Handing Out Happy Hearts

The Legacy Retirement Communities opened their first location in 1995, and now has four award-winning facilities across Lincoln. Over 10 years ago, TeamMates shared the opportunity to mentor with Legacy staff, and a handful continue to mentor today. 

“While the Legacy creates so many opportunities for their residents to connect, we know the pandemic created some feelings of isolation for everyone, especially the elderly in senior facilities,” said Audrey Watson, the TeamMates staff member who organized this community service project. “We wanted to do something nice for residents to remind them that they’re thought of, and just bring them some bright joy.”

TeamMates mentors and mentees were eager to contribute and created nearly 150 paper mobiles, constructed with colorful bright hearts to brighten the rooms of residents of the Legacy Estates retirement community. 

TeamMates provided the materials for the mobiles, but the matches gave their creativity to ensure each mobile had a special, unique look to them.

“Our residents are always happy to receive homemade gifts, especially from children!” said Tracy Haefele, the Legacy’s Life Enrichment Assistant. “We understand there is no greater gift than the gift of time…because we don’t ever get more of it.”