Live Well Go Fish
Alan Hersch spoke to us about “Living Well – Go Fish” which was started in 2016 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit here in Lincoln by David Rudder. They provide recreational therapy for groups that normally do not have the opportunity or means to experience the healthy benefits of nature on the water.
They have a 40 28 ft pontoon boat that allows for up to 3 wheelchairs and 10 guests for short day trips. These trips are usually 2 to 4 hours long only. The non-profit keeps their pontoon boat at Lake Wanahoo that is located just outside of Wahoo, NE. This is about 30 miles from Lincoln. There is a dock on the far side of the lake that is great for loading people with wheelchairs, walkers and who have handicap disabilities.
Many of the participants are from Assisted and skilled care living, retired, Veterans, hospice patients, Alzheimer’s & dementia care patients, rehabilitation care, adult day care, visually impaired and special needs organizations and their families. So far, they have served 4,756 people during five seasons. Many of the participants come from Lincoln, Omaha, Fremont, West Point, Crete in Nebraska and Council Bluffs, IA. Those in Assisted Living the Care Center that they are located in usually pays a small fee so their participants can have some outdoor fun.
Alan said that they also work with community groups such as churches and schools so that some of the young people get a chance to go fishing too. Several of the hospice patients are from Omaha and when they do go out, they usually have three or four volunteers with them. They have some special days which for the Veterans which are: D-Day, Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, Korean War Day, Purple Heart Day, and Memorial Day.
Living Well—Go Fish partners with Schools, Aging Partners, NRD (Education on Water), and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. They host “Family Fishing Nights.”
Some “Fun Facts” are: Hosting 100-and 105-year-old individuals who had fun fishing, a couple who had been married 73 years, a 41-year-old veteran, a 91-year-old who caught a 26” Walleye. There has been 53 variety of fish caught and what happens they are get thrown back into the lake. On an occasion they have taken the pontoon boat to Lake Conestoga for outings.
They currently have 35 active volunteers. Some favorite activities are: bird watching, kite flying, name that tuna, truck horning, baby shark, and bingo. As for licensing, many of the individuals have their own license, but if it is for recreational therapy, the facility can purchase a single license to be used. All equipment is furnished by Scheele’s and they do not cast the line out, but just over the side. They try to go out only Monday-Thursday because the lake is not so busy.
Live Well Go Fish vision is to develop a diverse group of volunteers working together to build better communities through service to our senior citizens, youth, veterans and people with disabilities.