PILLARS OF LIGHT & LOVE PROGRAMS

Pillars of Light and Love is a non-profit located just outside Collegeville Pennsylvania in the borough of Trappe. Launched in 2014 by local well-known REALTOR, Kathy Opperman, a Certified Life Coach and former Registered Nurse. The mission of Pillars is to empower youth and adults to build self-esteem, confidence and strengthen abilities through educational, social, supportive and employment programs in an inclusive, diverse and collaborative environment. Through youth empowerment programs, workshops and support groups, we teach youth and adults to reduce stress, have strong self-esteem, overcome anxiety, depression and bullying. Our mission expanded in 2022 when we opened the So Much to Give Inclusive Cafe and then the So Much to Give Inspiration Studio in 2023 with a focus on inclusion and diversity. 

All of our programs are created to help build confidence, achieve better coping techniques, positive communication skills, and healthy relationships.  We believe when people are able to handle the challenges of life in healthy ways,  it will help avoid addiction, self-harm, anxiety, overwhelming sadness and depression. 

The "pillars" of light and love are the volunteers, instructors, and community members who help us support and empower individuals, and spread kindness with positivity, light and love!

We offer free a variety of ongoing support groups, empowerment workshops, and programs for ages 5 to adult, as well as youth empowerment programs like Julia's Joy Encouraging U Teen Talk. To serve the community we host Kindness Projects,  and we have additional programs such as Andy's Angels and our  annual Julia's Joy Voice Idol Competition each winter. Feel free to explore our site for more details! 

The So Much to Give Inclusive Cafe, is located at 3401 W Skippack Pike, in Cedars, PA. The mission of the Cafe is to provide a welcoming & inclusive Cafe to empower all, including those with disabilities & their families, to have equal opportunities to work, dine, socialize, volunteer & learn. Learn more HERE

The So Much to Give Inspiration Studio's mission is to enrich the lives of those with disabilities through art, music, movement, learning and fun! The studio is located in the same shopping village as the So Much to Give Inclusive Cafe.

Donations raised for Pillars of Light and Love fund many workshops and are used to provide discounted or free services (based on availability), at the Empowering U Center, such as Life Coaching, Marriage Counseling, Family Therapy, Teen & Tween Coaching groups, Stress and Anxiety Management, EMDR Therapy, Biofeedback (a holistic alternative for anxiety and depression), as well as other anxiety and stress relief services for those with serious illnesses, caregivers of special needs children and adults, as well as disabled Veterans. These services are also available to the general public through the independent practitioners at the Empowering U Center.

Financial assistance for services at the Empowering U Center depends on availability of funding which is based on donations received at Pillars of Light and Love. Please call 484-854-1162, email staff@pillarsoflightandlove.org or click this link to apply online: https://forms.gle/yQZdzCzgb8vxZJ4H6. 

Pillars of Light and Love does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations.

In order to provide additional opportunities for those we serve to be further integrated into the community, we opened the So Much to Give Inspiration Studio in July of 2023. Under the direction of Maureen Stanko, the mission of the studio is "Enriching the lives of those with disabilities through participation in inclusive social sessions focusing on art, music, health & wellness, theatre, dance, community service, and more in the heart of the Cedars Shopping Center." Weekly social sessions include community outings at the So Much to Give Inclusive Cafe as well as opportunities to integrate further into the community when sitting with friends on the patio, visiting the locations of various community partners to make deliveries or to help share our mission, "manning" pop-up shops on Flea Market Days, and working in our So Much to Give Inspiration Garden. 

Learn more & see the class schedule and pricing at www.SoMuchtoGiveStudio.org