What’s in Store for 2025?

Making an Impact!

By Lori Gerhart, VP Advancement
Do you feel excitement of the unknown as a new year approaches, wondering what it will bring? Or do you crave the stability of something more predictable? There are years when I would have been content to have things stay the same—no surprises. Other years, like this one, I look forward to the thrill of new beginnings. 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting one! For starters, my daughter is engaged and has planned her wedding date for December 2025, after Christmas. I can already anticipate the whirlwind of planning and pre-wedding events in the months ahead. Meanwhile, my son, who has lived in New York City and Philadelphia for several years, is relocating to Berks County. He’s looking forward to starting a new chapter of his life back in his hometown. While it may take him some time to adjust, I’m happy to have him closer to home.

In my professional life at Berks Encore, we are celebrating a significant milestone—60 years of serving the community! It all started with the Berks County Senior Citizens Council, which evolved into Berks Encore. You’ll be hearing more about the people and circumstances that helped to impact the senior community and bring the organization where it is today. We are planning some exciting events to celebrate 60 years, including a Meals on Wheels benefit concert, an anniversary dinner, our annual EXPO, and other fun ways to celebrate how far we’ve come.

As part of our continued growth, we are rebranding our Meals on Wheels program to better reflect our community focus. As a proud member of the Meals on Wheels America network, we are excited to introduce Meals on Wheels Berks County—a new logo and identity you’ll be seeing on our marketing materials and delivery vehicles.
Additionally, we’re preparing to launch another pilot of our BENourished program—a medically tailored meal initiative designed to help patients with cardiac issues manage their condition through proper nutrition. This is just one way we aim to support the health and well-being of those we serve.
I’m eager to see how many more people we can engage in our mission, helping seniors remain independent with nutritious meals and friendly visits. If you’re interested in getting involved, we’d love to hear from you!

Reach out to us at 610-374-3195 or email lgerhart@berksencore.org.
Come along for the journey. Here’s to a bright 2025!