Foundation Awards $40,000 Grant to Support Legacy Station in Wood River
Hall County, NE — The Greater Grand Island Community Foundation is awarding a $40,000 grant to Legacy Station in Wood River, a community project designed to expand access to essential services, learning opportunities, and connections for residents of Wood River and surrounding communities.
The grant represents the Foundation’s continued commitment to investing in projects that strengthen communities and create meaningful opportunities for people across Hall County. Since 2019, the Foundation has contributed more than $100,000 to the Wood River community through its grant programs.
Legacy Station brings several community resources together in one accessible location, including an expanded library, food pantry, day care, and senior center. Located across from senior and public housing, the facility is well-positioned to improve access for residents who may face transportation, mobility, or financial barriers.
“We are tremendously grateful to the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation and its donors. Since moving to our new location, we’ve already seen an increase in participation in coffee, meals, and activities at the senior center due to greater accessibility. This grant will allow us to expand our programming and create even more opportunities for seniors to connect with and engage with one another.
“With the library, food pantry, senior center, and daycare all under one roof, we’re seeing increased participation across the board. Having these services in one convenient, walkable location has made a real difference for our community. People are truly enjoying our beautiful, bright, and spacious new senior center. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and as one patron put it, ‘It lifts the spirit.’ There is certainly a lot of laughter happening here.”
— Kila Turek, Executive Director, Senior Center
The new library space will provide expanded room for reading programs, classes, technology services, and youth activities, while also increasing accessibility and creating opportunities to better serve Spanish-speaking residents. The facility’s expanded food pantry will provide additional storage and refrigeration for fresh food, making food assistance more accessible to residents through extended hours and a drive-up entrance.
The project also creates opportunities for the library, food pantry, senior services, and Stick Creek Kids Child Development Center to work together. Planned intergenerational activities could include seniors reading with children, gardening projects, and connecting residents with additional community resources.
“Investments like this are about more than supporting a building; they’re about investing in the people who will use it,” said Melissa DeLaet, CEO of the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation. “Legacy Station creates a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can access resources, learn, connect, and feel a stronger sense of community. We’re proud to support Legacy Station and the vision they have for the future of Wood River.”
The $40,000 grant is part of the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Hall County communities by supporting organizations and projects that address local needs, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life.
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About the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation
The Greater Grand Island Community Foundation was established in 1960 to empower people to turn their passion into purpose by creating legacies that strengthen the future of the communities we serve. Accredited by the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, the Foundation manages over $40 million in assets and has helped establish hundreds of charitable funds over the past 65 years. The Foundation serves hundreds of donors annually through individual, family, and corporate legacy funds. Stay updated on the latest happenings at the Foundation on Facebook and other major social media platforms, as well as by subscribing to the newsletter. The Greater Grand Island Community Foundation is located at 1503 W 2nd Street, Grand Island, Nebraska 68801.