Reading Volunteers Dedicated to Serving Others
Meet Audrey Owens and Donna Harris. These ladies are two of the many wonderful volunteers we have here. You can find them at the front desk at the Reading Center. They will be there to answer phone calls and greet people when they come into Berks Encore. These ladies are a tremendous help here and do nothing but wonderful things for Berks Encore.
Audrey Owens has been volunteering at Berks Encore since 2019, working at the front desk. Audrey, 68, is happily retired and resides in Reading where she has 3 kids. She assists with the Berks Jazz Fest in addition to volunteering at Berks Encore. Audrey’s favorite part of volunteering at Berks Encore is having the chance to get out of the house everyday as well as helping others in need. Her greatest life accomplishments include being a wonderful mother and a dedicated Christian. Walking and reading are two of Audrey’s favorite hobbies and she shared, “It’s always a good idea to get some exercise outside.”
Our next volunteer is Donna Harris. Donna is a 72-year-old woman who happily lives alone at the Wyomissing Club. She has no husband or kids but three brothers who each live in Virgina, New Jersey and Canada! With a background in social science and a master’s degree, Donna worked in skilled nursing facilities and as a claims specialist before retiring. Donna first started volunteering as early as 1976 in Memphis, before starting at Berks Encore in 2017 after she retired. Donna is a very involved volunteer at Berks Encore. She works two days a week at the front desk, assists with packing Meals on Wheels every morning, and volunteers annually at our Senior Expo. We asked Donna why she likes volunteering at Berks Encore and what is most important about volunteering? She said, “I enjoy being with people my age and the activities. I have been blessed to have retirement as leisure time. It is important to me to be able to use my limited skills to return help to people in need.” Berks Encore has given her new friendships, lots of hugs, and a sense of purpose. We asked Donna about her greatest life accomplishments. She replied, “Reaching the age of 72, I continue to believe I’m an honorable and kind person.” Berks Encore would like to thank Audrey and Donna for their years of volunteer service.
Are you looking for something meaningful to do to enrich your life? Volunteer today! Contact Michelle Goodhart, Volunteer Coordinator for Berks Encore 610-374-3195 ext. 225 or mgoodhart@berksencore.org to learn more about the variety of volunteer opportunities with Berks Encore.
