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🏡 West A/Roper Weekly Gazette #6

Issue #6| Week of September 21 – September 27, 2026

🗣️ Community Highlight

This week, we are shining a spotlight on the essential early childhood education and care programs offered right in our neighborhood by the Willard Community Center. Willard’s mission is to help develop, assist, and maintain community programs and activities for children and adults of the West A neighborhood and surrounding areas. For decades, their work has provided a dependable anchor for families needing quality local support.

Willard offers full-day, licensed childcare programs serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Their experienced staff delivers structured early learning environments designed around healthy child development, hands-on exploration, social skills, and foundational school readiness in a safe, caring setting.

Openings are currently available in the infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. If your family is looking for high-quality neighborhood care, contact the Willard Community Center directly at 402-475-0805 or email willard@willardcommunitycenter.org to learn more about scheduling a visit and reserving a spot.

🗓️ Events Calendar

  • Annual Schroder Park Wellness Campus Trunk-or-Treat (Call for Trunks & Volunteers!)
    • 📍 Where: Lincoln Industries, 600 West E Street
    • ⏰ When: Friday, October 30 @ 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Trunk arrival by 6:00 PM; RSVP deadline October 10)
    • 📝 Details: Willard Community Center is partnering with Lincoln Industries to host this annual community tradition at its new location! Neighborhood families, local groups, and businesses are encouraged to host a decorated vehicle trunk or sign up as volunteers. Reserve your space and submit your trunk theme by October 10 by contacting Sarah Reinke at sarahr@willardcommunitycenter.org or calling 402-475-0805 ext. 101.
  • 2026 We Can Do This Fundraiser: 10th Anniversary Celebration
    • 📍 Where: Venue 5 Twenty-Two, 1525 Yankee Hill Rd.
    • ⏰ When: Thursday, October 29 @ 6:00 PM CDT
    • 📝 Details: Celebrate a decade of feeding Lincoln kids on weekends with dinner, a silent auction, and a Nebraska Basketball Preview with keynote speaker Coach Fred Hoiberg. Tickets and table sponsorships are available through We Can Do This.
  • Roper PTO Quarterly Meeting
    • 📍 Where: Roper Elementary School (East Media Center), 2323 S. Coddington Ave.
    • ⏰ When: Monday, September 21 @ 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
    • 📝 Details: Join fellow Roper parents, teachers, and neighbors to discuss school activities, upcoming volunteer projects, and PTO support programs. View the calendar at Roper LPS.
  • Roper Family STEM Night
    • 📍 Where: Roper Elementary School, 2323 S. Coddington Ave.
    • ⏰ When: Thursday, September 24 @ 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
    • 📝 Details: A free, interactive evening open to Roper students and families featuring hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math discovery stations. More details available on the Roper Elementary Calendar.
  • Steak Night Supporting Our Veterans
    • 📍 Where: Miller-Long VFW Post 3606, 3340 W A St.
    • ⏰ When: Friday, September 25 @ 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
    • 📝 Details: Head over to our neighborhood post along West A Street for a steak dinner to support local veteran programs and community outreach. Learn more through VFW Post 3606.

🆘 Social Services & Support for People in Need

  • 🥦 Food Access & Meal Programs:
    • Food Resource Guide: Access local food pantries, emergency meal sites, and mobile distributions via the MRP Food Resource Guide.
    • We Can Do This: Supporting food security for neighborhood students through supplemental weekend food packages and pantries. Learn more or support their work at wecandothislincoln.org.
  • 👶 Child Care & Youth Programs:
    • Willard Community Center Childcare: Licensed programs serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, alongside before- and after-school care for elementary students. Childcare openings are currently available; contact 402-475-0805 for intake and enrollment.
    • Park Middle School Youth Outreach: Connecting neighborhood students with mentoring, constructive after-school activities, and community programs.
  • 🤝 Emergency & Community Assistance:
    • Roper Good Neighbor Fund: Providing emergency student and family assistance within the Roper Elementary school community. Inquire through school resource staff.
    • VFW Post 3606 Outreach: Connecting local veterans and community members with advocacy and service support along West A Street.

🌶️ Brought to You by MRP

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This newsletter is brought to you by Mystic Rhoads Productions (MRP)—a local non-profit empowering communities through education, healthy lifestyles, and environmental appreciation. 100% of profits from MRP’s product lines (like Dirt Nap Dip) go directly toward local causes, including food security guides and youth support at Park Middle School.

Thanks for reading West A/Roper Weekly Gazette!