Milestone achieved for charity

PHOENIXVILLE >> On Mother’s Day weekend, the Phoenixville Area Senior Center handed out its 100,000th free meal to feed the hungry since March 13, 2020.

Weekly, the Phoenixville nonprofit currently provides five frozen meals, a five-day breakfast bag, produce and staples, including milk, eggs and bread, to approximately 130 seniors.

The facility has been closed to in-person services since that Friday, nearly 15 months ago. However, when the nonprofit first shut down 61 weeks ago, the senior center started providing drivethru service and deliveries on March 16, 2020.

“This shows how communities can work together to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and conquer COVID-19. No one person could have acquired, delivered, and distributed 100,000

meals on their own,” said state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-19th, of West Chester.

“Working together, with an emphasis on health and safety, the Phoenixville Area Senior Center volunteers, supporters, and staff made it a reality,” said Comitta, who is a member of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. “Thank you to all who continue to support our senior centers in Phoenixville and across Chester County, Pennsylvania, and the nation.”

In recognition of the milestone, Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler and other local legislators were on hand, and in honor of Mother’s Day, flowers were distributed to all the women visiting the senior center for food.

Established more than 40 years ago, the Phoenixville Area Senior Center annually serves over 1,000 older adults in the Phoenixville vicinity including Spring City, Royersford, Collegeville and Oaks.

“We look for any opportunity to celebrate,” said Julie Gaudan, executive director of the Phoenixville Area Senior Center.

“Over the past year we also recognized Father’s Day with a sweet treat for the men, Memorial Day and National Poppy Day with poppies from the local American Legion Post No. 0482, Halloween with treats and Christmas with Santa and a gift generously provided by Great Valley Community Organization,” she said.

“Everyone can use as

much encouragement as possible in times like these. We also held our normal celebrations honoring our participants

who are 90 years old or better and our Veterans from their cars with musical performances and goodies,” Gaudan noted.

Elsewhere in the county, West Chester Area Senior

Center reached a similar milestone.

Maureen Sullivan holds up a 100 Grand candy bar in recognition of receiving the 100,000free meal distributed to at the Phoenixville Area Senior Center since the pandemic forced its closure to in-person activities last March. Also pictured (from left to right): state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten; Julie Gaudan, Executive Director of the Phoenixville Area Senior Center; state Sen. Carolyn Comitta; tate Rep. Melissa Shusterman; Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz; and Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS This May, the Phoenixville Area Senior Center distributed its 100,000th free meal since the pandemic forced its closure to in-person activities on March 13, 2020. To mark the moment, lawmakers unite, including, from left, state Rep. Melissa Shusterman, state Sen. Carolyn Comitta and Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler.