‘This brings us all together’: Seward County Gives raising money for local projects

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A weeklong campaign to help make sure the next generation inherits an even better community is now underway.

Seward County Gives goes through Friday.

Founder Misty Ahmic said the goal is to increase funding and awareness for local nonprofits, along with projects that help the area.

“There’s 11 communities in Seward County, and really, this brings us all together as one,” she said. “So, if I’m living in Milford and someone’s living in Staplehurst, we don’t really know the work that’s going on in each other’s communities. This is a way to bring it all to the table.”

In Milford, some of the funds would go to replacing and updating the park’s playground equipment.

City Clerk Jeanne Hoggins said last year, the campaign raised enough money to build a new water park, which is currently under construction.

“The City of Milford is actually focused on phase two of our park improvement project,” she said. “We have a lot of equipment that is outdated, and we need to bring in new equipment” that is accessible for people with disabilities.

Other fundraisers include a spaghetti feed for the Milford Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday, which will help fund the department’s new bunker gear.

A few miles east in Pleasant Dale, the Ball Association is looking to fund renovations to its baseball/softball field.

The project is split into two years, and the fundraising goal for 2023 is $20,000.

Jaime Carder, head coach for 8-and-under softball, said renovations include fixing the retaining wall behind third base, adding foul ball barriers, and updating the American flags.

She said these community campaigns help support the towns’ youth and volunteers.

“It’s one central way for everyone to learn what the other communities are doing,” she said. “And it just brings together a way for the communities to work together, learn about each other’s causes, and also kind of spark ideas for the future for what you’d want to do for your own community.”

There will be games at the field on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, where anyone attending can donate.

You can also head directly to the campaign’s website to donate to all the causes.

Those include several fire departments, as well as local Kiwanis clubs, which are focused on improving the lives of children.

There are even ways to make sure popular gatherings, like the Flatwater Film Festival and the Seward Fourth of July Celebration, get the support they need.