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Highlightsofthe year 1
Programming
In the last year we offered 402 programs to residents and local seniors with 3,583 participants total. Some of these programs are offered regularly, like Methodist College’s Mobile Diabetes Clinic, and American National Bank monthly banking services.
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We work with The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging to serve nearly 400 hot lunches each month, serving 5,138 total.
We have increased transportation with the NDH van. Residents can go to grocery stores, restaurants, department stores, and more without having to plan how to get there and back.
Life Enrichment Center
The new space has been defined and drawings have been approved. This will include the largest, most modern food pantry area we have ever housed.
Other areas will include medical exam room, a large meeting space for programs and group discussions, and an entertainment area with chairs, couches, TVs, and games. These areas are important to residents because meetings and programs have all been conducted in the senior center, so only one group can meet at a time. Our goal is to keep the space flexible, so it can easily change to meet the needs of the residents over time.
Amazon Wish List
The seniors who live at NDH don’t always have the funds to buy exactly what they want/need. We surveyed residents and made a comprehensive Amazon Wish List. Items for group activities and games are a gift for everyone. We were also able to make a Christmas care package with items for each individual resident, thanks to people utilizing the wish list. Each resident received items like packs of toilet paper, dish soap, lip balm, and more.
In total, 100 items were purchased totaling $2,253.
Food Pantry
We expanded the reach of our food pantry greatly, serving 67,920 pounds of food to nearly 4,000 residents and community members throughout the last fiscal year. This was more than 27,000 additional pounds served from the previous year. We utilized Facebook advertising, print advertising in the Omaha Star, street signage, and targeted display ads on the Internet to attract locals to utilize the pantry.
In-House Salon
We listened to what residents wanted in their community and began building a salon early in 2022. This salon contains a barber’s chair, sink, two salon dryer chairs, and a hair dresser. We thank our The Amy Scott Foundation for donating the funds to make this a reality.
Access to hair care has a direct effect on self-esteem and isolation. If people don’t feel their best, they may not want to go out. Providing this service on-site means that regardless of weather or personal mobility, residents can look their best.
