Active Adult Center In Pottstown Perseveres With Drive-Thru Meals

POTTSTOWN, PA — The TriCounty Active Adult Center in Pottstown has had to close under the most recent state safety measures for indoor businesses, but the center has come up with alternative means of serving its clientele.

People over 50 from western Montgomery, northern Chester, and eastern Berks counties can join and enjoy free drive-through healthy meals, Zoom exercise classes, and being part of a community.

TRAAC got approval from Montgomery County to serve the approximate 130 meals, three days a week. These meals are created in the TRAAC kitchen following extremely strict guidelines from preparation to masking and social distancing is enforced, the center said.

TRAAC described itself as a home-away-from-home for many seniors. "Our mission is to help active adults live independently. We strive to keep them active, informed, and healthy," said Sharon Lee Leibensperger, office manager for the center.

"Everywhere folks are in need as everyone somehow finds ways to emotionally absorb this unbelievable historic time in history. There are many making a difference and giving their time, skill, and kindness from their hearts to help humanity," Leibensperger said.

She said that seniors often are isolated, and that can lead to depression. The center has been running exercise classes on Zoom, helping seniors to stay active and feel more connected during their time at home.

Leibensperger said demand for food was high in May, June, and July, and TRAAC volunteered our kitchen and kitchen staff to cook meals, and a local church distributed them.

"Our staff prepared an average of 600 meals a week to feed Pottstown families. There was a dire need during these historic times. So many busy folks are working behind the scenes making a difference," she said.

The center staff also acquired emergency food boxes from FEMA, for seniors who are homebound, delivering a month's worth of food at a time.

She said TRAAC's director Brian Parkes is "busy researching and applying for grants and also arranging mailings to keep money coming in so we can stay afloat and trying to keep staff employed."

The administrative staff rolled up their sleeves, mailing over a thousand letters requesting help," she said.

For more information or to join the center, go here.