Kaye Olson found her calling volunteering at Anna’s café and gifts six years ago when she was looking for a way to give back.

A friend introduced Kaye to Lyngblomsten in late 2019, and she worked her first volunteer shifts in January of 2020. She only managed to log 15 hours that year due to pandemic restrictions, but she came back to Anna’s as soon as she could in 2021.

Set at the heart of Lyngblomsten’s Como Park campus, Anna’s café and gifts offers delicious food, thoughtful gifts, and lively conversation to everyone who visits. It’s a cornerstone of campus social life, and it’s all made possible by volunteers like Kaye.

Her labor of love at the café usually begins with opening up the store and restocking as she makes sure all of the items are ready to go for shoppers and diners. She ensures the oven is on and the coffee prepped for the hungry hordes. Then, she turns to the checkout as eager diners arrive for the lunch rush.

Generally, she volunteers one to three times per week at Anna’s from 10:30 AM–1 PM, plus a few other monthly shifts in other roles with Lyngblomsten, including at The Gathering, an enrichment program for those living at home with memory loss.

Kaye has really enjoyed getting to know the Anna’s regulars, whether they’re residents, staff, family members, visitors, or volunteers. The café is a great place to enjoy the energy and community of the Como Park campus, Kaye noted, and her shifts often fly by.

“My favorite is getting to chat with people while I scoop ice cream,” she said.

“It feels like a family environment,” Kaye summarized. “It’s a great opportunity, especially if you enjoy working with older adults. I used to volunteer a lot with older adults at my church, and this is a nice extension of that.”

***

Does serving at Anna’s sound like a fit for you? Lyngblomsten is always looking for more volunteers, especially on the weekend. Morning and afternoon shifts are available and generally run around four hours. Training is provided. To learn more and fill out an application, visit www.Lyngblomsten.org/Volunteer, call 651.632.5464, or email volunteer@lyngblomsten.org.