The Rotary Club of Coatesville recently held a special luncheon at the Coatesville Moose Lodge to honor Bill Pierce, executive director of Brandywine Valley Active Aging (BVAA). Pierce was named a Paul Harris Fellow and received a $1,000 grant for BVAA.

Participants in the ceremony included George Carlino, past president of the BVAA and board member; Dania Langley, BVAA director of development; James Terry, BVAA board president and his wife, Nancy; Rich Saylor, past BVVA president; current Rotary board president Bob Sparr; and Dave Seegers, past president of the Coatesville Rotary and chair of the Rotary Club of Coatesville Foundation.

"(As executive director of BVAA, Pierce) has continued to excel in his service, providing meals and activities for seniors during this COVID pandemic," said Seegers. "He and the BVAA provide thousands of meals (to seniors) as well as offer assistance to those in need."

Earlier this year the Coatesville Area Senior Center changed its name to BVAA and expanded its geographic service area to include the communities previously served by the Downingtown Area Senior Center.

BVAA's Coatesville campus continues to operate at 250 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Coatesville. BVAA's Downingtown campus operates at Brandywine Grace Church, 40 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Downingtown. BVAA also offers a virtual platform.

At the Coatesville campus, breakfast and noon meals are prepared daily by the in-house executive chef. At the Downingtown campus, a daily continental breakfast is offered as well as a catered noon meal.

Pierce reported that during the past 18 months, BVAA, with support from its partner network, has served more than 80,000 prepared meals and distributed more than 200,000 pounds of fresh produce, dairy and other groceries. Online programs are also provided for seniors to keep them socially active.

In addition, BVAA provides complimentary income tax preparation, Medicare plan counseling and application assistance for a variety of benefits programs such as such as the Pennsylvania Property Tax and Rent Rebate, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - formerly food stamps) and notary services.

For more information, visit http://www.bvactiveaging.org or call Coatesville at 610-383-6900 or Downingtown at 610-269-3939.

The Rotary Club of Coatesville has resumed in-person meetings. Meetings are held on Thursdays at noon at the Moose Lodge, 1200 Airport Road, Coatesville. The Rotary Club is currently seeking new members, particularly young people from the community who want to help fulfill the club's motto, "Service Above Self."

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofcoatesville.