In 1965, the Berks County Senior Citizens Council responded to the call of county commissioners who recognized the need to support an aging population. From its humble beginnings in the basement of the Berkshire Hotel, Berks Encore has evolved into a transformative force, shaping the quality of life for local seniors for more than 50 years. These individuals, who built the businesses we frequent, the hospitals we rely on, and the schools that educated us, are now the heartbeat of Berks Encore's story. Let’s dive in.
In 1965, the Berks County Senior Citizens Council responded to the call of county commissioners who recognized the need to support an aging population. From its humble beginnings in the basement of the Berkshire Hotel, Berks Encore has evolved into a transformative force, shaping the quality of life for local seniors for more than 50 years. These individuals, who built the businesses we frequent, the hospitals we rely on, and the schools that educated us, are now the heartbeat of Berks Encore's story. Let’s dive in.
The Story Behind Berks Encore
Over 50 years ago, the Berks County Senior Citizens Council emerged at the urging of the county commissioners, addressing the rapidly rising concerns over an aging population. The directive led to the birth of a nonprofit in April 1965, initially focused on establishing a senior citizens’ activity center.
With swift action from a dedicated group of invested individuals, a senior center materialized within weeks, finding its home in the basement of the Berkshire Hotel. Shuffleboard, card games, guitar lessons, and arts and music programs marked the early days of the organization, drawing 22 initial members overseen by then-Executive Director Fred Ruch. As the group's activities expanded, so did its membership. Crafts, food sales, hospital visitations and the introduction of the Meals on Wheels program became integral to daily operations.
By 1974, the agency had grown significantly—4,800 senior club members made up the majority of the agency’s 7,000 members. The decision was made to build the first senior center facility in Pennsylvania: the Horizon Center at the corner of 9th and Court streets in Reading.
In 2008, a transformative moment occurred with a name change to Berks Encore, symbolizing the years beyond 50 as the encore of life. Since the branding change, Berks Encore has continued to expand and evolve, adapting to the changing needs of the county's aging community and their caregivers.
Staying at the vanguard of aging services in Berks County means addressing the increasingly diverse needs of the senior population. With senior centers dotted across Douglassville, Wernersville, Reading, Fleetwood, Mifflin, and Strausstown, and services extending to surrounding areas like Birdsboro, Robesonia, Kutztown and Hamburg, Berks Encore strives to be the go-to resource for aging services, celebrating the uniqueness of each individual in the senior community.
Here’s how they do it.
The Story Behind Berks Encore
Over 50 years ago, the Berks County Senior Citizens Council emerged at the urging of the county commissioners, addressing the rapidly rising concerns over an aging population. The directive led to the birth of a nonprofit in April 1965, initially focused on establishing a senior citizens’ activity center.
With swift action from a dedicated group of invested individuals, a senior center materialized within weeks, finding its home in the basement of the Berkshire Hotel. Shuffleboard, card games, guitar lessons, and arts and music programs marked the early days of the organization, drawing 22 initial members overseen by then-Executive Director Fred Ruch. As the group's activities expanded, so did its membership. Crafts, food sales, hospital visitations and the introduction of the Meals on Wheels program became integral to daily operations.
By 1974, the agency had grown significantly—4,800 senior club members made up the majority of the agency’s 7,000 members. The decision was made to build the first senior center facility in Pennsylvania: the Horizon Center at the corner of 9th and Court streets in Reading.
In 2008, a transformative moment occurred with a name change to Berks Encore, symbolizing the years beyond 50 as the encore of life. Since the branding change, Berks Encore has continued to expand and evolve, adapting to the changing needs of the county's aging community and their caregivers.
Staying at the vanguard of aging services in Berks County means addressing the increasingly diverse needs of the senior population. With senior centers dotted across Douglassville, Wernersville, Reading, Fleetwood, Mifflin, and Strausstown, and services extending to surrounding areas like Birdsboro, Robesonia, Kutztown and Hamburg, Berks Encore strives to be the go-to resource for aging services, celebrating the uniqueness of each individual in the senior community.
Here’s how they do it.
Meet Ms. LuAnn Oatman
President & CEO
LuAnn Oatman always knew she was destined for purpose-driven work. She started her career working with young children, progressing to at-risk youth, and ultimately finding her calling with older adults at the Lutheran Home at Topton with Diakon Ministries.
When the opportunity for a leadership position at Berks Encore arose, Oatman was drawn to the challenge. She thrives in organizations facing adversity, and the prospect of revitalizing and improving a nonprofit resonated with her. The hiring process was intensive, Oatman recalls, involving interviews with a board panel and meeting nearly 50 members. On Dec. 7, 2005, Oatman started her position as executive director at Berks Encore; and after 18 fulfilling years, retirement isn't on her horizon anytime soon!
Stepping more firmly into the nonprofit world propelled Oatman into a realm where she could leverage her passions, her gifts and her knack for building teams and partnerships. Part of her strategy included hiring individuals with corporate experience as well as nonprofit backgrounds to create a blended team with a unique tapestry of skills and gifts.
“I think we have a really strong ethic of accountability and transparency here,” Oatman explained when asked about organizational culture. “I usually say that ‘every dollar that we receive is a public dollar’—whether it came through a government grant, a private foundation grant or you write us a check. Somebody in the public made those dollars available so we need to be accountable for every dollar we spend.”
Berks Encore operates six senior centers, each serving as a vital hub for the Meals on Wheels program. The scope of the Meals on Wheels program is impressive, covering the entire county except the Boyertown area, where the Boyertown Area Multi-Service takes charge.
At 7:30 a.m. at the Reading, Pa., location, the kitchen is already humming with activity. Volunteers, working under the supervision of a staff member, execute a meticulous preparation process that involves using sealing machines to portion out and seal each meal, ensuring freshness and quality.
With approximately 65 routes crisscrossing the county, the volunteers are the lifeline who ensure that no senior is left without a warm, nutritious meal and a smile to brighten their day. On any given week, they serve approximately 650+ unique individuals, translating to a heartwarming 156,443 total meals delivered last year.
“Most of our volunteers would tell you they get more out of volunteering than the individual who receives the meal, because you're seeing the isolated and the forgotten,” said Oatman thoughtfully. “Because they're behind closed doors and their shutters are generally drawn. When you knock on that door and deliver that meal, and the person behind the blinds is so happy to see you…it can be life-changing.”
Volunteers are armed with smart pads and embark on their daily mission, delivering meals to seniors like clockwork, Monday through Friday. The smart pads serve to help navigate delivery and will prompt volunteers with important details like confirming meal deliveries and flagging any issues or concerns that might arise during the dropoff.
Behind the scenes, two dedicated staff members take on the crucial role of care managers. They personally oversee the well-being of about 80% of the individuals benefiting from the home-delivered meal program. This personalized touch ensures that seniors not only receive a meal but also the care and attention they deserve.
Berks Encore operates six senior centers, each serving as a vital hub for the Meals on Wheels program. The scope of the Meals on Wheels program is impressive, covering the entire county except the Boyertown area, where the Boyertown Area Multi-Service takes charge.
At 7:30 a.m. at the Reading, Pa., location, the kitchen is already humming with activity. Volunteers, working under the supervision of a staff member, execute a meticulous preparation process that involves using sealing machines to portion out and seal each meal, ensuring freshness and quality.
With approximately 65 routes crisscrossing the county, the volunteers are the lifeline who ensure that no senior is left without a warm, nutritious meal and a smile to brighten their day. On any given week, they serve approximately 650+ unique individuals, translating to a heartwarming 156,443 total meals delivered last year.
“Most of our volunteers would tell you they get more out of volunteering than the individual who receives the meal, because you're seeing the isolated and the forgotten,” said Oatman thoughtfully. “Because they're behind closed doors and their shutters are generally drawn. When you knock on that door and deliver that meal, and the person behind the blinds is so happy to see you…it can be life-changing.”
Volunteers are armed with smart pads and embark on their daily mission, delivering meals to seniors like clockwork, Monday through Friday. The smart pads serve to help navigate delivery and will prompt volunteers with important details like confirming meal deliveries and flagging any issues or concerns that might arise during the dropoff.
Behind the scenes, two dedicated staff members take on the crucial role of care managers. They personally oversee the well-being of about 80% of the individuals benefiting from the home-delivered meal program. This personalized touch ensures that seniors not only receive a meal but also the care and attention they deserve.
Berks Encore's collaborative spirit extends across a constellation of partners, ranging from healthcare leaders like Reading Hospital and Penn State Health St. Joseph’s to community-focused allies like Redner’s Markets, Helping Harvest, and the Berks County Area Agency on Aging.
“I'm a big believer in collective community impact,” said Oatman. “So if we don't need to execute a given task or program ourselves, why replicate what already exists? It's better to find a partner.”
Educational collaborations with Penn State, Alvernia University and the Drexel School of Medicine not only enhance prevention programs, but also bring fresh perspectives through student engagement. Interns work directly with seniors, giving future medical professionals direct experience with this special population.
A powerful example of Berks Encore's impactful collaborations is the "Be Nourished" program, a partnership with Penn State Health St. Joseph’s and Redner’s. Focused on medically tailored meals for individuals dealing with diabetes and heart disease, the initiative has yielded tangible and promising outcomes, including decreased A1C levels, lower blood pressure and weight reduction.
Berks Encore's collaborative mindset doesn't stop at county lines; discussions with Northampton County are underway to extend services, showcasing a commitment to reach more seniors and expand the positive impact of its programs.
Berks Encore's collaborative spirit extends across a constellation of partners, ranging from healthcare leaders like Reading Hospital and Penn State Health St. Joseph’s to community-focused allies like Redner’s Markets, Helping Harvest, and the Berks County Area Agency on Aging.
“I'm a big believer in collective community impact,” said Oatman. “So if we don't need to execute a given task or program ourselves, why replicate what already exists? It's better to find a partner.”
Educational collaborations with Penn State, Alvernia University and the Drexel School of Medicine not only enhance prevention programs, but also bring fresh perspectives through student engagement. Interns work directly with seniors, giving future medical professionals direct experience with this special population.
A powerful example of Berks Encore's impactful collaborations is the "Be Nourished" program, a partnership with Penn State Health St. Joseph’s and Redner’s. Focused on medically tailored meals for individuals dealing with diabetes and heart disease, the initiative has yielded tangible and promising outcomes, including decreased A1C levels, lower blood pressure and weight reduction.
Berks Encore's collaborative mindset doesn't stop at county lines; discussions with Northampton County are underway to extend services, showcasing a commitment to reach more seniors and expand the positive impact of its programs.
As the aging landscape transforms, so do the offerings at Berks Encore’s regional facilities. The aging population, healthier and more active than ever, now demands new and varied programs. Berks Encore has risen to the challenge, expanding its repertoire to include more interactive activities such as historical walking tours and wellness classes, in addition to traditional craft, game and entertainment events. Its Strausstown location, for example, boasts a pickleball court—a nod to the newer, younger seniors seeking dynamic engagement.
Recognizing the digital gap among seniors, Berks Encore also aims to help bridge that divide. Collaborating with the Area Agency on Aging, the organization secured laptops that are distributed across senior centers. These laptops, equipped with internet access, open doors to the digital world for seniors who may not have the means or resources to connect at home.
And in the era of COVID-19, Berks Encore adapted its programming, shifting to virtual platforms to ensure continued accessibility. Health and wellness classes, volunteer applications, and more are now accessible online, making it easier for seniors and volunteers to engage from the safety of their homes.
Berks Encore's commitment to creating a community for seniors goes beyond physical spaces—it extends to embracing new technologies, fostering intergenerational connections, and ensuring that every senior, regardless of their background or budget, has a place where they can say, “I belong.”
As the aging landscape transforms, so do the offerings at Berks Encore’s regional facilities. The aging population, healthier and more active than ever, now demands new and varied programs. Berks Encore has risen to the challenge, expanding its repertoire to include more interactive activities such as historical walking tours and wellness classes, in addition to traditional craft, game and entertainment events. Its Strausstown location, for example, boasts a pickleball court—a nod to the newer, younger seniors seeking dynamic engagement.
Recognizing the digital gap among seniors, Berks Encore also aims to help bridge that divide. Collaborating with the Area Agency on Aging, the organization secured laptops that are distributed across senior centers. These laptops, equipped with internet access, open doors to the digital world for seniors who may not have the means or resources to connect at home.
And in the era of COVID-19, Berks Encore adapted its programming, shifting to virtual platforms to ensure continued accessibility. Health and wellness classes, volunteer applications, and more are now accessible online, making it easier for seniors and volunteers to engage from the safety of their homes.
Berks Encore's commitment to creating a community for seniors goes beyond physical spaces—it extends to embracing new technologies, fostering intergenerational connections, and ensuring that every senior, regardless of their background or budget, has a place where they can say, “I belong.”
Innovation on the Horizon
Berks Encore is not just delivering meals and hosting Bingo games; they're truly delivering a comprehensive approach to senior care. The partnerships and programs it has cultivated ripple through the community, creating a network of support that extends far beyond the initial point of contact, and they want more people to know about it. Next spring, Berks Encore is exploring new ways to connect with the community and raise awareness, including hosting a benefit concert in partnership with RACC’s Miller Center for the Performing Arts.
In every meal delivered, every innovative partnership and every community connection, Berks Encore continues to honor the enduring spirit and immeasurable contributions of our seniors.
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