Berks Encore reports that its “Share the Love – Stuff the Cooler” campaign resulted in thousands of pounds of non-perishable food and toiletry items for Meals on Wheels recipients and increased awareness of senior hunger in Berks County.
This local effort, part of the Meals on Wheels Association of America’s participation in Subaru of America, Inc.’s national, year-end “Share the Love” event, is designed as a way for Subaru retailers to give back to their local communities. Berks Encore partnered with Steve Moyer Subaru dealership, Leesport, for the duration of this campaign.
Berks Encore’s “Share the Love – Stuff the Cooler” event ran from December 2 until December 31. Donations were collected at each of our six centers and at Steve Moyer Subaru dealership. This food donation collection benefited the agency’s Meals on Wheels clients and helped raise awareness of senior hunger in Berks County. Non-perishable items and donations were also collected at partners Fleetwood Bank, Fleetwood; Lausch’s Moving & Storage, Shillington; Assured Assistance, Shillington; Heritage at Green Hills and Green Hills Manor, Reading; and Triose, Wyomissing.
In addition, Precision Medical, Denver, completed an in-house food collection, and the Reading Health System’s Rehabilitation Hospital, Wyomissing, donated the results of their holiday food drive to the Share the Love campaign. Other community groups, including local Girl Scout troops as well as Flying Hills Preschool, contributed donations.
“We are so grateful for the generosity and commitment of the businesses and individuals in our community,” says LuAnn Oatman, Berks Encore CEO/President. “Berks Encore is committed to providing homebound seniors with nutritious meals. We want to extend our thanks to our community partners for participating in this important food drive.”
Through this campaign, Berks Encore collected over ten pallets of food from business partners, which total approximately 1,000 pounds of food. Berks Encore centers collected approximately 500 donation items from center attendees and community members. The donations will reach over 200 seniors in need across Berks County. Our centers are using this food in various ways: several centers distributed goods to Meals on Wheels clients in the form of blizzard boxes or other supplemental deliveries. One center used the food to create a food pantry for center attendees in need of food assistance; the pantry will be utilized and replenished all year.
As a proud Subaru “Share the Love” event charitable partner, local Meals On Wheels Member programs that partner with Subaru retailers are eligible to earn grants of up to $35,000. This can provide an extra layer of support to help deliver nutritious meals and other important services to seniors in Berks County.