United Way Moving To New HQ & HELP Center In Bristol Twp.

The United Way of Bucks County is will be opening a new headquarters and service hub in Bristol Township.

The upcoming move brings the organization’s administrative offices and its HELP Center under one roof in Bristol Township.

The facility at 2901 Edgely Road previously housed Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania before that organization vacated the building last year, is designed to serve as a centralized resource for local families.

The United Way of Bucks County has operated out of a building on Hood Boulevard in Falls Township for decades and the HELP Center is located in Bristol Borough.

“The current facilities will remain open through June 2026, with the new headquarters and HELP Center officially opening later that month,” according to the nonprofit’s website.

Marissa Christie, president and CEO of United Way of Bucks County, called the new site a breakthrough for the nonprofit.

“The building itself is made possible through a blend of federal and private support, but inside that building, we depend entirely on community support to serve our neighbors,” Christie said.

The organization focuses heavily on “ALICE” households—an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE families are working families who earn above the federal poverty level but struggle to afford essentials and often do not qualify for traditional government assistance.

Demand for services from ALICE families across Bucks County has spiked.

Since the HELP Center opened in 2020, scheduled visits have surged by more than 1,400%.

The center now serves approximately 15,000 unique consumers annually, providing food, new clothing, and hygiene products through a “shopper choice” model.

The HELP Center serves as a distribution point for more than 100 partners, including schools and other nonprofits. On-site services are provided by a network of agencies, including the Bucks County Opportunity Council, St. Mary Medical Center, and Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The transition to the new facility is supported by $4.25 million in federal funding.

“United Way’s HELP Center has become one of the most vital pillars of support for families in Bucks County facing hardship,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican who facilitated obtaining the federal money. “With this new home, the HELP Center will expand its reach, operate at greater scale, and serve families with the stability they deserve.”

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, a Democrat, and State Rep. Tina Davis, a Democrat, recently toured the building that is in their districts.

Santarsiero described the project as an “important milestone for our entire community.”

Davis praised the work United Way does in the community, “from providing emergency assistance to those in need, to educating our children, to promoting financial wellness, ensures that Bucks County continues to be a great place to work, live, and grow.” 

Bristol Township Council President Craig Bowen welcomed the nonprofit to the municipality.

Christie, the nonprofit’s CEO, said the organization will soon seek “early investors” from the business and private sectors to help be sure operations can meet the scale of need.

“Supporting the HELP Center early on was an easy decision,” said Jeane M. Vidoni, president and CEO of Penn Community Bank. “Seeing it become a permanent, expanded space is a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with purpose.”

According to the United Way, 96% of its guests report that the assistance allows them to redirect their limited funds toward critical expenses like rent and utilities.

For more information on the transition, the organization has directed residents to its website at uwbucks.org/breakthrough.

Editor’s Note: Publisher Tom Sofield serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Bucks County.