“He sees that none of us want this place to be closed”

• The video shows the Generations Center in north Omaha and neighbors participating in activities.
• The Generations Center has been in operation in north Omaha for over 30 years. This week, Heartland Family Services announced that it will close on October 1 due to funding issues.
• Community members are now raising money to hopefully keep the Generations Center open for another year.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:

I’m Melissa Wright in north Omaha at the Generations Center, where Heartland Family Services has announced it will close its Generations Center after 30 years of serving as a one-stop shop for seniors in north Omaha. Now, some community members have developed a plan to prevent the organization from closing the Generations Center.

For the neighbors here, this intergenerational center is a place where they can socialize. Virginia Jefferson has been attending the intergenerational center for 6 years.

“It’s hard for me to imagine because it’s like eating breakfast, it’s practically a routine thing for me and my whole routine is going to change once this thing closes,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson drives to the Generations Center every day. She says the closure of the center changes a lot for her.

“I like the women here. It has changed my life because
“Every day I have something to look forward to,” said Jefferson

Clarisse Homestead is new to the center. She has only been coming for 4 weeks. She says this place is an opportunity for her to make connections.

“I’m a social person. I feel so lonely when I’m not around people. I like being around other people,” Homestead said.

Homestead says she comes when her daughter drops her off, and she can’t imagine what she’ll do throughout the day when the center closes.

“Honestly, I like this building … and I don’t want to leave this building. But I hope we all come together and God knows what we’re all trying to do. God is sitting high and he looks deep, he sees that we all don’t want this place to close,” Homestead said.

Heartland Family Services announces that the Generations Center will be closed on October 1 due to funding issues.

Alijia Mckizia is working with other community leaders to educate the community on ways they can support seniors who may no longer have access to the center.

“So right now we’re trying to figure out if we can raise the funds to keep the center open or if we can raise enough money for a program partner or another nonprofit nearby to house the kids,” Mckizia said.

Mckizia tells me they have just over a month left to raise the $300,000 that will hopefully keep the center open for another year. She says with the community’s help, these seniors can continue to come to the center while an alternative plan is put in place.