Encore Express opens in Washington

WASHINGTON — Organizers from the Heritage Area Agency on Aging have launched a new dining program for seniors in Washington. Volunteers said Encore Express — available the second and fourth Thursday of every month at Immanuel Lutheran Church — was a new spin on the nonprofit’s existing meal programs.

"It’s a sister program to an Encore program up in the Cedar Rapids metro area, but this is the first location of Encore Express in our service area,“ said Tim Getty, the agency’s regional nutrition coordinator. ”It’s a hybrid between a meal voucher program and also on-site dining.“

The meals are available to people age 60 and up, as well as their spouses, regardless of where they live. Getty said they were priced on a “contribution basis.”

“People are able to donate $6 or $5, some are able to donate five cents, some aren’t able to donate on certain days, that is just fine,” he said. “It just depends on what they’re able to comfortably afford.”

Getty said the program was important to seniors looking for fellowship.

“The whole goal of this program is to build relationships for older adults and to afford them opportunities for socialization as they share a meal,” he said. “It’s so important because, especially coming out of the pandemic, some older adults, they’re just looking for opportunities to get out and socialize.”

Heritage Agency Community Advancement Director Jill Sindt said the agency saw a need in Washington.

“We have not had senior services within our agency here in years,” she said. “We’ve been trying to pursue a congregate meal site here, or just meals in general for age 60 on up, for a long time.”

The pilot program’s mix of options: between vouchers and on-site dining, makes it distinct from the group’s meal programs elsewhere in the state. Sindt said it was a versatile model.

“Our other Encore Cafes are just a cafe and that’s it, but this one is a hybrid model,” she said. “People socialize in different ways. Some people are introverts, some are intimidated joining a big group … so with a voucher program, you can go to Hy-Vee and sit down with a smaller group of people you know.”

Sindt said she hoped the hybrid model would spread.

“I think this model could work in all communities,” she said. “Other communities have people who socialize differently as well, so I think what we came up here is maybe a best practice.”

Immanuel Lutheran Church Interim Pastor Susan Debner said the congregation reached out to the agency to host the twice-monthly meals.

“What matters most is how God’s love gets spread to the world, and what matters most is making sure people get fed, top of the list,” she said. “It’s that simple for this congregation … it isn’t about coming into this building and seeing each other, it’s about how we go out of this building and live our daily lives. Being committed to our communities is critical.”

Partners with the program said they were happy to help as well.

“To be a part of that is something that’s great for the community,” said Willy Amos, district store director for several Hy-Vees in the area, including Washington’s. “We’re excited to be a part of it.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com