Community Resources
(Words & phrases in blue are clickable links)
We all want to make sure everyone is able to eat this holiday season!
Find Food Guide This link will take you to the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and can guide you or your clients to free food distribution in their area!
Franklin St Food Pantry | Bridges Cooperative Ministry | Johnstown, PA
BALM(R) - Free Online 8 Week Course
For Those Affected by Another's Substance Use Disorder/Addiction
Do you feel alone? Are you exhausted?
Are you full of fear? Is your life chaotic?
Do you feel the need to control and fix?
Are you obsessed with what your loved one is doing 24/7?
Do you find yourself blaming, shaming, yelling, begging and judging?
Behavioral Health of Cambria County (BHoCC) is offering a FREE 8-week transformational Zoom course for Cambria County residents. The weekly course starts Thursday, January 16, 2025. To enroll, call Stacey Karchner, BALM Family Recovery Life Coach @ 814-360-7590
Pennsylvania 211:Get Connected. Get Help.™ If you need to connect with resources in your community, but don’t know where to look, PA 211 is a great place to start. From help with a utilities bill, to housing assistance, after-school programs for kids, and more, you can dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 to talk with a resource specialist for free. Their specialists will listen to your needs, and give you information on programs in your community that might be able to help. Visit their search page to explore programs by categories such as financial assistance, housing, and food. You can also connect with a resource specialist via chat during business hours.
Walnut Grove Emergency Food Pantry - Food distribution is generally available on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Also, please be aware that new Self Declaration forms will need completed for each family so allow extra time. This is a requirement every new fiscal year in July for the Dept. of Agriculture.
The free clothing ministry will also be open those dates and times. Eligibility for food is according to PA Dept. of Agriculture guidelines and residency in the Dale, Walnut Grove, Solomon Homes, Oakland, Daisytown, Geistown and lower Richland. areas. Food recipients need to meet income eligibility requirements; ID and proof of current residency (such as a utility bill, lease, etc.) are needed. We invite anyone in our service area who is in need of food to come on one of the above dates. Please enter through the entrance on Miller Ave. There also is a clothing ministry with a large assortment of free clothing available to to ANYONE from any community and no income requirements. Call 814-244-5867 for further info or questions.
Drive-up food distribution - You will receive a mix of loose grocery items in family sized portions where volunteers will pack your trunk while you stay in your car. Reservations will not be required; guests will be served on a first come first serve basis. Click the blue link to search for Johnstown-area dates & times.
Food Pantries and other food insecurity resources - Are you struggling with food security? Click the link for a guide to food banks, pantries and other services in the Johnstown region.
Cambria County Veterans’ Services Office in the Cambria County Courthouse strives to provide courteous, efficient and professional services to the County’s Veterans, Veterans’ spouses, and Veterans’ families. Click the blue link to get more information about the services they provide. Please call 814-472-1590 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to schedule an appointment. They also periodically conduct local Town Hall meetings.
LIHEAP - Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
LIHWAP - The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program is a temporary emergency program to help low-income families pay overdue water bills. LIHWAP is a grant. You do not have to repay it.
PA Homeowners Assistance Fund - The PAHAF program provides assistance for the following mortgage and housing-related expenses, to address mortgage delinquencies and avoid default, foreclosure, and displacement as a result of COVID-19 pandemic related financial hardships: Mortgage Reinstatement, Forward Mortgage Payment, Property Charges, and Delinquent Utilities.
PA Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Forms https://www.revenue.pa.gov/FormsandPublications/FormsforIndividuals/PTRR/Pages/default.aspx
Local Housing Solutions (homelessness, eviction moratoriums, other housing-related)
Landlords - Protect Your Property from Gas Shut-Offs. Enroll in Landlord Automatic Transfer, and if a tenant requests a gas shut-off, Peoples Gas will transfer the account to you for a small fee, until a new tenant requests service.
Bad Landlords in Federal Housing (HUD) Complaints - To report a bad landlord to the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line call toll-free at (800) MULTI-70 (800) 685-8470) / TTY (800) 432-2209.
Disposing of unused & expired prescription and over-the-counter medications - Our building has a permanent drug collection box where you may dispose of unwanted medications. It is located in the lobby near the municipal office. There are other locations throughout the area as indicated on this flyer. Periodically, collection events take place at other community locations. Click this link to find the next National Drug Take-Back Day in your area.
PA State Representative for the 71st District, Jim Rigby, has links to many valuable resources on his website. These include state resources for Unemployment Compensation, Federal CARES Act, Small Business Administration (SBA), Education, Tax Filing, Transportation, Senior Citizens and Recreation.
The Pennsylvania State Treasury is safeguarding $4.5 billion of unclaimed property. Unclaimed property includes things like dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, rebates, insurance payments and more. Search online to search for unclaimed property.
But be aware of texting scams! Scammers are using text messages to target potential unclaimed property claimants. The Pennsylvania Treasury Department never reaches out to people in regard to any program, including unclaimed property, via unsolicited text messages. State Treasurer Stacy Garrity said. “I urge anyone who receives a phishing message about unclaimed property to ignore it and promptly delete it. Do not click on any links, and do not respond to these messages. If you have any concerns, reach out to my office. We’ll be very happy to help.”
Treasury’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property can be reached by email at tupmail@patreasury.gov or toll-free at 800-222-2046.