We’re kicking off the new year with great company, warm conversation, and a delicious meal together!

📅 Wednesday, January 14, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM
📍 Willard Community Center - 2nd floor South Room (elevator available)

Willard will be providing the main dish: lasagna.
Guests are welcome to bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share.

Let’s start 2026 with friendship, laughter, and a table full of good food. We hope to see you there!

We were delighted to welcome so many families to our Breakfast with a Buddy event this morning. The building was filled with smiles, conversations, and meaningful moments as children and their special guests enjoyed breakfast together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the morning so memorable. We are grateful for the time you shared with us and hope the experience was as enjoyable for you as it was for our Early Explorers team.

Events like this reflect the heart of our community: connection, belonging, and celebrating the little moments that matter most. We can’t wait to host more opportunities for families to gather and grow with us.

Willard Community Center is honored to announce that we have received an additional $5,455 year-end contribution from the General Dynamics ECAC Lincoln Chapter. This unexpected and generous gift comes at a pivotal time, supporting our continued efforts to provide high-quality early childhood education, enriching youth programs, and meaningful social opportunities for aging adults.

The ECAC Lincoln Chapter is a valued supporter of Willard, and their ongoing commitment to strengthening our community is deeply appreciated. This year-end gift will directly enhance our ability to serve individuals and families across all generations, helping us continue offering programs that foster connection, learning, and belonging.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the General Dynamics ECAC Lincoln Chapter for their generosity and partnership. Their support plays an important role in ensuring Willard remains a welcoming and supportive space for everyone who walks through our doors.

Willard was fortunate to welcome a team of wonderful volunteers from Union Bank & Trust, Cade, Chase, Holly, Leslie, Melinda, and Michelle, who spent their Wednesday helping us transform Willard Community Center for the holiday season.

With creativity, teamwork, and plenty of festive spirit, the group helped set up and decorate four holiday trees throughout our building. Each tree now brings its own unique charm to our halls, brightening the spaces our children, families, and aging adults use every day. Their thoughtful touches helped create a warm and joyful atmosphere that will be enjoyed by everyone who walks through our doors this season.

We are incredibly grateful for Union Bank & Trust’s continued partnership and the generosity of volunteers who share their time and talents with our community. Their effort made a meaningful difference, and our building feels more welcoming and festive because of them.

Come celebrate the creative work produced in our 8-week printmaking class! This exhibition is free and open to the public.

Willard Community Center, 1245 S Folsom Street - 2nd floor South & SW rooms (elevator available)

Monday, December 15, 2025

4:30-6:30 PM

Generously funded by the Nebraska Arts Council

Over the past several weeks, Willard Community Center has been blessed with an incredible outpouring of meal donations for our adult and senior programs. In fact, we have received so many meals that we can hardly keep up, and what a wonderful challenge to have. This generosity has provided nourishment, comfort, and connection to the many adults who gather at Willard each week for fitness classes, art workshops, social groups, and community meals.

These donations have done more than fill plates; they have created opportunities for conversation, fellowship, and belonging. Shared meals often become shared moments, moments where neighbors build relationships, laughter fills the room, and individuals feel supported and seen.

We extend our deepest gratitude to To The Brim Communities for their ongoing generosity and commitment to supporting the well-being of aging adults in our community. Their thoughtful contributions have helped make our programs more welcoming, more inclusive, and more joyful.

At Willard, we believe that community is built one act of kindness at a time. The overwhelming response to meal donations reminds us just how powerful those acts can be. Thank you to everyone who helps make Willard a place where people of all ages feel valued, cared for, and connected.

The Lakeview CLC hosted an exciting Nature Night on November 20, welcoming 239 students, families, and community members for an evening filled with hands-on exploration and outdoor-themed learning. Participants had the opportunity to engage in STEM activities, discover interesting facts about Nebraska’s native wildlife, and learn how nature influences our everyday lives.

The event featured multiple interactive stations, each designed to spark curiosity and deepen students’ understanding of the natural world. From examining plant and animal adaptations to exploring environmental science concepts, families enjoyed a wide range of activities that encouraged learning through play.

Willard extends a heartfelt thank you to the many organizations that generously donated their time and expertise to make this event successful. Their contributions brought unique, engaging experiences to our students and families, and highlighted the power of community partnerships in education.

Nature Night was a wonderful example of how collaboration and creative programming can bring people together. We are grateful to everyone who attended and helped make the evening both educational and memorable.

Willard Community Center recently wrapped up the third heartwarming and enriching session of the Prints & Memories 8-week class, a Creative Aging through the Arts Program (CAAP) made possible through generous support from the Nebraska Arts Council. This class brought together an inspiring group of lifelong learners whose stories, creativity, and enthusiasm made each session truly special.

Led by printmaking artist Liz Shea-McCoy, participants explored a variety of printmaking techniques while sharing memories, building friendships, and discovering new avenues for artistic expression. The room was filled with laughter, curiosity, and the joy that comes from learning something new at any age.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Nebraska Arts Council for awarding Willard this CAAP grant and making this experience possible. Their investment in creative aging programs helps ensure that older adults have meaningful opportunities to grow, connect, and express themselves through the arts.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for future Creative Aging opportunities at Willard!

Thank you to Mr. Joe Hinderks and Ms. Lisa Helms for joining our Lakeview CLC Afterschool Program on Veterans Day! They spent the afternoon sharing their incredible stories and experiences serving in the U.S. Navy, giving our students an inspiring look into courage, teamwork, and service.

We’re especially proud to say this family has deep Willard roots. Lisa’s daughters both grew up in our programs, with one part of our current Lakeview staff and the other a former team member, and Joe has had numerous other grandchildren come through our programs over the years!

Thank you, Joe and Lisa, for your service to our country and for spending your afternoon with us. You continue to make a difference in our community every day!

Aging Adult & Senior Potluck at Willard

When: Tuesday, December 10 · 11:00 AM
Where: Willard Community Center (1245 S Folsom St, Lincoln, NE)

Details:
Join us for a warm, community potluck with friends old and new! Willard will provide the main dish of Biscuits & Gravy. Bring a favorite side or dessert to share (optional), and we’ll handle plates, utensils, coffee, and water.

Who’s invited: Aging adults & senior citizens, plus friends and caregivers, everyone’s welcome!

Cost: Free

RSVP: Call 402-475-0805 so we can plan enough food.

Questions? Call 402-475-0805.
We can’t wait to share good food and great company! 💛