About caring for bethlehem

Our Mission

The spirit of Caring for Bethlehem comes from a long history of people giving time and resources selflessly to build the community of Bethlehem, Connecticut as we know it today.

Recognizing that local response to local needs makes sense, and recognizing the constraints of time in today’s world and the desires of people to make a difference locally, Caring for Bethlehem builds community, develops programs to meet local needs, and makes it possible for volunteers to match their talents and availability with opportunities to serve.

Our Mission in Action

Caring for Bethlehem, an all-volunteer local nonprofit founded in 2017, builds community, develops programs to address local needs, and makes it possible for volunteers to match their talents and availability with opportunities to serve. People of all ages, family units of all varieties, and individuals with diverse needs are all served with dignity.

First: The Food Bank

The original 2017 program, the Bethlehem Food Bank, serves nearly 200 people in more than 80 Bethlehem homes with a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables, locally produced milk and eggs, bread, butter, meat, and plenty of packaged and canned food. Over a dozen Bethlehem homes receive weekly deliveries of nutritious food.

Then: Programs to Meet Locate Needs

Energizing the community, Caring for Bethlehem has rapidly and strategically expanded to provide a broad umbrella of support for residents of Bethlehem who face financial insecurity. Programs include a fuel bank that funded more than 60 deliveries of fuel last year; an assistance fund that has provided replacement kitchen appliances, car repairs and new tires, and payment of overdue household bills; a children’s fund covering new school clothes and shoes, summer recreation camp tuition, and afterschool activity fees; a capital fund that has replaced a well pump, a furnace, and a 50-year-old roof; programs to share joy at the holidays bringing children toys and clothing from their wish lists and holiday meals to families; a snacks-for-school program; diapers for young children and incontinence supplies for older adults; and now, a new aging at home program funding light house keeping, handyman, and other services for older adults. 

And: Volunteers

The more than 50 volunteers of Caring for Bethlehem are dedicated to maintaining the personal dignity of all members of our community, serving our neighbors with care and respect, working compassionately to assist our neighbors in times of need, and generally going to great extent to make sure no one suffers from lack of food, heat, or other necessities for living in our community. 

And: Supporters

Support from a broad network of individuals, families, businesses and community organizations, churches and schools, and family foundations coupled with grants from Connecticut Community Foundation, Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, Northwest Community Bank Foundation, Watertown Foundation, Town Fair Tire Foundation, The Argall Hull Fund, and the Bethlehem Community Fund all make a difference in the lives of the neighbors we serve.

Making a Difference

The Caring for Bethlehem umbrella of programs continues to broaden, addressing needs of all ages, engaging volunteers with a wide range of backgrounds and experience, and bringing the community together to support all neighbors facing hardship, losses of jobs, and the continually rising costs of remaining in Bethlehem.

The Corporation

Caring for Bethlehem, Inc. is an all-volunteer non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity organization incorporated in the State of Connecticut. Caring for Bethlehem was founded in 2017 to serve the residents of Bethlehem. In 2020, the organization assumed management of the Bethlehem Fuel Bank, the Bethlehem Assistance Fund, and the Bethlehem Scholarship Fund.

Caring for Bethlehem, Inc. provides assistance for local individuals and families regardless of race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, citizenship, veteran or disability status, or of any other class protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Bethlehem Food Bank, Bethlehem Comfort Closet, Bethlehem Fuel Bank, Bethlehem Assistance Fund, Bethlehem Scholarship Fund, and Ken Meady Memorial Scholarship Fund are registered trade names of Caring for Bethlehem, Inc. 

Statistics

Click Here to review our Statistics page to see in numbers how Bethlehem Food Bank is serving the people of Bethlehem.

Communications

Caring for Bethlehem communicates a few times during the year through email, local news outlets, and by word of mouth to share information about upcoming events and opportunities to serve the Bethlehem Community.

Please join our email list to receive these communications. Caring for Bethlehem does not share its email list.