Berks Encore is proud to report its “Share the Love” campaign has resulted in 1,500 pounds of non-perishable food and toiletry items for Meals on Wheels recipients; donated gift baskets/bags for all Meals on Wheels recipients; and increased awareness of senior hunger in Berks County. This local effort, part of the Meals on Wheels 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 thanks the amazing community effort to ensure seniors in need had a happy and healthy 2015 holiday season,” said LuAnn Oatman, Berks Encore President/CEO. “Once again, the generosity of Berks County residents allowed us to ‘Share the Love’ with each and every Meals on Wheels recipient. We are grateful for all that has been accomplished on behalf of the seniors in need of a daily, home-delivered meal.”
Berks Encore’s “Share the Love – Stuff the Cooler” event ran from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31. Donations were collected at each of the 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 Assured Assistance and Paramount Living Aids, Shillington; Heritage at Green Hills and Green Hills Manor, Reading; and Suburban Water Testing Labs, Reading. In addition, Precision Medical, Denver, completed an in-house food collection.
Through this campaign, Berks Encore collected more than 10 pallets of food from business partners, which total approximately 1,500 pounds of food. Berks Encore centers collected approximately 500 donation items from center attendees and community members. The donations will reach more than 300 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. Some centers used the donations to replenish a food pantry for center attendees in need of food assistance; the pantry will be utilized all year.
Berks Encore also collected holiday gift baskets and bags as part of the campaign and its “Angel Tree” program. Through the support of dozens of individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations, each Meals on Wheels client served by Berks Encore received a gift this holiday season.
Other groups created handmade holiday cards for Meals on Wheels recipients, with dozens of cards delivered.
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 $25,000. This can provide an extra layer of support to help deliver nutritious meals and other important services to seniors in Berks County.