Due to increased client demand, Berks Encore is in need of Meals On Wheels volunteers for several locations throughout Berks County. Volunteers are needed for all six centers, especially in the area of center city Reading. Volunteer drivers and runners are needed weekdays.
“We’re seeing a rise in the number of seniors who need our Meals On Wheels service, and we are struggling to meet the demand,” says LuAnn Oatman, President/CEO. “To continue to meet the needs of this vulnerable community, we’re asking the community to help us deliver vital nutrition and a check-in for local seniors. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization, and without their help, we would not be able to serve over 600 clients each day.”
Individuals can volunteer once a week, once a month, or as often as he or she would like. Delivering a route takes less than two hours of someone’s day and can be done on a lunch break for those who work during the week. Meals can be picked up any time between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; all meals must be delivered by 1:00 p.m.
In addition to individual volunteers, we encourage local businesses to adopt a route. Meals On Wheels business partners receive a variety of perks and services via the partnership.
Many seniors struggle with hunger, isolation, and the ability to pay for basic living needs. The Meals On Wheels program supports our senior neighbors to extend their independence and health as they age. The program helps nine out of ten recipients feel safer and more secure in their own homes, and 83 percent of Meals On Wheels clients say it helps improve their overall health, according to national research from Meals on Wheels America.
For information about Meals On Wheels volunteer opportunities in your area, please email kbecker@berksencore.org, call (610) 374-3195, x220, or call a center directly at:
* Berks Encore-Birdsboro: (610) 582-1603
* Berks Encore-Fleetwood: (610) 944-9242
* Berks Encore-Mifflin: (610) 777-5577
* Berks Encore-Reading: (610) 374-3195
* Berks Encore-Strausstown: (610) 488-5770
* Berks Encore-Wernersville: (610) 670-1372
For more information, visit < www.BerksEncore.org>.
