The The Heart of Gloucester County Resource Directory is a unique online searchable guide to 1,700 specific local resources for residents of seven counties in South Jersey seeking immediate help with such pressing issues as housing, transportation, utility and rental assistance, emotional and psychological crises, and food supplementation. It was launched in 2012. A significant updating and expansion of its data has...
The The Heart of Gloucester County Resource Directory is a unique online searchable guide to 1,700 specific local resources for residents of seven counties in South Jersey seeking immediate help with such pressing issues as housing, transportation, utility and rental assistance, emotional and psychological crises, and food supplementation. It was launched in 2012. A significant updating and expansion of its data has just been completed, it was announced on Nov. 23 by The People for People Foundation of Gloucester County, the nonprofit responsible for the directory's creation and maintenance.
The Heart Directory is the most comprehensive database of its kind, providing thorough, timely information on the services provided by local charities and municipal agencies throughout much of South Jersey. Such information was previously difficult and time-consuming to find, both for help providers and the public. The directory simplifies and greatly speeds up the process of locating appropriate assistance.
The Resource Directory is available free of charge online at heartofgloucestercounty.org.
It was created by The People for People Foundation in partnership with five other local nonprofits and service organizations operating under the name The Heart of Gloucester County. The Heart partnership offers a variety of educational, counseling and referral services for those seeking assistance.
The recent revision of the Heart Directory has added hundreds of additional resources in seven counties in the South Jersey region and updated information on charities and agencies already in the directory. Paul Blackstock, the chairman of the board of The People for People Foundation, explained that while the directory was originally focused on services and resources for those seeking guidance and assistance only in Gloucester County, "organizations and agencies throughout South Jersey saw the directory, were impressed with its value and usability, and asked us to include listings of resources in their counties as well. As a result, we now list local resources for residents of Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Salem, Atlantic, and Cape May counties, as well as Gloucester."
The directory, Blackstock explained, was created "when those of us working to help individuals and families deal with emergencies and unanticipated needs realized that there was no single port of entry where those looking for help could quickly and easily locate resources for the assistance they required. Now, people needing help can access detailed information on those offering it by completing a simple, quick search." The Resource Directory, he noted, "continues not just to grow but to evolve. We have added additional categories of assistance in response to queries we have received and we have also identified and included more resources for groups having more specialized needs, such as veterans and seniors. There is also a new addition on the directory listed as VOAD, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, which will serve as a communication and resource hub during disasters in Gloucester County."
The Resource Directory is accessible via a search engine. Those requiring help can type in the name of an organization they are seeking or they can check off boxes for one or more of the 27 categories (such as abuse, counseling, clothing, day care, employment assistance, food banks etc.) and 61 subcategories by which information is organized. A search will return a detailed annotated list of available resources, including the names and contact information (including telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and hours of operation) of each organization offering help in a given field as well as an explanation of the specific services available. Directory users can further refine a search by specifying a geographical range within South Jersey. A Mobile App is available for downloading so that the directory can be accessed via a variety of devices. Resource specialists are available live at 856-579-8252 for those needing guidance in running a search or in using the information returned by a search. Individuals can also ask a question about the search engine or the resources listed by texting askheart at 66746 or by submitting a query on the Heart of Gloucester County website at heartofgloucestercounty.org.
"While we are pleased with the expansion of the Resource Directory," Mr. Blackstock said, "there is a sense in which it will never be finished. We are committed to maintaining the Directory, and it's not likely that we will ever stop adding to and refining the lists. ."
For additional information, please contact Paul Blackstock at The People for People Foundation, 856-579-7561, or paul@pfpfoundation.org.
