Introducing the Our Berks Legacy Project

Learn about a new project created by the Director of Griswold Home Care for Berks County.

What Is Our Berks Legacy?

Our Berks Legacy is a storytelling project created by our Director, Gary Hawkins. Gary has spent over five decades in the care field, often listening to families as they share stories of aging, caregiving, hardship, and hope. These stories too often fade away.

This project gives Berks County residents an opportunity to preserve their life stories, memories, and wisdom for future generations. By recording personal histories and life experiences, our children, grandchildren, and the wider community will have access to our county’s legacy for years to come.

We’re scheduling interviews now! If you’re a resident of an assisted living community, senior or retiree, Veteran, or community leader in Berks County, we want to hear your story. Consider signing up for a 20-minute filmed interview – you will receive a professionally edited digital copy as a keepsake for you and your loved ones. Reach out to Gary at 610.372.9940 or Gary.Hawkins@GriswoldCare.com to schedule an interview.

Keep an eye out for the first legacy story coming soon to the Our Berks Legacy website or follow along on YouTube.

Why Is Community So Important?

One of the most important benefits of Our Berks Legacy is the resource library it will become to support current and future generations. Another benefit of the project is how it fosters community, which is so important for our seniors across the county.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maintaining consistent social connections can:

• Evoke feelings of belonging and emotional and physical support
• Decrease feelings of isolation and loneliness
• Reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, and anxiety
• Improve your ability to manage stress and mental illness
• Contribute to positive lifestyle habits like healthy eating, exercise, and consistent sleep
• Help you live longer

Are you a senior looking for opportunities to participate in the Berks County community? Berks Encore has six Wellness & Activity centers for seniors throughout the county: one in Douglassville, Fleetwood, Mifflin, Reading, Strausstown, and Wernersville. Check out their schedules of in-person and virtual activities.

What Inspired Our Berks Legacy?

Gary Hawkins, creator of Our Berks Legacy, has been operating our office here at Griswold Home Care for Berks County since 1989 – the office will celebrate its 37^th anniversary in January 2026.

Before coming to Griswold, Gary was a Residential Services Director at Prospectus Associates Inc., now known as ProBerco. He also served as a Mental Health Delegate for Berks County and founded Supportive Concepts for Families, whose services support individuals with behavioral health needs and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, Gary co-founded several organizations, including the Circle of Life Coalition, Boomer Generation Radio, and Berks Boomers, a program that provides information, resources, and assistance through Berks Community Television (BCTV).

After listening to families share their stories of aging, caregiving, hardship, and hope for the last several decades, Gary feels inspired to capture the ones that too often fade away.

What Services Are Offered at Griswold?

At Griswold Home Care for Berks County, we have an amazing team of dedicated Caregivers who provide in-home care services like Companionship Care, 24-Hour Care, and Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Support. If you’re interested in learning more about our services or would like to schedule an interview with Our Berks Legacy, please give us a call today.