Rhoads Energy donates $10,000 to 4 area nonprofits

LANCASTER — Rhoads Energy recently made donations to four area nonprofits — continuing a more than 100 year legacy of giving back to the community. One of those organizations is the Reading Science Center, 645 Penn St., in Reading.

The donations were made through the regional energy provider’s Rhoads Energy Community & Family Grant program, an initiative launched three years ago. Through the grant program, a rotating committee of Rhoads Energy team members distributes $10,000 in grant funding to deserving non-profits, the company said in a press release.

“The Grant Program is a great way to focus our charitable efforts so they have a real impact,” Michael DeBerdine, CEO of Rhoads Energy, said in a statement. “Rhoads Energy is an employee-owned company, so it makes sense for our team members to make financial decisions about support for community groups.”

The company accepts applications from community nonprofits each year, which the committee reviews. This year, the employee committee reviewed a record number of applications, the company said, ultimately awarding a total of $10,000 in grants to four organizations:

The Reading Science Center opened in October 2020, and is a popular field trip destination for area students. Its goal is to promote careers in STEM, through formal and informal science education, according to its website. The center plans to use the Rhoads Energy grant to purchase kits for the center’s classroom lab, where students perform a supervised experiment. Students also receive a second kit to recreate the experiment at home.

Power Packs Project in Lancaster is a program that focuses on children that are dealing with food insecurity. Power Packs offers education and ingredients to empower families to create nutritious weekend meals, so their children return to school fed and ready to learn.

Bench Mark Program in Lancaster provides opportunities to under-served youth, creating positive gym spaces where kids can feel safe, understood, and empowered. The program includes physical exercise, academic counseling, and career coaching.

Anchor Lancaster provides hot meals, warm showers, and other support to those experiencing homelessness. Anchor Lancaster offers a welcoming safe environment, receiving guests with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Rhoads Energy will begin accepting applications in the fall for its 2025 Community & Family Grant Program.

Rhoads Energy serves Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties, and offers heating oil, natural gas, and propane delivery; fleet fueling and commercial services. The company also operates Rhoads Air, a division that installs and services heating, cooling, indoor air quality, and other equipment.