Reading-Berks Association of Realtors® Deliver Meals for Thanksgiving

Members of the Reading-Berks Association of Realtors® delivered 225 meals to Berks County residents on Thanksgiving Day.

This 35-year tradition started when the association learned that the Berks Encore’s Meals on Wheels program offered meals every day of the year, with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Realtors® stepped in to cook and deliver meals on this holiday and have continued to do so. Realtor® volunteers helped prepare, package and deliver meals to seniors in need. Meals on Wheels serves individuals age 60 and over who are unable to prepare their own meals due to physical limitations and have no family or friends available to assist them.

In the initial year, 20 meals were served and the need continued to grow. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, members were determined to continue the tradition.

Realtor® Jack Evans chairs RBAR’s Outreach Committee. “The number of meals served was up this year because many people didn’t travel for Thanksgiving as a result of the pandemic,” Evans, who works with Keller Williams Platinum Realty in Wyomissing, noted. “We have an effective process in place with Realtors® working in the kitchen preparing the hot meals, others packaging dessert and rolls and we had 22 members delivering the meals. Everyone was making deliveries by 11 a.m.”

“The people receiving the meals are extremely thankful and it’s very well-received,” he added. “Our association has a lot of different community service projects. Realtors® are out in their communities volunteering to show that we care about our communities and we’re about more than listing and selling properties.”

The association delivered leftovers to the Opportunity House and to individuals experiencing homelessness in the City of Reading.

A PAR Century of Service grant provided additional funding for the project, in addition to contributions from other local businesses. PAR’s grants have been available during the association’s 100^th anniversary to allow local Realtor® organizations to make a difference in their communities.