Encore Café 

Volunteer Orientation

Becky Briggs/Tim Getty
Heritage Area Agency on Aging Overview

• One of six Area Agencies on Aging in Iowa

• Mission of Heritage

• Services Provided

• Agency Brochure
Encore Café Overview

• Brand new concept (nation-wide pilot project)

• Adding services for older adults

• Not just about a meal

• Evidence-based Programming

• We’re writing the “book”
Overview cont.

• Food provided by Marion-HY-VEE

• Meals available on a voluntary contribution basis (over 60)

• Suggested contribution: $5.00 per meal

• Serving time 11:30

• Menus analyzed to meet nutrition requirements

• Menu published monthly

• Participants have their name checked off when they arrive
Reservations

• Can be made on site

• Calling Marion Public Library

• 319-377-3412

• On-line

• Tinyurl.com/y9hh4b8y

• Calling Heritage: 319-398-2585 or 319-398-5559
Encore Café Lowe Park

• Wednesdays and Thursdays

• Choice of two entrees

• Salad Bar

• Beverages

• Desserts and bread items as appropriate

• Special Meals/events/speakers

• Handout
Encore Café Marion Public Library

• Fridays and Mondays

• Salad Bar

• Beverages

• Desserts, bread as appropriate

• Special meals/events/speakers

• Handout
Encore Café St. Mark’s

• Tuesdays

• Salad Bar

• Beverages

• Desserts, bread as appropriate

• Special meals/events/speakers

• Handout
Volunteer Duties/Job Description

• Job Description Handout

• Serving/Assisting

• Set-up/clean-up

• Other duties as assigned/needed

• Flexibility is key
Scheduling/Availability

• Need approx. 2-3 volunteers per day

• 11a-1p-ish

• Do not need to necessarily stay all two hours

• Flexible schedules/Complete slip in packet

• Open to school/community groups, etc.

• Will send out schedule, etc. to you (prefer monthly, but things 

change)
Policies/Procedures

• Handling of Intake Forms/Vol. contributions

• Food Safety

• Food handling

• Not able to make scheduled shift/time off

• Weather Related Closing Policy

• Appearance

• Shirt/apron
Odds and Ends

• Completion of Intake Forms

• Volunteer Meals

• Needed forms:

• May take them home or sign and give to Becky

• Foodservice Illness Reporting Agreement

• Confidentiality Agreement

• Feedback Needed!!!!!!

• Spread word!!
Thank You!!!!

• Excitement is Building

• Eyes are looking at this project as cutting edge

• Outstanding community support

• We cannot be successful without you
Thank You!!

• Tim Getty, Regional Nutrition Coordinator 

tim.getty@Kirkwood.edu 319-398-7682

• Becky Briggs, Encore Café Coordinator 

becky.briggs@Kirkwood.edu 319-398-2585
Innovations in Nutrition

Program
Heritage Area Agency on Aging

• One of six AAA’s in Iowa

• Seven county service region (Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson,

Jones, Linn, Washington)

• Cedar Rapids metro area (2nd largest city in Iowa)

• Eighteen senior dining locations, seven partner providers
Issue: Significant Decline in Congregate 

Participation

• Following national trend

• Outdated service delivery methods

• Several site closures in 2012

• Linn County had one of largest declines in congregate 

participation in state over last ten years
Issue: Lack of Available Services

• Only one senior dining location in second largest metro area

• Provided services to 7% of older adults in Marion, Iowa (one of 

fastest growing areas in Iowa)

• Little opportunity for socialization and enrichment activities

• Limited to no knowledge of services available through AAA
Solution: Encore Café

• Pilot project started in December 2017

• Seed-funding from federal and state grants

• Revitalization of congregate meal program in Linn County

• Diabetes focused

• Four dining sites 
Encore Café

“A Second Call to Enhance Your Health”
Encore Café Concept

• Focus on combatting diabetes and social isolation

• Focusing on older adults in the “gap”

• New service delivery model

• Choice menu served buffet-style

• Salad Bar with feature salad of day

• Poured beverages 

• Reusable table service 

• Volunteer-cleared tables
Encore Café: Central City

• Serve at 11:45a

• Choice menu

• Salad bar

• Meals prepared by Central City Senior Dining 

• Weekly exercise class
Encore Café: Marion

Marion-Lowe Park

• Offered Wednesdays/Thursdays 11:30-12:30

• Choice menu/salad bar

• Meals prepared by HYVEE-Marion

• Produce Box and food distribution

Marion Public Library (main meeting rooms)

• Offered Friday/Monday 11:30-12:30

• Choice menu/salad bar

• Meals prepared by HYVEE-Marion

• Produce Box and food distribution
Encore Café: St. Marks United Methodist 

Church

Cedar Rapids

• Offered Tuesdays 11:30-12:30

• Enter through main doors

• Choice menu/salad bar

• Meals prepared by HYVEE-Marion

• Monthly Produce Box/food distribution

• Monthly topic of the month guest speakers
Encore Café: Key Points

• Reservations strongly recommended by 1:30p the day prior.

• Reservations not made the day before, may be accommodated, subject to 

those with prior reservations being served. 

• $5.00 suggested voluntary contribution for those over 60

• $8.00 per meal charge for those under the age of 60 

• There are no residency requirements for participation

• Completion of annual registration form 
Encore Café: Health & Wellness Programming

• Creation of Health & Wellness Coordinator and Encore Café 

Coordinator Position

• Collaborations of monthly speaker series

• A1C Testing Diabetes-specific education

• Health & Wellness Speakers

• Evidence-based Programming

(Matter of Balance, CDMSP, Tai Chi)

• Water Aerobics for Arthritis
Thank You!!

• Tim Getty, Regional Nutrition Coordinator 

tim.getty@kirkwood.edu 319-398-7682

• Becky Briggs, Encore and Volunteer Coordinator

• becky.briggs@kirkwood.edu 319-398-2585
Innovations in Nutrition

Program
Heritage Area Agency on Aging

• One of six AAA’s in Iowa

• Seven county service region

• Mix of urban, suburban and rural

• Cedar Rapids metro area (2nd largest city in Iowa)

• Eighteen senior dining locations, seven partner providers
Issue: Significant Decline in Congregate 

Participation

• Following national trend

• Outdated service delivery methods

• Several site closures in 2012

• Linn County had on of largest declines in congregate 

participation in state over last ten years
Issue: Lack of Available Services

• Only one senior dining location in second largest metro area

• Provided services to 7% of older adults in Marion, Iowa (one of 

fastest growing areas in Iowa)

• Little opportunity for socialization and enrichment activities

• Limited to no knowledge of services available through AAA
Solution: Innovations in Nutrition Grant

• Funded through two year ACL grant

• Contracted partner of Iowa Department on Aging

• Revitalization of congregate meal program in Linn County

• Diabetes focused

• Four dining sites (one existing, one reopening, two new) 

• Program evaluation conducted by Iowa State Extension

(focus groups, surveys)
Encore Café

“A Second Call to Enhance Your Health”
Encore Café Concept

• Focus on combating diabetes and social isolation

• Review of data prior to site placement

Need greater than first thought

Added additional Marion site

• Focusing on older adults in the “gap”

• New service delivery model

• Choice menu & salad bar

• Poured beverages

• Tables cleared by volunteers

• Innovative and replicable
Encore Café: Collaborations/Partnerships

• Linn County Community Services

Local grant oversight committee

• City of Central City

• City of Marion

Parks & Rec

Marketing/website

• Marion Public Library

Reservation System

Volunteer Recruitment

• St. Marks United Methodist Church

• HYVEE Food Stores
Encore Café: Marketing

• Development of brand/concept

Logos/brand identity

• Continuing of coverage

Newspaper features (hometown)

Publishing of menus

• Social Media

Library, Chamber of Commerce, Other partners

• Word of Mouth
Encore Café: Health & Wellness Programming

• Creation of Health & Wellness Coordinator and Encore Café 

Coordinator Position

• Collaborations of monthly speaker series

• A1C Testing Diabetes-specific education

• Health & Wellness Speakers

• Evidence-based Programming

(Matter of Balance, CDMSP, Tai Chi)

• Water Aerobics for Arthritis
Encore Café: Central City

• Retrofitting existing location

• Had highest percentage of decline in participation

• Located in rural Linn County

• Serve at 11:45a

• Choice menu

• Salad bar

• Chef-lead cooking demonstrations
Encore Café: Marion

Marion-Lowe Park

• Reopening of closed location

• Offered Wednesdays/Thursdays 11:30-1:00

• Choice menu/salad bar

• Average 38 participants per meal

• Produce Box

Marion Public Library

• Near 3 senior housing complexes

• Offered Friday/Monday 12:00-1:00

• Choice menu/salad bar

• Produce box 

• Average 30 participants per meal
Encore Café: St. Marks United Methodist 

Church

Cedar Rapids

• Opened February 2019

• Offered Tuesdays 11:30-12:30

• Choice menu/salad bar

• Average 42 participants per meal

• Produce Box

• Near three low-income senior housing complexes

• Located in food desert
To Date (June 2019)

• 9,438 total meals served

• 30 + attendees in evidence-based classes

• Highest voluntary contribution rate in region avg. $3.90/meal)

• Highest monthly average: $4.77 per meal

• Lowest monthly average: $3.33 per meal

• Highest participation: 85 meals (anniversary event)

• Lowest participation: 19 meals (winter storm, outside event)

• 13 Options Counseling Referrals

• 15 Nutrition Counseling Referrals
General Observations

• Changing attitudes and perceptions of the congregate meal 

program

• Participant will contribute/participate for perceived value

• Participants are willing to help you (comment cards, questions)

• Flexibility is key

Range of serving time vs at on set time

Modernizing and innovating “Breaking of the Mold”
Participant Thoughts

• More than just access to food

• Biggest benefits are socialization and access to appropriate

meals and food supplies 

• Cooking for one/balanced meals

• “Reason to get out of bed”

• Access to supportive services/education

• Empowering participants to make better choices to enhance 

their health.
Lessons Learned

• Be prepared for unexpected (good and bad) opportunities

• Direction may change frequently

• Challenged every aspect of organization (program, fiscal,

contract)

• Control growth and excitement “pull back the reins”

• Look for collaborations in unconventional ways

• Have open mind to try new things/new ways of thinking (ask

volunteers for advice)

• Take time to sit back and watch
Thank You!!

• Tim Getty, Regional Nutrition Coordinator

tim.getty@kirkwood.edu 319-398-7682

• Becky Briggs, Encore and Volunteer Coordinator

• becky.briggs@kirkwood.edu 319-398-2585