of Service project has been to participate in BDA’s clothing and bedding drive outside City Hall in Philadelphia. Additionally, in 2022 the funds from the Giant grocery card program allowed HeartWorks to purchase tents for homeless folks through BDA.
Coatesville Police Department
Since 2019, Members of the HeartWorks Team as well as many Wellsprings congregants collect books, stuffed animals, and blankets (hand knit, or crocheted and/or gently used) for children waiting in the Police Department while their parent(s) are being detained at the Coatesville Police Department.
Kate’s Casa
Each year, the HeartWorks Team organizes an Angel Tree, where congregants can donate holiday gifts to families in need. The gifts purchased go towards supporting immigrant families through Kate’s Casa –“The world is full of war, hate, and poverty; but also peace, love, and wealth. Kate’s Casa was created to make these worlds collide.”
Bombas Socks
Since 2019 WellSprings has been one of 3,500+ Bombas Giving Partners across the US. Bombas has graciously donated shipments of socks for HeartWorks to distribute throughout our surrounding communities. In 2022 alone, HeartWorks Team members distributed 9,000 pairs of socks..
Victims of Human Trafficking
While often perceived as a problem in major cities like Philadelphia, human trafficking victims are more often identified and lured away from neighborhoods in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery counties – our own backyards. HeartWorks has partnered with local victim advocacy groups to provide needed items like toiletries and clothing.
Giant Food Stores Discount Grocery Card Program
The HeartWorks Team participates in Giant Food Stores’ grocery card program, Cash For Causes. Through this initiative, any congregation member may purchase Giant grocery cards through Realm at face value in the following denominations: $25, $50, $100. HeartWorks receives 5% of the total purchased. The purchaser receives the full purchase value of the Grocery cards.
This initiative helps to supplement the cost of emergency requests from members as well as ongoing projects that would otherwise be unfunded. Thanks to this program, Heartworks has been able to provide the following:
- 2022 – Three 6-person tents and three 8-person tents, sent to Better Days Ahead
- 2023 – 64 bathrobes for adults & children, sent to the Fransiscan Shelter for Families at St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter
If you would like to purchase a grocery card online to help HeartWorks, you can do that here.
Area School Districts
Members of HeartWorks Team have distributed Bombas socks to multiple schools within these Districts as part of each delivery from Bombas. During COVID, HeartWorks Team members provided masks to two local elementary schools.
- Coatesville
- Colonial
- Downingtown
- Lancaster
- Norristown
- Northern York
- Phoenixville
- Pottsgrove
- Pottstown
Veteran’s Organizations
Members of HeartWorks Team have distributed Bombas socks to each of these agencies as part of each delivery from Bombas.
- V.A. Coatesville Healthcare Systems
- Newtown Square Veteran’s Affairs
- Southeastern PA Veteran’s Center (SEVC)
- West Norriton Veteran’s Affairs
Click here to see a list of organizations supported by HeartWorks