Friend, Inc. Community Services

Friend, Inc. Community Services is a social support organization that, for over 50 years, works tirelessly to reduce food insecurity and other household economic pressures on families throughout rural northeast Berks County. We accomplish this through several self-select food pantries, direct economic assistance to area households, state aid application assistance, referrals to mission aligned agencies, and tight collaboration with area school districts.

Friend, Inc. is a multi service social service agency (food, household economic support, agency referral and application support) that serves rural northeast Berks County. The programmatic focus is on those suffering household economic hardship whether that be generational, chronic, or episode driven. The first Pantry opened in 1988 and has been operating continuously for over 37 years. The first social worker was employed 20 years ago to address the increasing household economic needs of the region. Furthermore, the needs of the University student community were identified and a small pantry opened adjacent to campus in collaboration with the Lutheran Centre in 2015. In 2020 a Pet Pantry was opened as well as the establishment of a Mobile Market pantry at Huff’s Church. In 2023 a mobile satellite was initiated in Kempton serving Albany Township.