Metro Area Youth Services

For most of this semester, he would come to the MAYS store, watch the rest of the kids buy candy and other things, then tell us he was going to save his MAYS bucks. He was saving for a pair of shoes. He wasn’t the first to tell us this - the something else always caught their eye first. He has been different. Some days it was a more difficult choice than others, but he still stuck with it.

Finally, a few weeks ago, he came to us to tell us he was close and ask if he really got to pick the shoes? (They came in this week.)

We are so proud of this young man for setting a goal and sticking with it - even when it didn’t seem as fun as the other choices. 👟

This week, we challenged a few of our youth to get creative with A.I. and Photoshop. They went on a mini-tour of the city, visiting a few of our unique spaces. They were to take a few photos they thought might make interesting movie posters or images if they made a few changes to them.

This first part was challenging enough - most of them have never used a camera that wasn't also a phone and they had to use their imagination to see what something could be. These guys rose to the challenge and got some fun shots. They also saw some new parts of the city!

The second part came when they got back to MAYS. They had to take their photos and use AI and Photoshop to edit them into something new. They had a good time trying out all the features and possibilities...and learned the importance of being specific and intentional about how you word your prompts! (there were more than a few unintended results during the process)

They also learned how easy it is to manipulate a photo into something entirely different and still look pretty realistic if you aren't paying attention.

Overall, they had a pretty good time learning something that will be part of their lives moving forward.

We celebrated Arbor Day with Lauritzen Gardens today! We took advantage of free admission to check out the Trolls exhibit, do some drawing, and see the rest of the gardens, which was the first time some of our youth (and staff) had been there. They were so impressed and can’t wait to go back!

It’s hard to believe we are already in April!! The first 3 months of 2026 have flown by and we have stayed busy at MAYS! This last week, we celebrated spring with new chicks 🐥, an Easter egg hunt, new snack ideas, and some time outside!! Looking forward to warmer weather and some new adventures!

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Happy Easter! 💜

RIH Big Wade Stevens, man you've been with the MAYS Family since day 1, our condolences to your family and friends. You will be missed my friend. LUV.....

Rodney Evans

"I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere."
~Maya Angelou

There is still time to donate today - find an organization that is doing the work that means the most to you and give! You make it possible!

www.shareomaha.org or https://shareomaha.org/nonprofit/mays-foundation

A Different Way to Give This Giving Tuesday

We know many of you prefer to be more involved in seeing where your generous gift goes. We believe in transparency, and we want you to feel connected to the impact you make.

If you're looking to give but want to ensure your support meets a specific, immediate need, our Wish List is the perfect solution. Every item purchased is a tangible resource that directly helps us continue our mission—no guesswork needed.

You choose the item, you see the impact:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XEXSWTGMKBP6?ref_=wl_share

Thank you for being such a crucial part of our community.

Today is Giving Tuesday! It is a fantastic opportunity to find an organization that is doing the work in your community and support them with your time, resources, or money. Find hundreds of organizations at www.ShareOmaha.org and support them today!

MAYS is one of the non-profits that you can give to during this time. https://shareomaha.org/nonprofit/mays-foundation

We can't do it without you! Thank you so much to the members of our community! 💙

It has been such an eventful year and we have so much to be thankful for! From our MAYS Family to you, Happy Thanksgiving!! 🍁🦃 🧡

This year we were able to process some fresh honey from our bee hives, and our chickens are starting to produce some fresh eggs. The youth are super stoked to partake in this process!