The Center at Spring Street

The Center at Spring Street is the Active Adult Center operated by Boyertown Area Multi-Service, Inc., a nonprofit social service agency based in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. Located at 200 Spring Street, the Center serves older adults living in the Boyertown Area School District and the surrounding townships of Amity, District, Hereford, Pike, Pottstown and Oley. It functions as both a daily gathering place and a hub for programs that extend well beyond its walls, including Meals on Wheels deliveries, food assistance and case management services administered by the parent agency.

The Center can be reached at +1 610-367-2313. Monthly menus, activity calendars and newsletters are published by the agency.

History

Boyertown Area Multi-Service, Inc. was founded in 1973 as an independent nonprofit organization. Two years later, in February 1975, the agency opened the Senior Neighborhood Center, the direct predecessor of today's program. The Center operated under that name for nearly three decades before being renamed The Center at Spring Street in 2004, a change made in anticipation of a move to a larger, purpose-built facility. Construction of the new building was completed in December 2005, and the Center opened its doors at 200 West Spring Street on January 9, 2006.

Several of the agency's best-known programs grew out of that same long institutional history. Meals on Wheels began in 1985 with eight volunteers. Today the program relies on more than 150 volunteers who deliver over 13,000 hot meals each year to homebound older adults, covering a service territory of more than 100 square miles daily.

The Congregate Meal Program

Lunch is a central part of daily life at the Center. The congregate meal program serves a midday meal at the Center each weekday, with monthly menus posted in advance so members can plan ahead. Meals are prepared on site by an executive chef and sous chef, and the rotating menu is built around variety and nutritional balance. For those who cannot stay to eat, the agency also offers Grab N Go meals.

Nutrition education complements the meal program. Bite by Bite is a 12 month nutrition education initiative developed by intern Caroline Giovinazzo as part of her Wellness Project. Each month the program shares practical tips and resources, with information aimed at helping individuals and families make healthier food choices at home.

Activities, Trips and Social Events

The Center publishes a monthly activity calendar covering card games, entertainment, group activities and social events. Much of the programming is shaped by members themselves. The monthly Friday night dances, for example, were started by member volunteers, and bus trips are planned by a member trip coordinator working with staff bus drivers.

The game room hosts regular monthly tournaments, including Wii Bowling and Bean Bag Baseball, supported by volunteer tournament monitors. Larger annual events bring members, families and the wider community together throughout the year.

• Monthly Friday night dances
• Wii Bowling and Bean Bag Baseball tournaments
• Card games and game room activities
• Group bus trips with posted schedules
• Summer Picnic
• Grandparent's Day
• Festival of Trees
• Basket Raffle

Membership at the Center includes a benefits list covering discounts and perks available both on site and through participating businesses in the Boyertown area. The benefits program is administered with assistance from a member committee.

Food Assistance and Support Services

Preston's Pantry, operated by Boyertown Area Multi-Service, provides food assistance to more than 300 households each month. The pantry runs year round, Monday through Friday, by appointment only. Distributions include nonperishable items, bread and frozen meat, with produce and eggs available when supplies allow. Staff work with households to accommodate food allergies, diabetes and other dietary requirements. The pantry serves residents of the Boyertown Area School District along with Hereford, District, Pike, Oley and Amity townships.

The agency's case management program offers goal oriented assistance for people navigating financial, employment and household challenges. Case managers provide referrals to assistance programs and help clients complete LIHEAP applications beginning each November. A job and workforce development component assists with resume preparation and interview skills. Seasonal support includes birthday bags, Easter baskets, school supplies, Christmas assistance and winter clothing.

Two additional services address practical barriers faced by homebound and lower income residents. The Store-to-Door program pairs volunteers with homebound clients to shop for and deliver groceries, with training provided and scheduling that can fall outside normal business hours. The Income Tax Assistance Program uses trained volunteers to prepare relatively simple federal and state returns, which may be filed electronically.

Volunteers

Volunteer labor underpins nearly every program the agency runs. In 2025, close to 700 volunteers logged 43,683 hours. Roles range from administrative support and sanitizing duties to Meals on Wheels drivers and runners, game room tournament monitors and help at special events. The onboarding process includes an application, a meet and greet, background clearances that typically take two to three weeks, and role specific training.

Merchandise

Preston's Pantry branded apparel is sold to support the agency's work. Items can be purchased Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm at the Senior Center entrance with the overhang. Payment is accepted by cash or check made payable to Boyertown Area Multi-Service.

Governance and Funding

Kim Haas serves as Active Adult Center Director, and Robert Varga is Executive Director of Boyertown Area Multi-Service, Inc. The agency is an independent nonprofit and a member organization of both the Boyertown Area United Way and the United Way of Berks County. Operating support comes from the Berks County Area Agency on Aging, Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services, individual donors and broader community contributions, a funding mix that reflects the Center's position at the boundary of Berks and Montgomery counties.

Practical Information

Prospective members and visitors can call +1 610-367-2313 for details on membership, meal reservations, upcoming trips and tournament schedules. Those seeking food assistance through Preston's Pantry should call to schedule an appointment, as walk in service is not available. Anyone interested in volunteering, whether as a Meals on Wheels driver, a Store-to-Door shopper or an event helper, can contact the agency to begin the application and clearance process.