City Celebrates New Senior Center Kitchen, Digital Literacy Grant

City Celebrates New Senior Center Kitchen, Digital Literacy Grant

Published on August 08, 2024

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird with City and AARP officials today celebrated the opening of the renovated Northeast (NE) Senior Center Kitchen, 6310 Platte Ave., and announced the City has been awarded a $20,240 AARP Nebraska Community Challenge grant to fund a Digital Literacy Project.

"Today's announcements put our community in an even stronger position to serve our growing number of older adults and contribute to Lincoln's reputation as the Quality-of-Life Capital of the Country," said Mayor Gaylor Baird. "These important initiatives will improve the health and well-being of our seniors and propel Lincoln forward as an even more age-friendly community."

Joining Mayor Gaylor Baird at the news conference were Randall Jones, Aging Partners Director and Todd Stubbendieck, Director of AARP Nebraska.

Jones said the NE Senior Center kitchen serves 5,600 meals annually and had not been renovated since it opened in 1988. Features of the updated kitchen include a commercial food warmer, refrigerator, coffee and ice machines, and a dishwasher. The renovation also allows Aging Partners to store meals prepared in the central kitchen at Victory Park at controlled temperatures before they are served at the NE Senior Center. Prior to this renovation, the kitchen used an old residential oven to heat food.

The kitchen renovation project cost $76,558 and was paid for through a donation from the estate of Alfred Steyer, and funds from the City, Lancaster County and American Rescue Plan Act.

"When I talk with our Aging Partners patrons, be they from Havelock or another part of town, it's apparent that they enjoy the Center's many services and amenities - amenities like a warm and welcoming environment, socialization with friends, and sharing a delicious meal together," Jones said.

Stubbendieck said the AARP Community Challenge Digital Literacy Project will provide an intergenerational experience in which college and high school students will assist seniors to better understand how to use technology such as phones and laptops.

One of the goals will be improved communications and access to both social media and web-based material. Aging Partners will host digital learning events at the following locations:

• September 18, 3:30 p.m. - Community Action Partnership, 210 "O" St., Suite 100
• October 16, 3:30 p.m. - Eiseley Branch Library, 1530 Superior St.
• November 13, 3:30 p.m. - Aging Partners, 600 S. 70th St., Building Two

"As we learned during the pandemic, not only do people need access to high-speed internet, they need the digital literacy skills to use it. We believe this grant will help address digital disparities and is another big step in Lincoln's journey to become an even more age-friendly community," Stubbendieck said.

AARP developed the Community Challenge grant program in 2017 in response to mayors, local leaders, and residents who recognized the importance of getting quick wins to help build momentum for more livable communities, Stubbendieck said. The quick-action projects funded through the program are designed to demonstrate change and help build momentum to improve livability for residents of all ages.

More information on Aging Partners senior center activities is available at aging.lincoln.ne.gov.

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