HISTORY

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S.T.A.R. (formerly Helping Bethlehem's Homeless) was created in March of 2015 by a group of concerned and dedicated individuals who became aware of the fact that there were many in our community who were suffering. A growing number of people in Bethlehem do not have homes, and instead must live under bridges or tucked back deep in the woods, separated from society.  Early on, our volunteers began their own outreach, looking for these homeless people where they seek refuge.  They attended local events focused on the homeless and started collections to provide the clothing and resources these individuals needed. 

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In June of 2015, the church formerly known as Rosemont Lutheran on West Broad St. kindly provided us with a large gathering room with storage space.  By this time, we were calling ourselves S.T.A.R. – Serving To Aid & Restore.  We now had a location where we could set up clothing racks and food shelves.  We had tables and chairs and served coffee and cookies.  We welcomed all and provided a place to rest and get what they needed.  We also realized that there were many others in our local community, besides the homeless, that needed assistance.  These people live in deep poverty in local apartments and needed the resources we provided.

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In 2017 we moved to a larger location at Christ Church UCC at the corner of East Market and Center Streets in downtown Bethlehem where we are today.  We have grown over the years and now have a large group of dedicated volunteers.  We proudly serve over 90 individuals every Saturday. 

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As S.T.A.R. continues to grow, we seek to increase our outreach to the community, both with our clients and other service organizations that make our community stronger.