On a cold morning in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Sep. 4, 2025, 38 people watched their lives burn. At 5:30 a.m., a devastating fire ravaged three buildings and 10 apartment units, leaving 28 adults and 10 children homeless in minutes.
But thanks to the support of the community and donors like you, the story didn’t end there.
The American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter had a Disaster Action Team (DAT) on the ground before the last embers of the fire died. And then, the real work began—the Red Cross team mobilized to fight back against helplessness and homelessness through the support of the United Way of Berks County.
State-licensed volunteers from the Red Cross worked on-site to immediately replace life-critical items lost in the fire, including prescription medications, eyeglasses, and medical equipment.
A security guard from Alvernia University also came to the families’ aid, opening the doors to their downtown facility before official help even arrived.
“You have a fire, and your home was there an hour ago and now it’s gone. For a lot of people, it’s extremely traumatic.” — Peter Brown, executive director of the American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter
THE COALITION: A NETWORK OF CRISIS SUPPORT IN THE MAKING
Peter Brown quickly realized that no single organization could help all of the families alone. That’s when he placed a call to Ashley Chambers at the United Way of Berks County.
And within hours, UWBC had connected community partners. A select group then decided to meet to take action, including the Reading School District, Berks County and City of Reading Emergency Services, the Reading Fire Department, the Mayor’s Office, and other local organizations and officials.
The result? An impromptu relief center in Trinity Lutheran Church—a church located only several feet away from the destroyed homes.
HELP AND HOPE: The one-stop relief center
The multi-agency relief center inside Trinity Lutheran Church quickly transformed the building into a one-stop location:
- Clothing: A consignment store where families could “shop” for free clothing items, toiletries, toys, and more collected in a clothing drive by the Mayor’s Office and Fire Department.
- Food: Helping Harvest served a hot roast beef and mashed potato dinner from their commercial kitchen and provided frozen meals.
- Financial Aid: Organizations like Catholic Charities and the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness offered families help with first month’s rent and a security deposit for their next apartment.
The coalition did more than simply meet needs—these partners were changing hearts and minds. “When someone sees their kid with a winter coat the day after a fire,” Peter Brown explains, “it sends a huge positive message to families.”
The Lasting Impact: Crisis Support in Berks County
The community coalition has already responded to multiple local crises in partnership with the United Way of Berks County and other local agencies.
What began on a miserable, cold morning in Reading has evolved into a community that supports individuals and families in times of crisis. It’s proof that while a disaster can take a home in moments, a united community can help rebuild lives in days.
United Way of Berks County brings the community together to build a stronger Berks. Our goal is to empower youth, strengthen health, build stability, and support people in times of crisis as families get through today and thrive tomorrow. But we can’t do it without supporters like you.
Ready to help your neighbors around Berks?