Specialized Initiative Program

Members are expected to be an engaged citizen involved in the community, register to vote and model strong character.

Care Closet Program

Our new initiative is to provide care closets at all of our sites. These care closets will include hygiene items, clothing, and non-perishable food items for those youth and families in need throughout Reading and Berks County. Thanks to local businesses, corporations, foundations, and individuals, Olivet has started collecting these items in regular and travel sizes. Olivet is in need of toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, hand soap, body lotion, hand sanitizer, washcloths, towels, shampoo, Q-tips, feminine hygiene products, hair care products, and Vaseline. These items can be dropped off at our administrative office located at 1161 Pershing Blvd. Reading, PA 19611 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, or by appointment.

Please call (610) 373-1314 or email us at info@olivetbgc.org for more information!

Olivet Pax Program

Olivet Pax are an initiative first launched as a service project as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in 2019. As part of this service project, Olivet with the support of community organizations and volunteers, assembled nearly 1000 Olivet Pax to benefit homeless youth in Berks County. The Pax were filled were basic need items such as feminine products, socks, and toiletries. Once assembled, the Pax were distributed to various school districts in Berks County.

The Olivet Pax will continue to an important project for Olivet as we begin the care closet project as described below.

Emergency Food

Olivet started serving emergency lunch and dinner meals, as well as pantry boxes to local youth and families on Monday, March 16, 2020. Since that time Olivet has served almost 100,000 meals to those in need through partnerships with local organizations. Olivet will continue to serve meals during dinner time in the form of grab and go meals, while also serving lunches to all youth attending our virtual learning support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental Health Program

In partnership with Fairmount Behavioral Health and the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), Olivet will provide individual and group mental health check-ins and lessons to the youth of all ages. These lessons will focus on isolation, depression, self-harm & suicide prevention, anxiety, and self-help. Links, contacts, and additional information will be provided to youth and families during these sessions and by request.

DREAM (Discovering Reality, Easily and Meaningfully)

Program provides selected at-risk youth an alternative to court-ordered placement with a comprehensive program featuring a balanced approach to juvenile offender rehabilitation.

MAP (Mentoring and the Arts Program)

Program offered to youth under the supervision of the Berks County Juvenile Probation Office. The program consists of three components; Mentoring, Arts, and Mainstreaming. The Youth meet one time per week as a group and one time per week individually with their mentor.