Greetings!
We’re excited to share a refreshed structure for our monthly newsletter! Designed to make it easier to find the updates and resources most relevant to you.
“In the Community” now highlights resources available across our region for individuals and families seeking support or connection. Meanwhile, “Insights & Opportunities” is tailored to you—nonprofit professionals, leaders, and board members—featuring funding opportunities, open positions, news, and upcoming trainings and events to help strengthen you and your organization’s impact.
Our goal is to make this newsletter a more engaging, valuable tool for everyone in our network, whether you’re serving the community directly or guiding the organizations that do. We hope you’ll explore, engage, and continue sharing your feedback as we grow together in this work!
Lastly, a reminder: The information in this newsletter comes directly from you. Please continue to send your events and updates to Nicole Engle to be included in next month’s edition.
Warmly,
Kristyn DiDominick
Executive Director
Reflection
A Reflection for Today:
“Advocacy is empathy, compassion, and community at work.”
– Janna Cachola
At the Collaborative
November Events & Training Opportunities
This November, we’re focusing on Thriving Together: A month of learning and connection dedicated to fostering compassion, balance, and resilience in ourselves and our communities.
At a time when so many in the nonprofit space are stretched thin, our shared capacity to care, recover, and grow matters more than ever. Join us for these upcoming trainings and conversations designed to strengthen both individual and collective well-being.
C3 | Have More Productive Conversations with Individual Donors
- Wed., Nov. 5
- 10:00-11:30am
- Zoom
November Membership Meeting | The Power of the Pause (only 6 seats left!)
- Tue., Nov. 11
- 10:00am-12:00pm
- Gwynedd Mercy University
Trauma 103: Recognizing Vicarious & Secondary Trauma for Professionals
- Thurs., Nov. 13
- 10:00am-12:00pm
- Zoom
ICE Rapid Response Training (Limited seating – Register before it fills!)
- Fri., Nov. 14
- 9:30-10:30am
- Community Partners Building, Colmar
Religious Diversity in Our Lives and Workplaces
- Thurs., Nov. 20
- 10:00-11:30am
- Zoom
Coming Up in December
December Membership Meeting | Networking That Moves Missions
- Tues., Dec. 9
- 9:30-11:00am
- Community Partners Building, Colmar
Trauma at the Intersection of Poverty and Discrimination
- Thurs., Dec. 11
- 9:30am-12:30pm
- Zoom
In the Community
Advocacy & Community Engagement
Contact Your Legislators: Pass a PA Budget!
The Bucks-Mont Collaborative wrote to all Bucks and Montco legislators last week with this message: Enough Is Enough—Pass a State Budget and End the Impasse. Join us in this call to action! Contact your legislators and share how the impasse is affecting your organization and community. Now is the moment for them to hear from you!
Step 1: Email Your Legislators
We’ve created a short, customizable email template you can copy and personalize. Tell your legislators how the impasse is affecting your organization—and urge them to pass a state budget now.
🟠 Download Legislator Email Template (Word)
🔗 Find My Legislator
Step 2: Share on Social Media
Post one of our new infographics or quotes on your social media channels to help spread the word. Tag your legislators and @BucksMontCollaborative to show the strength of our network.
Montco 30% Project | Rally + Remarks to Support Cornerstone at Pennbrook!
Join the rally on November 8, and then come out on November 17 to share your support of this development for 60 new homes priced for essential workers in Upper Gwynedd Township!
For more information on both events, visit Montco30Percent.com
Urge Congress to Protect SNAP and Reopen the Government
President Trump’s administration said Monday, November 3, that it will partially fund SNAP after two judges issued rulings requiring it to keep the nation’s largest food aid program running. SNAP costs more than $8 billion per month nationally. The government says an emergency fund it will use has $4.65 billion—enough to cover about half the normal benefits. Exhausting the fund potentially sets the stage for a similar situation in December if the shutdown isn’t resolved by then. WHYY, Nov. 3, 2025
Collective action for a sustainable solution is needed!
#1 Use this customizable template to take action and let your voice be heard!
#2 If you’re able, donate money or food to your local food pantry!
Then take a photo and post to social media with the hashtag: #StandUpforSNAP
Find a food pantry near you:
- Bucks County: https://bcoc.org/food-pantries-map/
- Montgomery County: https://www.montcoantihunger.org/do-you-need-food.html
What’s at Stake:
- Nearly $366 million of SNAP benefits are distributed monthly in PA. SNAP doesn’t only provide vital food assistance, it also supports jobs up and down the food chain. Every $1 in SNAP generates $1.50-$1.80 in local economic activity.
- Food insecurity has increased by more than 40% over the past two years in PA. Nearly 1 in 10 in Bucks and Montgomery Counties are food insecure—these are our neighbors!
- 40,764 in Bucks County and 58,592 in MontCo receive SNAP: close to 100,000 people in our community will be immediately affected.
VNA Community Services Resources | Advocacy & Community Partners: SNAP Program Changes
You can help by sharing the medical exemption form with your clients or sending them to the VNA Navigator Program to further help determine continued eligibility and access to the SNAP Program.
Childcare & Education
Mental Health and Wellness 101: Supporting Youth and Young Adults
- Thurs., Nov. 13
- 6:30-8:30pm
- Penn State Abington
- Register Here
Strong Minds, Safe Bodies
- Sat., Nov. 15
- 1:00-3:00pm
- Ricketts Center
- Register Here
Join this free, family-friendly wellness event celebrating youth mental health, coping skills and connection!
Camp Mariposa Youth Camp
Camp Mariposa serves youth ages 9-12 who are experiencing, or have experienced, substance use disorder within their family system. The core component of the Camp Mariposa program model is free weekend sessions (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon) that are held 6 times throughout the year.
Each camp weekend offers traditional camp activities enhanced with educational and therapeutic elements designed to teach youth a variety of problem-solving and self-care strategies! Small group discussions give youth the opportunity to talk about the challenges of living with a family member struggling with a SUD.
Victim Services Center of Montgomery County: 3-Part Support Group
2026 Shifting Spaces Art Show
Do you know a student looking to help in the fight against domestic violence? The Shifting Spaces Art Show is an opportunity to spread positive messaging about healthy relationships and influence friends, family, and more to value respect, safety, and trust in relationships.
The deadline to sign up is Monday, January 12, 2026. The showcase will be on February 26.
Health & Wellness
New Pilot Program! Montgomery County Family Dependency Treatment Court
The Montgomery County Family Dependency Treatment Court (FDTC) is dedicated to strengthening families and protecting children by addressing the impact of substance use disorders in parents and caregivers.
Through a compassionate and collaborative approach, FDTC connects families with trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and evidence-based services. Their goal is to help families heal, rebuild, and thrive—ensuring every child has a safe, stable home and every parent has the support needed for lasting recovery. Learn More!
VNA – Community Services | VNA Personal Navigator Program
Mark your calendars for Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15-December 7, 2025
The VNA Personal Navigator Program is available to help you with your Medicare options. Starting October 15, you can adjust your Medicare health or drug coverage:
- Change from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or vice versa
- Switch between Medicare Advantage plans
- Join a Medicare prescription drug plan
- Switch your current drug plan
- Drop Medicare prescription drug coverage
Call 800-591-8234 or register online for an appointment with a Public Benefits Navigator.
NAMI Montco | Support Groups, Mental Health Education, and Presentations
Looking for a free virtual or in-person support group? Learn more!
Victim Services Center of Montgomery County | Support Groups for Survivors and Their Families
- Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault: Free, Virtual – Starting in January 2026 – Learn More.
- Free Support Group for Survivors of Homicide Loss | Three monthly 90-minute sessions starting Nov. 6 – Learn More.
Norristown Hospitality Center | Seeking Safety: A Treatment Program
A Treatment Program for PTSD and Substance Use—Learn More.
Maternity Care Coalition | Navigating Pregnancy, Parenting, Substance Use, and Reentry Together
For pregnant people and caregivers with children ages 0-3. Get support: 215-972-0700, select option 2.
Access Services | Strengthening Communities Podcast, Reimagining Recovery, Part 1: Addiction and Community
Recovery is deeply rooted and thrives in community connection. The lessons discussed in this podcast are not just for people in recovery. The principles at the heart of healing (hope, humility, compassion, resilience) are valuable for all of us. And the question as always is what can we do as a community? Recovery belongs to all of us, as families, as communities, and as neighbors. Listen to the full episode!
Professional Support & Development
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Technical Assistance Group | This recurring workgroup offers an opportunity to collaborate with peers, share best practices, and receive up to date resources to enhance your SBIRT practice. Sign-up Here!
Integrate for Good | Learn more about these leadership programs and opportunities for young adults with disabilities in our region!
Deep Run East ESL Classes | These classes and childcare are all FREE. Participants can join anytime. At registration, they are interviewed for the level class appropriate for their learning need. Registration information and a calendar are available here. Visit deepruneast.org to find out more on how to volunteer as well!
Safety Net Resources
NEW ADDITION: SHARE Holiday Resources Compilation
SHARE is compiling any Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other Holiday giveaways, drives, or donation needs from regional pantries! Email Cleo Gordon with your flyers and information. Thank you, SHARE, for helping all of us support and stay connected to our food pantries this season, which is needed more than ever!
Access Services | Answering the Call: What is Your Call?
- Sat., Nov. 8
- 9:00am-12:00pm
- Community Partners Center
- Join the Conversation
As homelessness rises and service coordination gaps persist, faith leaders and community connectors are eager to act but need tools to do so effectively. Through its Housing & Homeless Services and Intersect divisions, Access Services leaders continue to host this conversation series, bringing leaders together to help amplify efforts and drive systems-level change for the unhoused.
MontCo Anti-Hunger Network’s Hunger Action Summit: Together Against Hunger
- Fri., Nov. 14
- 9:00am-2:00pm
- 340 Dekalb Pike
- Register Here
Norristown Hospitality Center | “One Night Without A Home” Sleep Out
- Nov. 20-21
- 7:00pm-7:00am
- Steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse
- Sign-up Here
Please join Norristown Hospitality Center at 7:00 PM for an enlightening evening, featuring a significant rally commencing at 8:00 PM.
This event is an excellent opportunity to enhance your understanding of homelessness while fostering connections with community members who share your dedication. Let us unite in solidarity on the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. They look forward to your presence at this important gathering!
Housing Alliance PA | Homes Within Reach Conference
- Dec. 3-5
- Hershey Lodge, Hershey PA
- Register Now
Conference sessions will cover a wide array of topics, each playing a pivotal role in reshaping our housing landscape such as, affordable housing development, eviction prevention, homelessness services, homeownership, utilities, community revitalization, blight prevention and remediation, and more. Sessions will be both informative and also ignite rich conversations about innovative strategies, new perspectives and collaborative solutions, forging a more just and inclusive housing landscape for all.
Bucks County Housing Continuum of Care: Lived Experience Advisory Board
The Bucks County Housing Continuum of Care (HCoC-BC) is calling for applications for the Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB). This board is dedicated to ensuring that individuals who have experienced homelessness have a voice in shaping housing policies and services in Bucks County.
Applications for the LEAB will be accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, please complete the application and email it to Morgan Backesnstoss, [email protected], or call 215-345-3967 with questions.
VNA Community Services | Low Income Energy Assistance Program
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program opens on November 3, 2025. This program provides both cash and crisis grants towards an eligible applicant’s primary heating source. Call 800-591-8234 to learn more or click here to enroll.
Join True Colors in-person gatherings for a family-friendly evening of snacks, games, puzzles, coloring, arts and crafts, and good company!
- 4th Sundays
- 5:00-7:00pm
Learn more about their virtual support groups, which are free to attend! Donations are welcome at $5, if possible.
- Queer Chronic Illness Support Group
- Neuroqueer Support Group
- Beyond The Binary Support Group
- Queer Haven Support Group
Liberty Resources Inc. Center for Independent Living serving Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia. LRI offers various groups and events, both virtually and in person—all are welcome to attend if interested. For more information, please visit their website or touch base with Latoya Maddox, Counties Senior Independent Living Specialist. For general inquiries, call (215) 634-2000 ext. 325.
Senior Services
Getting Your Affairs in Order | Considerations for Planning with a Chronic Illness or Progressive Disease
- Tuesday, November 11
- Ambler Branch, Wissahickon Valley Public Library
6-6:30 PM Mingling. Snacks will be provided by Comfort Keepers and The 501 at Mattison Estate.
6:30-7:30 PM Getting Your Affairs in Order: Considerations for Planning with a Chronic Illness/Progressive Disease in Mind with Elder Law Attorney Rob Slutsky
Rob will explore important documents you will want to have in place: Wills, Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Directives, Trusts, and other vital tools to prepare you and your loved one to have peace of mind. He will discuss considerations for planning with a chronic illness/progressive disease in mind. Attendees will be able to ask their important questions. Sign-Up Here!
SPARK Senior Center November Opportunities
Stay connected and share!
Generations: Flashbulb Memory Social
Generations’ H.O.M.E. Team* hosts this opportunity to chat about flashbulb memories. A flashbulb memory is a vivid recollection of the circumstances surrounding the learning of a surprising, emotionally significant event, such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy. (That’s the only one they’re giving away ahead of time)! Discussion prompts will be provided to foster reminiscence and help you tell your story to connect and converse with others. Soft pretzels will be provided. A donation of $2 per person (the day of the event) is appreciated.
Call 215-723-5841 or stop by their front desk by Nov. 18 to register.
*H.O.M.E. is an acronym for Helping Organize Meaningful Experiences.
Upcoming Community Events
Montgomery County PA | American Delivery Film Screening & Panel Discussion
- Thurs., Nov. 6
- 6:00-8:00pm (Doors open at 5:30pm)
- Blue Bell, PA
- RSVP Here
Roommate Matching
- Thurs., Nov. 13
- 10:30am-1:30pm
- LTSR-Creative Health, Pottstown, PA
- Sign-up Here (Registration is required by Nov. 10)
Friendsgiving Potluck
- Sat., Nov. 22
- 4:00-7:00pm
- Along the Way, 69 W. Broad St., Souderton
- RSVP Here!
True Colors Collective and Souderton Area For All invite you to a Friendsgiving Community Potluck! Celebrate chosen family with food, laughter, and community. Sign up to bring a dish if you can, but bring yourself for sure!
Insights & Opportunities
Funders & Funding
Rapid Response Support for Food Justice Work | HealthSpark Foundation
The ongoing government shutdown prevents the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from releasing funds for the SNAP program, pausing benefits and affecting community members nationwide beginning on Saturday, November 1.
If your nonprofit is mobilizing to defend food justice, advocate for impacted community members, or uphold the values that sustain our communities, HealthSpark Foundation invites you to apply to their Rapid Response Fund for Community Power.
“Advocacy isn’t optional when community well-being is at stake. The Rapid Response Fund exists to help Montgomery County nonprofits act swiftly and powerfully in defense of equity, dignity, and justice.” – Emma Hertz, President and CEO, HealthSpark Foundation.
Summer Youth Corps Program | Foundations Community Partnership
Foundations Community Partnership is currently accepting applications for its 2026 Summer Youth Corps (SYC) program. Students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of college and residing in Bucks County are eligible to apply. If you like to be considered for the 2026 cohort, email your resume to Caroline O’Connell Sinton at [email protected].
SYC provides a 10-week service learning placement with select Bucks County non-profit human service organizations for a FCP-paid internship experience and the opportunity to earn college credits. Interns use both academic and social skills to address community needs and solve problems in the real world, benefiting their host agencies and clients.
Nonprofits that support the behavioral health and human service needs of children, young adults, and families in Bucks County, and are interested in hosting an intern next summer, should complete the “Host Agency Application” online.
Job Listings & Open Board Positions
Phoenixville Community Health Foundation is Hiring!
The Operations Manager will handle financial administration, office and facility management, meeting and event coordination, and general administrative support.
Qualifications: 3-5 years experience in office or nonprofit operations. Proficiency with QuickBooks Online and Microsoft Office. Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
Salary & Benefits: $65,000-$75,000 + health, dental, vision, 401k, and paid time off. Mostly in-office with partial hybrid option after 90 days.
How to Apply: Submit cover letter and resume to [email protected]
OHAAT is Hiring!
Applications for a part-time Tuesday truck driver are open! This is an opportunity to deliver life-changing impact in the lives of children in need. Perfect for a recent retiree or college student.
News & Resources
News
Montgomery County Announces $500,000 Emergency Food Pantry Funding
On Friday, October 31, Montgomery County Commissioners announced $500,000 in emergency funding for local food pantries to help residents affected by the suspension of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
“We’re here today because of inaction, ineptitude, callousness, and cruelty. What is happening is a manufactured crisis. It’s happening because there are people in the federal government who simply do not care that SNAP benefits will expire this weekend,” said Neil Makhija, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.
“Without SNAP, Montgomery County is facing a food challenge it hasn’t seen since the pandemic. SNAP is exactly the kind of program we need when food prices are so high, but Congress is letting it lapse. So we’re showing what leadership looks like at the local level.” Read more.
Trump administration says SNAP will be partially funded in November after judges’ rulings | November 3, 2025, WHYY
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, had planned to freeze payments starting Nov. 1 because it said it could no longer keep funding it during the federal government shutdown. The program serves about 1 in 8 Americans and is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. It costs more than $8 billion per month nationally. The government says an emergency fund it will use has $4.65 billion — enough to cover about half the normal benefits.
Exhausting the fund potentially sets the stage for a similar situation in December if the shutdown isn’t resolved by then.” Read More.
Read the Press Release from the National Council of Nonprofits.
National Council of Nonprofits and Nationwide Coalition Sue to Protect Food Security for Millions as Trump Administration Refuses to Use Available Funds | October 30, 2025 Press Statement
“The complaint details how the administration’s actions will inflict immediate and irreparable harm on families and communities across the country—forcing families to skip meals, overwhelming food pantries, and harming small businesses that rely on SNAP transactions to stay afloat. It also exposes how the Trump-Vance administration has reversed USDA’s longstanding policy under previous administrations’ guidance that contingency funds should be used to sustain SNAP operations during funding lapses.
Before the Trump-Vance administration’s abrupt reversal, federal guidance made clear that SNAP contingency funds were to be made available during lapses in government funding. The lawsuit asks the court to order USDA to resume November benefits, protect the program itself, and halt its premature termination of SNAP work requirement waivers in affected states.” Read more.
Nominations are Open! 2026 Greater Philadelphia Social Innovation Awards
The Greater Philadelphia Social Innovation Awards celebrate and honor our region’s most passionate social innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers whose work and social impact too often goes unacknowledged, yet their efforts are what makes our communities thrive by revolutionizing realities. Nominate By November 23!
The New $50M Literary Arts Fund Will Support Independent Publishers and Nonprofits
“Citing a chronic shortage of financial backing for independent publishers and nonprofits dedicated to writing and reading, a coalition of seven charitable foundations has established a Literary Arts Fund that will distribute a minimum of $50 million over the next five years.” The application process is scheduled to begin Nov. 10. Read more.
Resources
2024–2025 Eviction Prevention and Intervention Coalition (EPIC) Program Report
This publication highlights key outcomes, insights, and progress from the past program year, showcasing the collective efforts of partners in preventing eviction and promoting housing stability across Montgomery County. Read the report.
Dialogues from the Immigrant Village Podcast
Tune in to this podcast by Obed Arango, Executive Director of CCATE! Season 1 includes a total of 34 episodes in Spanish and 17 in English. These interviews provide valuable information, perspectives, and resources for our region! Listen on Spotify.
Training & Events
Simplified Fundraising Planning for Small Nonprofits | TriCounty Community Network
- Fri., Nov. 7
- 9:30-10:30am
- TCN Offices, Pottstown, PA
- $10 per person,Sign-up Here!
Join fundraising trainer, Chad Barger, for a workshop covering fundraising planning. They’ll cover some of the biggest mistakes that nonprofit organizations make when putting together their annual fundraising plan and how to avoid them.
Legal Webinar: Fiscal Sponsorship – for the Funders, Sponsors, & the Sponsored | PANO
- Wed., Nov. 12
- 1:30-3:00pm
- Virtual
- Register Here
This webinar will define fiscal sponsorship and discuss the most common types of sponsorship arrangements. It will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type and the special considerations for funders, sponsors, and the sponsored. It will review specific critical provisions of sponsorship agreements, particularly termination and exit issues.
Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Forum | Women’s Way
- Wed., Nov. 12
- 4:00-5:30pm
- Virtual
- Register Here
Join this panel conversation to explore the Family + Community Care Dimension of the Gender Wealth Framework.
This dimension envisions a future where we can:
- Care for our children, families, and communities without risking our jobs or economic security.
- Access high-quality caregiving options through a strong, equitable care infrastructure.
- Rely on networks of care and mutual aid across our lifespans.
- Live free from gender-based violence in our families and communities.
Be the Bridge: National Training Laboratories Institute (NTL) Conference
- Nov. 12-13
- 9:30am-2:00pm
- Register Here
Join NTL for a thought provoking two days to explore “why a setback is a setup for a comeback” (Dr. Willie Jolley) with the goal of “finding common ground” (Peter Block).
The Business of Housing | HealthSpark Foundation & Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry
- Thurs., Nov. 13
- 8:00am-1:00pm
- 601 Country Line Rd, Wayne, PA
- $50, Register Here!
A regional initiative: Eight organizations bringing together policymakers, business leaders, township officials, and others seeking to learn more about the impact of housing affordability on economic growth in the region, while building stronger regional partnerships and commitment for attainable housing solutions.
TCN Leadership Game | TriCounty Community Network
- Tues., Nov. 18
- 9:00-11:00am
- TCN’s Offices, 13 Armand Hammer Blvd, Suite 102, Pottstown, PA
- Register Here!
The Leadership Game is a fun, interactive session that facilitates connection and collaboration. The session provides a safe and open environment to discuss core topics in leadership development, communication, and organizational growth. In addition to collaboration and connection, participants will gain actionable takeaways that can be implemented to positively impact both individual and organizational results.
Thank you to our amazing Sponsors and Funders!
Bucks-Mont Collaborative Sponsors
Bucks-Mont Collaborative Funders
