New Horizons Stories Coffee Company makes PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
October 2023 | Vol. 48 | No. 10
meaningful, local contributions
O
By Ron Petersen ver the last several years, Stories Coffee Company made a name for itself despite opening up its first coffee shop during a pandemic. In the beginning it was not only important to bring in business through their doors, but they made a major effort in making an impact in the community. “It’s all about giving back,” Stories Coffee Company owner, Dan Loutzenhiser said. “It’s super important and it’s why we exist.” In 2017, Dan and Brooke Loutzenhiser purchased the name from Stories Coffee House, and three years later, they opened its first location on 114th and Davenport St. “We were one of the few coffee shops that were letting people come back in 2020,” Loutzenhiser said. “It brought in a lot of people in that might not have been able to find us. Long-term it brought in a lot of exposure because of the situation.” Not only do the people at Stories Coffee Company have a passion
COURTESY PHOTO for coffee, but they have created a space and a platform that the community can benefit from. Each quarter Stories Coffee Com-
pany gives a portion of their sales to a local, non-profit organization, which is something they started from the beginning.
“We wanted to do something cool for local nonprofits,” Loutzenhiser said. “We also wanted to create a space, community where people can gather.” Along with supporting nonprofits, Stories Coffee Company has been connected through family ties. Jim Loutzenhiser, Dan’s father, has roasted coffee for about 15 years and has also been the head roaster for Stories Coffee Company. “He’s killing it — it’s been fun to be able to grow this coffee company with him,” Dan said about Jim. “It’s fun to be able to do something together.” In addition to serving their own roasted specialty coffee, at many of their locations they serve tea, smoothies, local craft beer, wine by the glass and bottle, craft cocktails and made to order food prepared in their kitchens. Over the last three years, Stories Coffee Company has opened up a few more locations including one at Midtown Crossing, Lifegate on --Stories continued on page 8.
ENOA hosts 7th annual ‘Step Out For Seniors Walk-A-Thon’
O Benefiting from Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a slow and gentle exercise that is suitable for older adults. It offers the benefits of flexibility, muscle strengthening, and endurance training. Tai Chi can improve the health of older adults without worsening existing impairments. Learn about Tai Chi on Page 16.
By Ron Petersen “We had more centers come this year than in the past, which was lder adults from around the nice. It would be nice if we build area gathered with their family, friends and caregiv- that up and bring more centers in,” Ochoa said. “People came up to me ers for the Eastern Nebraska Office and said they had a good time, and on Aging (ENOA) Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon at Benson Park the weather was amazing.” Along with the walk around the on September 8. park, there were other activities The Step Out For Seniors Walka-thon is a fundraiser to help update planned for those in attendance programming and services at the 21 including a line dancing demonstration put on by Lori Adams and the senior centers in the Eastern NeSilver Steppers from the Fremont braska area. Friendship Center, followed by a “Overall, it went really well,” Tai Chi demonstration. said Christina Ochoa, ENOA nutriThroughout the morning older tion program assistant. “We had adults had a chance to get massages about 100 people that came in waves. I was very happy with it, and in the pavilion, play with dogs from the Nebraska Humane Society and it went very smooth.” purchase food from the Whispering Over the last couple of years, the Roots/The Big Garden farm stand. Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon “The farm stand was a great addihave been growing in numbers, including with more participants from tion we had last year, and were able to come back this year,” Ochoa said. senior centers. It also, helped that “There were a couple of farmers this year the Step Out For Seniors there that sold some of their food Walk-a- was on a beautiful day in Nebraska. --Walk-A-Thon continued on page 9.