St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Birdsboro, led by pastor Jim Farnsworth, has a mission to serve the community. The church offers a group for senior citizens, a community garden and a food pantry, among other ministries. The church's latest project is the installation of a shower and laundry facility that can be utilized by the local homeless population and others in need.

St. Mark's Community Care Center Shower and Laundry was dedicated on June 28. The facility, located downstairs in the church fellowship hall, was once a boys' restroom, but it now houses a shower, as well as a washer and dryer complete with laundry soap and a scrubbing sink.

Farnsworth said that the facility will serve Birdsboro's homeless population and others who may have water issues or nonworking appliances. "We don't have a big homeless population, but we do have some unhoused individuals ... so there is a population," he told those who gathered for the dedication. "St. Mark's has been serving this population through our food pantry program, and we got to know all of them. One of the biggest concerns I hear from the homeless individuals is that they don't have any place to shower or to wash their clothes."

Farnsworth recalled meeting a homeless couple last summer that had gone without a shower for several weeks. "(Following the interaction), we had a meeting with the borough, and I then came to our church council to tell them that we needed to do something," he said.

Farnsworth said that a shower and freshly washed clothes will provide some comfort to these individuals. "This is a part of our community that is suffering, so we need to try to help them out with by simply allowing them to get a shower once in a while to feel refreshed and feel good about themselves and to have some form of dignity back in their lives," he said. "If you ever go to the laundromat, it can (cost) between $8 and $10 to do a few loads of laundry."

Also on hand for the dedication ceremony was Jack Williams, the executive director of Berks Coalition to End Homelessness, who expressed his appreciation to the church for opening the center. "We're so appreciative that you as a church community provided something that is very much needed," he stated.

Farnsworth then cut the ribbon to open the center and offered a dedication prayer. He also thanked those who contributed to the project, including the Berks County American Rescue Plan and pastor Gesner Noel and his congregation at Eglise Baptiste Nouvelle Naissance in Birdsboro.

The center will be open by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. so that a staff member can be on hand when the facility is in use. Walk-ins will not be permitted. Individuals may stop by or call the church office to reserve a time slot at 610-582-8167.

St. Mark's Lutheran Church is located at 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro. For further information, visit http://www.stmarkbirdsboro.org or http://www.facebook.com/StMarksBirdsboro.