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Scottsdale senior centers report rising use, new programs and a planned Via Linda expansion

City of Scottsdale Human Services Advisory Commission (with presentation to the Scottsdale Industrial Development Authority) · November 10, 2025

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Summary

Granite Reef and Via Linda senior-center staff told commissioners programs and partnerships are growing: Meals on Wheels and congregate-meal counts rose, Forever Fit continued with health partners, the food-bank truck was retrofitted with donor support, and Via Linda is planning a facility expansion to increase capacity.

Jessica Rapp, Human Services Manager at Granite Reef Senior Center, and Jean (Via Linda senior-center staff) presented program updates to the Human Services Advisory Commission on Nov. 13, reporting increased participation in meals and recreation, new partnerships and plans for a Via Linda expansion.

Rapp said the Centers saw increases in Meals on Wheels deliveries (reported quarter growth from 3,964 to 5,909 meals) and that a freshly cooked congregate-meal pilot with the Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) is showing higher participation. Granite Reef’s brown-bag grocery program moved operations to the food bank for efficiency, and the center reported active volunteer engagement; Rapp cited 1,200 attendees at a recent arts-and-crafts fair and steady growth in Friday bingo attendance.

Rapp also highlighted the Forever Fit 10-week fitness and wellness program, supported by HonorHealth (funding), Scottsdale Community College (interns) and Blue Zones (curriculum), and noted a variety of tech and intergenerational classes including a pen-pal program with Hohokam Elementary.

Jean described Via Linda as a busy, multiroom center with a full roster of leisure and social programs and emphasized the casework services that operate at both centers. Jean described two grants administered through the centers: a moving grant (used when tenants must relocate) and a $1,500-per-person dental emergency grant; she said staff are revising eligibility guidelines to ensure compliance with Proposition 314 requirements and lawful-presence rules.

Jean also said an expansion for Via Linda is under discussion; early concepts indicate a target facility size of roughly 7,500 square feet to increase capacity to about 300 attendees for large events. Commissioners asked about online calendars and newsletters; staff said a monthly senior-centers newsletter is available via city website subscriptions and that monthly activity sheets and online activity calendars are maintained.

What’s next: staff will return with more detail on Via Linda’s expansion and the day-in-the-life caseworker presentation referenced for a future meeting.