The final bell has echoed, the hallway hum has softened, and the school day at Loveland Elementary has come to a close. But for some students, another chapter is beginning. Backpacks drop and doors swing open. One student grabs a snack while another moves to decompress with LEGO blocks before tutoring begins. Teachers mingle with volunteers, proudly sharing what students accomplished that day, or sneaking in practice problems to help a lesson click.
This is the moment school ends and NEST begins.
NEST Community Learning Center — the beloved local nonprofit dedicated to providing at-risk students with Nutrition, Education, and Safety to Transform their futures — has undergone a transformation of its own. Celebrating its 10th year, NEST stands on a remarkable foundation built by Evangeline DeVol.
“We’re looking to cast the net deep,” explains Executive Director Laurie Reagan.
NEST has found a new home in Loveland Elementary’s Media Center, reinvigorating ties with Loveland Schools, but the program continues to be committed to providing more than tutoring. Volunteers, from Board President Jeff Bass to NEST Clubs at both Loveland High School and CHCA, are establishing foundational one-on-one relationships.
“It just makes sense that it’s all taking place in one of our buildings, where kids already know they’re loved and supported,” says Loveland Superintendent Mike Broadwater, who didn’t hesitate when NEST approached him with ideas to further integrate.
“He said ‘we’ll find a place for you here,’” Laurie recalls, a simple but anchoring act of partnership.
While NEST’s earliest learners, ages 3 through kindergarten, are nurtured through the nonprofit’s signature mobile bus experience, this on-site central hub for students in grades 1-4 (and next year 5!) has brought a powerful impact. Not only are lessons and tutoring closely synced, but students receive extended mental and emotional support beyond the classroom, from celebrating success to offering a reprieve after a tough day.
But these kids have many spokes on the wheel of support.
Our community remains rallied around NEST and its students, with local churches, organizations, and an army of volunteers stepping in, including a pivotal partnership with LIFE Food Pantry. Located just across the street, LIFE keeps bellies full and spirits high by providing nutritious, kid-approved hot meals and snack bags to take home. Partnerships like this have freed up some of NEST’s resources, allowing the organization to dream bigger.
That includes extending the program into the summer and bringing new experiences to the kids. A visit from the zoo, a pool day, and a trip to the Loveland Castle are all reminders that the world is bigger than they may realize, and more important, full of people rooting for them. With that kind of support behind them, the sky’s the limit … and these kids are ready to take flight.
For those wondering how to get involved, board member Ashley Cunningham reminds us that it doesn’t take a lot to drive meaningful change in our community. “So many people want to do good, but don’t realize what exists in their own backyard,” Ashley offers. “It only takes one. One volunteer, one donation, one friend. Not the sun and moon. Just one.”
NestCLC.org | 1007 Cottonwood Drive, Loveland | 513.781.1238