Towne Connections
This program seeks to support Franklin Towne's commitment to a family like atmosphere by providing financial and emotional support for members of the FTC community who are in need. Towne Connections can help with food, uniforms, school supplies and other needs of students and their families. Referrals are made by students, staff, families, etc. Please visit the Towne Connections page under the Towne Parents directory for more information.
Please email your child's counselor for a full list of various resources available to Philadelphia Residents.
Food Resources
Philly Food and Meal Finder
A tool created by the City of Philadelphia to help residents find free food, meals, and food pantries across the city.
Share Food Program
Find nearby community food distributions, pantries, and resources. The Share Food Program also supplies many of the city’s community fridges.
Philabundance
Locate nearby food pantries and emergency food sites. Philabundance also provides mobile food distributions and senior food boxes.
Why Hunger
A national resource where families can search for food programs by ZIP code.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army food pantry provide groceries for families and individuals in need.
Community Fridges in Philadelphia
A network of outdoor fridges stocked by and for community members. Available 24/7 across Philadelphia neighborhoods.
The Nutrition Team was created to help students and families make healthy food choices within a limited budget and choose physically active lifestyles.
Homelessness Resources
Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH)
In accordance with federal and state guidelines under the McKinney/Vento Act, Franklin Towne Charter Schools are committed to removing barriers to education that face students experiencing homelessness.
- Do the members of your household lack a permanent address?
Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement?
Have you moved in with another family (doubled up) due to a lack of housing?
Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis?
Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household?
- If you or your child fit into any of these categories, please contact our Homelessness Liaison:
Please see the PDE website for more information on the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Act: McKinney Vento
City of Philadelphia Office of Homelessness Services - assistance with emergency services and obtaining long term housing, rental and financial assistance.
Other Housing Resources
Philadelphia Housing Authority-PHA provides safe and decent affordable housing for low-income residents in Philadelphia. Two main housing programs: the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Public Housing. Call 215-684-4000 or visit http://www.pha.phila.gov/housing.aspx
Volunteers of America Family Housing: https://www.voa.org/find-housing
Dignity House Shelter: https://www.dignityhousing.org/
Financial Resources
PA Department of Human Services
- Provides assistance such as TANF (cash assistance), SNAP (food voucher program), child care assistance, and medical assistance (see below), through Philadelphia County Assistance Offices.
- Philadelphia County Assistance Offices
- COMPASS online application system
Medical Resources
Philadelphia Health Centers (Clinics)
- People who live in Philadelphia can get medical care at many health centers throughout the city. The health centers include: City health centers operated by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and community health centers (also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers).
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- CHIP puts health coverage within reach for all uninsured kids and teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance.
Medical Assistance
- Medical Assistance, also known as Medicaid, and sometimes referred to as MA, pays for health care services for eligible individuals.
Mental Health or Substance Abuse Services
- Philadelphia DBHIDS coordinates mental health, addiction services, intellectual disability services and children's services.
Emergency Mental Health/Crisis Centers
- Germantown Hospital - Phone: 215-951-8300
- Friends Hospital IRC - Phone: 215-831-2600
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Philadelphia
NAMI Philadelphia is an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness.
Please visit https://namiphilly.org/ for more information.
Additional Resources
Student and Family Wellbeing resources.pdf
National Giving Alliance (NGA) is a Philadelphia-area based nonprofit that provides New Clothing and Coats to homeless and low-income children, women and men. NGA received a grant to provide new clothing to area school children.
We would like to make sure we provide those who are homeless, in foster care or are low-income with new clothing. Please contact your child's counselor for more information.
Penn Medicine's Hospice offers two programs, Camp Erin Philadelphia and Grief Research: Rediscovering Family, Rediscovering Fun.
Camp Erin is a free bereavement camp for youth who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Children and teens ages 6-17 attend a weekend camp experience that combines grief education and emotional support with fun, traditional camp activities. Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, campers are provided a safe environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills and make friends with peers who are also grieving. For more information and to fill out an application, please visit www.pennmedicine.org/camperin
Grief Research: Rediscovering Family, Rediscovering Fun is a program designed for families in their second and third years after a significant death. There are workshops throughout the year that promote healing and building resilience as a family unit, through fun shared experiences. For more information, please visit www.pennmedicine.org/griefreach
Helping Teens Learn to Cope: Learn how to support teens to manage stress in this video series. Ken Ginsburg, Co-Founder of CPTC and Professor of Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, leads us through how to build a comprehensive stress management plan. Helping Teens Learn to Cope