Keystone Opportunity Center invites youth membership and youth pastors to participate in our SleepOut 2019 event. We seek to engage and educate youth about the needs and challenges of those struggling with poverty. SleepOut 2019 will also generate community support to help our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity, housing instability, or literacy challenges. More details are below. We hope you will register a group to attend.
Our new online registration process will follow shortly–but we want to hear from group leaders now so we can be a part of helping you mobilize your youth. Contact Malcolm Friend for more information.
Thank you to our generous sponsors who help make this event possible.
Presenting Sponsor
This unique event is a compassion-building program where youth learn the truth about poverty and privilege. It is a great platform for groups to learn about the needs of our neighbors. Groups will rotate through a number of activities that include a forum where local community members talk about homelessness, hunger and poverty, how it can happen, its impact, and what can be done to help. They participate in activities that directly help those in need and frequently find a new desire to participate in projects long after the event is over. Groups arrive Friday night, have some fun constructing the cardboard shelters (or their own tents) in which they will sleep, then share a “Soup Kitchen” type meal, play some high-energy games, and hear from people who will share stories that make homelessness and hunger real and personal. At “lights out,” the groups return to their tents, cardboard camps, or cars to experience what a housing crisis might be like. In the morning, breakfast is provided while they pack up. Many congregations then have their youth present what they learned, or youth pastors do a follow-up class with the group. It is always enlightening for those involved.
Contact us by email at mfriend@keystoneopp.org or phone (215) 723-5430 with your questions about SleepOut.
And please follow us on Facebook to follow the participants.
Education
Keystone is offering classes in Souderton, Lansdale, Hatfield and Norristown as well as remote classes via Zoom.
Potential students should contact our education hotline at 267-663-1001.
Food Pantry
Keystone’s food pantry clients can pick up their groceries in the parking lot of Keystone Opportunity Center on:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
1st Thursday of the month from 4 pm to 6 pm
If you are a new client to our pantry, we ask that you bring proof of residency showing that you live in Souderton School District.
Food Donations accepted Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at our Food Pantry entrance of Keystone.
Fresh For All
Fresh For All is open every Tuesday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. To reduce the risk of spreading the virus, clients will drive up for a contactless pickup.
Case Management
To reach our Case Manager, please email us at contact@keystoneopp.org. If you are in the Souderton Area School District (in Pennsylvania) and in need of financial assistance, please fill out our Financial Assistance Application (This is not a guarantee of financial assistance.)
Keystone’s Spanish-Speaking Community Assistance Coordinator is available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Housing
If you are in need of housing, please email us.
Keystone Tenants
To assist neighbors in our affordable housing units, we have the option to pay rent online by clicking here.
Administrative Offices
Keystone’s administrative office is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. All other times, people can access recorded information and leave messages for staff.
Contact staff through contact@keystoneopp.org.