"Welcoming" is perhaps the best word to describe Preacher Jeffrey Dillinger and his Whitehall Church of Christ. "Just call me Jeffrey," says the church's minister since 1997.
Essentially, the Whitehall Church of Christ follows the Bible, especially the New Testament, but is otherwise non-denominational. Worship time at the Church of Christ is entirely a capella, and communion is done by passing baskets to one another throughout the aisles.
The church hosts its share of community events, with things like group studies and children's ministries. Perhaps its busiest days are Tuesdays and Fridays, when it acts as a branch of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Groceries are happily made available at the Whitehall Church of Christ for low-income families of the Baldwin-Whitehall area on these days. "This community help is one way we can share our love with our neighbors while meeting a few of their physical needs," the church states on its Web site. The Whitehall Church of Christ currently serves approximately 145 families as a branch of the food bank.
College Settlement Camp offers daytime and overnight camp for economically-needy children age 7 through 12 years. Camp activities include swimming, boating, sports, games, crafts, creek crawling, campfires, crayfishing, camping out, and participating in a talent show. The day camp also provides breakfast, lunch, and a snack.
This non-profit group is focused on aiding those suffering from addiction to alcohol and drugs, as well as helping their families. Through advocacy, education and treatment programs, the council reaches families across the greater-Philadelphia area of Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties.
The Livengrin Foundation is a non-profit drug and alcohol treatment clinic. One of its many locations is in Doylestown. Visit its website for more information.
A leading national charitable organization, the AARP Foundation provides support of elderly individuals. Staff at the Bethlehem office offer everything from financial counseling to basics like housing and food assistance for local area residents age 50 and over.
Credit Counseling Center provides advisement services to individuals in dire financial circumstances. Services provided include foreclosure prevention, budget and credit counseling, debt management, housing counseling, credit report reviews, reverse mortgages and a first home buyer program. Some services are paid-for by government agency funding and so are free to the public. Others require payment in cash or by money order.
The Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network provides a variety of supportive services to local area families in need. Services include housing solutions, career development, parenting workshops, financial education and family therapy. Information regarding specific programs and ways to contribute is available on the network's website.