Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry

The Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry is a coalition of congregations in Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, and Germantown. We discovered that the same people were knocking on all of our doors for help. We also discovered a common feeling of inadequacy in assessing the situation and responding in a responsible way, both as regards the person in need and in relation to the funds entrusted to our care. Our conversations quickly moved toward a logical conclusion: we would refer all requests to a single location (First Presbyterian Church of Germantown) pool our monies, hire a part time staffer, and form a board to oversee the work.

Today, there are a dozen churches in the coalition. GACM runs a food pantry and offers help with rent, utilities, medical needs and the like. The Crisis Ministry staff evaluates the needs of people who come by referral or off the street, and then they follow up on the effect of the aid. The board continues to seek increased funding for direct aid through foundations, corporations and churches.

PCCH provides a generous portion of the GACM budget. In addition, church members serve on the GACM board and the congregation brings in canned goods for the food pantry during worship on the 1st Sunday of every month.

For further information, please call 215 843-2340