Volunteer Grocery Shopping and Delivery From Berks Encore
Berks Encore, working with Redner's Warehouse Markets, sends a volunteer to buy your groceries and bring them to your home on a regular basis if you have difficulty getting to a grocery store or doing your own shopping.
The program is described for people over the age of 50. The printed eligibility guidelines say Berks County residents 60+ must meet the program's guidelines, and adults under the age of 60 who request the service because of a handicap and/or functional disability must meet them too. You also have to be able to pay for the groceries at the time they are delivered, and you must not have other regular options to acquire groceries.
To join, you complete a Grocery Shopping Registered Client Application. There is an online registration form on the Berks Encore services page at berksencore.org, under the Grocery Shopping Program section. The guidelines say to submit the application plus a $5.00 application fee to Grocery Shopping Coordinator, Berks Encore, 40 N. 9th Street, Reading, PA 19601. That $5.00 is credited toward the $5.00 handling fee on your first shopping order. Once a volunteer in your area can be assigned, that volunteer will contact you to discuss your shopping needs and their availability to deliver your groceries.
To place an order:
- Contact the office at (610) 374-3195 ext. 219 to place an order on a Monday or a Thursday between 9 am and 2 pm to receive delivery that week.
- Your volunteer shopper will call you to schedule a delivery time.
- The volunteer buys the groceries at a local Redner's Warehouse Markets location using a Berks Encore charge card.
- When the groceries are delivered, you pay with a check made out to Berks Encore for the cost of the groceries plus a $5 handling fee. The volunteer gives you a receipt for the grocery purchase.
You can order weekly or less frequently, and each order is limited to 25 items. The program accepts SNAP (Food Stamp) payments; call 610.374.3195, ext. 219 for instructions and paperwork to sign up for the program.
A few things to know before you start. If an order is not placed at least once each month, Berks Encore will not be able to dedicate a volunteer for your shopping needs and cannot guarantee someone will be available to take care of your order when requested. If no grocery order is placed within three months of when your application is received, you are removed from the program and forfeit the $5.00 application fee; registering again requires a new application plus another $5.00 fee. Let Berks Encore know whether you need the service on a temporary or an ongoing basis, be specific when placing your order, and tell the volunteer when it is okay to substitute. The shoppers are volunteers, so they should not be asked to run additional errands, and they are not authorized to shop for alcohol or to comply with any request that could put you at risk.
The main office is at 40 North 9th Street, Reading PA 19601. For general questions, the office number is (610) 374-3195 and the email address is ApplaudingLife@BerksEncore.org. The page does not say how long it takes for a volunteer to be assigned.
Source: berksencore.org/aging-services-in-berks-county-pa, read September 18, 2026.
The details
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9th Street, Reading, PA 19601. NOTE: $5.00 application fee credited toward the $5.00 handling fee for the first shopping order. • Must be able to pay for groceries at the time the groceries are delivered • Client must not have other regular options to acquire groceries.
- Complete a Grocery Shopping Registered Client Application.
In Berks Encore’s words
Berks Encore and Redner’s Warehouse Markets are proud to offer our Grocery Shopping Program. If you are over the age of 50 and have difficulty getting to a grocery store or doing your own shopping, Berks Encore will try to find a volunteer who will do your shopping and deliver the groceries to your home on a regular basis.
Organization
Berks Encore
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This listing summarizes publicly available information from berksencore.org/aging-services-in-berks-county-pa. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.