From a young age, LuAnn Oatman knew she had a calling to serve people in some way. She began her career caring for children, but now, as president and CEO of Berks Encore, she coordinates a myriad of programs that assist and entertain seniors — work she feels honored to do. Although her career with non-profits has taken her from Philadelphia to New Hampshire, Oatman and her husband Mark returned to Berks to be close to family. Their Blandon home isn’t far from their son, Paul, and grandson, Justin, who live in the Lehigh Valley.
Q: Did you set out to do non-profit work?
I started my career in child care, running a nursery school. Through the mother of one of my students, I heard about a job opening fundraising for an arthritis charity in Philadelphia and decided to go for it. I knew nothing about fundraising but really wanted to learn. I then worked as executive director for the Reading Musical Foundation for 10 years before moving to New England to work there for a while.
Q: So you spent years working with kids but now focus on seniors?
Yes, as I’ve gotten older, so has the population I serve [laughs]. It’s wonderful to see how much the face of aging has changed in just the last 10 years. I enjoy getting out into the community and talking about this because today’s seniors do amazing things. In the past, getting older often meant slowing down, but that’s not the norm now. We have a Senior Olympic volleyball team, a senior orchestra – people don’t slow down. I like to say "don’t retire from something; retire to something" – and that’s what many people over 65 do.
Q: What do you think many people don’t know about Berks Encore?
We’re most known for Meals On Wheels, but we’re the premiere non-profit that deals with aging [in Berks]. We strive to keep people engaged through recreation, education and socialization. And we offer free programs like Medicare counseling to help seniors fill out paperwork, as well as income tax preparation. We have about 1,500 volunteers that make everything we do possible. We have only 21 staff members, so we couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers. Many of them are seniors themselves, so there may be one senior, who’s in her 70s, helping another, who may be younger. People can use the skills they’ve acquired over their lives to help others; it’s an amazing community.
Q: Since you do a lot for others, what do you do for yourself? What gives you joy?
My family. Family time makes me happy. And I knit; I like to try new projects. And I deliver Meals On Wheels once a week. Seeing and touching the lives of the homebound really means so much to me. They are the people we serve, and they need us.
Q: Your journey has been about service, but the rewards are many, and I’m sure you’ve learned a lot about life, people and growing older.
Oh yes. I always knew I had a calling, but I was never sure what it was. When I started in my career, I didn’t know it would be non-profit work, but this is my way of ministering. I am blessed – for the work, to meet the seniors I serve, and to be among so many dedicated people. As for growing old – I’ve found the older I get, the more I’m glad to be young at heart; being young in your mind is the key to getting the most out of any age.
