Beyond our Walls: Building Community through Healthy Living Outreach
The YMCA has been part of Lincoln for over 150 years, promoting health and wellness. But what if you didn’t have to come to the Y to experience all it has to offer? The Lincoln YMCA’s Healthy Living Outreach program brings wellness classes beyond our walls to serve those, especially seniors, who face barriers like transportation or financial limitations.
Our goal is simple: make it easier for everyone to stay active, healthy, and connected. Through classes like Fit for Life, we’re helping seniors build strength, stay social, and combat loneliness.
Healthy Living Outreach is currently taking place at Air Park Recreation Center, Easterday Recreation Center, and Willard Community Center. The City has been instrumental in providing space, equipment storage, and marketing support at Air Park and Easterday. At Willard, the staff and board have embraced the program, welcoming us into their already vibrant community.
The program isn’t just good for participants, our instructors love it too. Michelle B., a Healthy Living Outreach instructor at Willard, shared:
“Through the YMCA’s Healthy Living Outreach program, I’ve watched new relationships form, long-term friendships deepen, and I’ve built connections myself. This group supports each other in class and in the community. I look forward to every week, celebrating their growth and sharing their joy. I’m so thankful this is part of my life.”
Health Living Outreach classes are designed to be accessible. Each session includes 12 classes, and the cost is just $1 per class, with financial assistance available so no one is turned away. Thanks to funding from the Nebraska Presbyterian Foundation, we were able to launch this pilot program and are excited to see it grow.
Fall sessions begin September 2, and we’d love to welcome you to the fun. No matter where you are, the Y is here to help you grow and thrive.
Want to join in? Learn more about the YMCA’s Healthy Living Outreach program here. If you are interested in supporting this program, email khudson@ymcalincoln.org or call 402-323-6407.