2025 NFEF Awards Recipient

2025 NFEF Foodservice Department of the Year Award - The Village at Rockville - A National Lutheran Community

The Village at Rockville - A National Lutheran Community located in Rockville, Maryland has earned the NFEF’s 2025 Foodservice Department of Year Award. The Village at Rockville is an energetic and progressive Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). 

At The Village at Rockville, the dining services team integrates multiple dimensions of wellness—physical, social, emotional, and intellectual—through meaningful partnerships with other departments, such as connected living, at home rehab, and overall- interdepartmental collaborative resident engagement. The team collaborates with nursing staff and dietitians to support individualized nutrition plans while fostering social connections through thoughtfully curated dining experiences. Special events, such as UnWined dinners and El Mercado Street food experiences in their independent living settings and interactive Teaching Demos and activities in healthcare, are designed with input from multiple teams to encourage cultural appreciation, sensory engagement, and community interaction. Dining is more than just food—it is an opportunity to create moments of joy, connection, and well-being. 

At The Village at Rockville, the dining services team operates with the philosophy that every interaction is an opportunity to enhance the resident experience and prioritize seamless day-to-day operations by emphasizing consistency, quality, and responsiveness to the needs of their internal customers—including residents, staff, and other departments. This structured approach includes daily pre-shift meetings, open communication channels, and collaboration with nursing, connected living, and facilities teams to ensure that dining is integrated into the broader wellness experience. By proactively addressing dietary needs, scheduling adjustments, and resident preferences, they create a service environment that is adaptable and responsive. Beyond providing meals, they foster engagement through resident-driven menu rotations, personalized service, and special events that bring people together. Their commitment to excellence extends to staff as well. Team members are supported through ongoing training, recognition programs, and leadership development, reinforcing dining services as a pillar of our community. Through this holistic approach, they deliver exceptional service and reinforce the department’s vital role in enriching the lives of those they serve, ensuring that dining remains a cornerstone of resident-centered care at The Village at Rockville.

At The Village at Rockville, the dining services team ensures that every operational activity—both direct and indirect—supports the highest standards of service, creating an exceptional dining experience for residents, and uphold quality by implementing structured menu planning, rigorous food safety protocols, and consistent service standards. Staff training in hospitality, allergen awareness, and resident-centered service ensures that every meal is served with care and attention to detail. The department enhances service by fostering a culture of collaboration and engagement and maintain open communication with healthcare professionals to accommodate dietary modifications, work closely with life enrichment teams to align dining with social programming, and actively seek resident feedback through surveys and committees. By integrating dining into the broader wellness approach, the team not only creates meals, but meaningful experiences that support physical health, emotional well-being, and social connection. Every aspect of operations, from ingredient sourcing to table service, is designed to uphold excellence. Blending efficiency with hospitality ensures that dining services remain a vital and enriching part of life at The Village at Rockville.

At The Village at Rockville, the dining services team is committed to maintaining high visibility and accessibility to both residents and team members. Their commitment to menu flexibility ensures that residents have access to diverse and inclusive options. Plant-forward dishes, gluten-free choices, and heart-healthy selections are incorporated into the rotating menus, ensuring that all dietary needs and wellness goals are supported. Beyond nutrition, this department contributes holistically to resident well-being by fostering a welcoming dining environment that supports social engagement, emotional fulfillment, and physical health. Dining spaces serve as hubs for community connection, where residents not only enjoy high-quality meals but also experience a sense of belonging. By prioritizing visibility, accessibility, and resident-driven programming, the team ensures that their dining services go beyond food—and create meaningful experiences that nourish both body and spirit. 

At The Village at Rockville, the dining services team has played a pivotal role in strengthening the overall operation of the organization through strategic leadership, financial stewardship, and cross-departmental collaboration. One of the most significant contributions has been the successful reopening of dining venues that were previously closed due to COVID-19. By revitalizing these spaces, the team restored vital social and culinary experiences for residents while simultaneously increasing revenue opportunities. By optimizing inventory, refining menu planning, and prioritizing efficiency in labor costs, they have maintained fiscal responsibility while enhancing resident satisfaction. Compliance and survey readiness are ingrained in daily practices and through proactive self-auditing and continuous staff training, this ensures that the team always meet and exceed regulatory expectations. This level of diligence has resulted in successful state surveys with minimal deficiencies. Beyond dining, the department has elevated resident engagement by fostering deeper collaboration with other teams and work closely with Connected Living and nursing departments to integrate dining into broader resident programming, making mealtime a cornerstone of social and cultural connection. Introducing dietitian consulting services in independent living has enhanced resident education and nutrition support, further aligning dining with overall wellness goals. Through these efforts, dining services has become a driving force in the success of The Village at Rockville—improving financial operations, enhancing marketing and resident satisfaction, strengthening compliance, and fostering a culture of teamwork that benefits the entire community.