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April 2018 - Twin Cities |
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Mentor a Child
Kids 'n Kinship
Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity
Location: Your home or the community.
Kids 'n Kinship matches volunteer mentor families, couples, & individuals with youth ages 5-16 in need of additional positive role models for fun and enriching weekly activities. Mentoring Works! Please consider stepping forward today to mentor a child with your family. We are based in Dakota County and have served families in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville & Rosemount for 46 years. Matches are made based on compatible personalities, ages and interests as well as preferences of both volunteer family and the youth and parent/guardian. Our families say that mentoring together ensures they have weekly family time and that it's easy to include another child with the family activity, whether it's a board game, sledding, a trip to a park, or going to the zoo or a museum. We offer discounted passes to area attractions to make activities more affordable, a 45-minute information session, a 2-hour training session, as well as ongoing training and support. We ask mentors and mentees to commit to a year's time together in order to build their relationship; however, many of our matches become lifelong friendships and our average match is about 3 years. Please consider being a mentor to a child - it is one of the most challenging and rewarding ways to volunteer!
Ages: Mentors are families, couples, or individuals over 21.
Time Commitment: One to four hours per week, on your own time (very flexible scheduling: can be weekends, evenings or after school)
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Celebrate Earth Day!
City of Minneapolis
Date/Time: Saturday, April 21, 9:30 - noon
Location: Click
here for a listing of Minneapolis Earth Day cleanup sites. Arrive at any site from 9:30 to noon and check in at the registration table.
It's easy to get involved in Earth Day Cleanup 2018. No pre-registration is required! Arrive at any site between 9:30am and noon, bring a pair of gloves to pick up trash, and check in at the registration table. A site coordinator will provide you with gloves (if you did not bring any) and bags and instruct you where to go and where to leave trash. Every site has a coordinator available to assist volunteers and to answer any questions you may have. The goal of Earth Day Cleanup is to provide a volunteer experience and environmental education to Minneapolis residents and park users. This annual event involves cleaning Minneapolis parks, neighborhoods, watersheds and water bodies including the Chain of Lakes, Lake Nokomis, Lake Hiawatha, Powderhorn Lake, Diamond Lake, Shingle Creek, Minnehaha Creek, Bassett's Creek and the Mississippi River. Since the inception of the Earth Day cleanup we have removed more than 140,000 pounds of garbage from Minneapolis parks.
Ages: Open to all ages
Time Commitment: Up to two and one-half hours. Volunteers can arrive anytime between 9:30 and noon. No pre-registration is required.
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2018 Citywide Spring Cleanup
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Date/Time: Saturday, April 21, 9 - 11:30am
Location(s):
- Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 N Lexington Pkwy
- Central Village Park, 457 Central Ave W
- Cherokee Park, 700 Cherokee Heights Blvd
- Frogtown Farm Park, 662 N Victoria St
- Highland Picnic Pavilion, 1200 Montreal Ave
- Parkland on Griggs, Intersection of Bigelow Ln and Griggs St
- Phalen Picnic Pavilion, 1600 Phalen Dr
- Swede Hollow Park, Intersection of Greenbrier St and Margaret St
- Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary, 1200 Jackson St
Each year, hundreds of volunteers gather across Saint Paul for the Citywide Spring Cleanup to pick up garbage that has recently become exposed due to the melting snow. With the help of volunteers, we can remove the trash that accumulates in these natural areas harming wildlife, polluting lakes and rivers, and detracting from the beauty of our community. This event is a fun and effective way to improve the natural environment in our local community.
Ages: Everyone can participate
Time Commitment: Up to two and one-half hours
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Minneapolis Earth Day Cleanup
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR)
Date/Time: Saturday, April 21, 9:30am - noon
Location: E 36th St & W River Parkway or E 44th St & W River Parkway, Minneapolis
This family-friendly Earth Day tradition provides an excellent opportunity to get outside and work together to help improve this treasured area. Friends of the Mississippi River have returned to this site year after year and have noticed a dramatic improvement to the area thanks to dedicated volunteers like you! FMR will provide all of the supplies, however, if you have your own gloves feel free to bring them along. Sturdy shoes are strongly suggested as well as dressing for the weather, layers are encouraged. To participate, simply show up at either E 36th St & W River Parkway or E 44th St & W River Parkway to sign-in with FMR staff.
Ages: Everyone can participate
Time Commitment: Up to two and one-half hours
Contact:
Amy Kilgore, [email protected]. Advanced registration for this event is not required; however, if you have a group of 10-20 people, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Amy Kilgore, [email protected] or 651.222.2193 x31. For groups of 20+ please contact Erika Chua, [email protected] or 612.230.6479 to be assigned a location that will better fit your group size.
www.fmr.org
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Spring Yard Clean-up!
DARTS
Date/Time: April 25 through May 24. Choose a date and time that works best for you and your family!
Location: Dakota County Area
Grab your rakes and gloves and invite your friends, families and co-workers to help an older homeowner clean up their yard this spring. Volunteers play a crucial role in helping older homeowners in Dakota County maintain a sense of pride in their property. This is a great opportunity for families to share in the experience of giving back to the community.
Ages: Families and groups of all ages
Time Commitment: One time; two to four hours
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Help Seniors in Your Community with Spring Yard Cleanup
HOME Program of Senior Community Services (SCS)
Date/Time: Seasonal: Starting in mid-April and lasting through the summer. Spring Cleanup can be scheduled on either weekdays or weekends.
Location: Exact location TBD in Minneapolis or suburban Hennepin County, depends upon where the senior lives.
Volunteers are needed to help with Spring Cleanup for low income seniors in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County. This is a fun volunteer opportunity to get outdoors, while helping seniors stay in their homes by helping with outdoor home care they are unable to do themselves. Hours are flexible, you choose the date and time that works for you!
Ages: Families with children ages seven and older. Come once or come throughout the season!
Time Commitment: Flexible
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Earth Day & Arts in the Gardens and Parks
Urban Roots
Date/Time: Saturday, April 21, 9am - 1pm
Location:
Gardening work: Meet behind the Urban Roots Offices at 463 Maria Ave, St Paul
Conservation work: Swede Hollow Park parking lot on Greenbrier St.
The gardening crew will be going out to a garden site and preparing it for planting! You will likely be transforming two gardens from their winter to a planting-ready state. Be prepared to get dirty! The conservation work crew will be partnering with St. Paul Parks and Rec to do a trash pickup in Swede Hollow Park. Parks and Rec will be providing donuts and Chinook books for all participants. Later in the morning both groups will have the opportunity to participate in painting a community mural at Swede Hollow Park! The mural has been designed by our youth, the community, and an artist and will be installed on the wall of Phoenix Market at 3rd and Maria upon completion. The painting will be done in a "paint-by-number" style so all are welcome to participate! Snacks will be served at Swede Hollow park around noon.
Ages: All ages are welcome. Adults need to be responsible for managing the children they bring.
Time Commitment: Four hours
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April Frozen Meal Prep: Chicken Enchiladas and Pizza Pasta
The Link
Date/Time: Monday, April 23, 2 - 4pm
Location: 1210 Glenwood Avenue, Minneapolis
All too often youth and families in our programs go without food. We'd like to change that. Join us to prep frozen meals that will be distributed to youth and families when they need them. This is a great opportunity if you are an individual, group or family! Volunteers bring the ingredients to make a large scale collective impact for youth experiencing food insecurity. We can only make as much food as our volunteers bring so sign up for as many slots as you like.
Ages: Families with children ages ten and older are welcome to participate
Time Commitment: Two hours
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Happy You Day Bag Pack for Young Families
The Link
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 2, 1- 3pm
Location: 210 Glenwood Avenue, Minneapolis
Volunteers are needed to bring items and treats from the sign-up list and to make 40 bags for young parents in The Link's programs for the upcoming Mother's and Father's Day holidays. Volunteers will decorate the bags, pack them, and then make cards for youth.
Ages: This is a great opportunity for families with children of all ages.
Time Commitment: Two hours
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Milkweed Podcast and other Pollinator Attractions
Great River Greening
Date/Time: Saturday, May 5, 8:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Pilot Knob Hill Preservation, Pilot Knob Rd & Acacia Blvd, Mendota Heights
Join other volunteers in planting to help restore our native landscape and secure the legacy of Minnesota land and waters. At this planting event, volunteers will restore the prairie with native pollinator shrubs and release milkweed seeds into a recently burned area through a "podcast!" Volunteers collected the pods during our immensely successful Million Milkweed Seed Initiative last fall. Many of the seeds have been propagated and will be planted this season. But the pods still have plenty of seeds in the fluff, perfect for casting in fertile areas. Snacks will be provided throughout the morning and lunch will be served at noon.
Ages: Events are open to all ages. Volunteers under age 12 need to be accompanied by an adult.
Time Commitment: Four hours
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Special Needs Summer Camp Volunteers
True Friends at Camp Courage
Date/Time: Sunday, August 5 - Wednesday, August 15
Location: Camp Courage in Maple Lake, MN
Families up to 7 members will assist adults with physical disabilities and camp staff for a week of fun at camp. Activities include: pontoon-ing, crafting, adapted high ropes course, archery, recreational games, campfires, s'mores making (and eating) and so much more. Volunteers directly support True Friends' mission: "Provide life-changing experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities."
Ages: Families with children ages five and older. Adults must provide supervision for those under 18. Onsite housing and meals are provided.
Time Commitment: Ten days; meals and housing provided
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Special Needs Day Camp Volunteers
True Friends at Camp Eden Wood
Date/Time: Choose a week, 8am - 5pm daily: June 4-8, June 11-15, June 18-21, June 25-29, July 9-13, July 16-20, July 23-27, July 30-August 3, August 6-9
Location: Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie
Two to three volunteers per week are needed to assist adults and children with developmental and/or physical disabilities for a week of fun at camp. Activities include: crafting, high ropes course, archery, recreational games, campfires, s'mores making (and eating), off-site trips to local attractions and so much more. Volunteers directly support True Friends' mission: "Provide life-changing experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities."
Ages: 16 and older with parent/guardian.
Time Commitment: One week; lunch provided each day
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Meal Delivery
Open Arms of Minnesota
Date/Time: Weekdays 10:45am - 1pm
Location: 2500 Bloomington Ave S, Minneapolis
Volunteer to deliver meals to our clients and help Open Arms bring nourishment to those who need it most. This year, Open Arms' network of more than 7,000 volunteers will help deliver more than 600,000 meals to people living with life-threatening illnesses in the Twin Cities. Pick the delivery route that suits you and your family best. Drivers must have a valid driver's license.
Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to volunteer
Time Commitment: One to two hours per shift. After you've attended a new volunteer orientation, you may sign up to volunteer when you are able. There is no minimum time commitment.
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Meal Prep and Packaging
Open Arms of Minnesota
Date/Time: Weekend and evening shifts six days a week from 7:30am - 7pm
Location: 2500 Bloomington Ave S, Minneapolis
Youth are welcome to help us in the kitchen scooping cookie dough, making Jell-O, and packaging cookies for our client's weekly meal deliveries. Submit online applications for each adult and youth interested in volunteering. After attending orientation, you may sign up for kitchen shifts as often as you'd like.
Ages: Families with children ages eight years old and older are welcome to volunteer. Click
here for more information on age requirements and adult to youth ratio.
Time Commitment: Two hours per shift.
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Bag Decorating
Open Arms of Minnesota
Date/Time: Flexible opportunities
Location: 2500 Bloomington Ave S., Minneapolis
Our clients receive a brown grocery bag filled with meal items every week. Brighten their day a little more by adding color and creativity to their brown grocery bag. It is simple acts of kindness like this that remind clients just how many people in their community care about them. We provide the brown bags; you provide the creativity! Stop in during our business hours to pick up as many brown bags as your group can decorate. Bring the bags home to decorate and spread the spirit of giving back with friends and family as you color!
Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to volunteer
Time Commitment: Varies
Contact:
Interested in setting up a time to pick up bags to decorate? Email Jennifer Bliss at [email protected] or call 612.767.7340.
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Puppy Raisers & Long-term Foster Homes
Can Do Canines
Date/Time: Ongoing need, as puppies need homes at various times throughout the year.
Location: 9440 Science Center Drive, New Hope
Raise and train a future service dog! Volunteer puppy raisers and fosters are needed to teach our curious canines good house manners and how to behave well in public places. As a puppy raiser or long-term foster, you would attend a minimum of two training meetings each month and provide a home, food, basic veterinary care and lots of love! This is a great opportunity to spend quality time as a family, and pass on the values of commitment, compassion, and civic responsibility by helping people with disabilities in your community.
Ages: This is a great family project. Children under age 12 can take part in obedience training, feeding and helping to work on good house manners, and those between 12 -16 can receive approval by training staff to handle dogs in class and in public places under adult supervision.
Time Commitment: Varies depending on age of dog when placed. Could range from 6 to 16 months.
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World's Largest Toy Battle for Bullying Prevention
Project My Neighborhood
Date/Time: Saturday, June 30, 9am - 6pm
Location: East Ridge High School, 4200 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury (Soccer fields)
Project My Neighborhood is a nonprofit that raises funds for bullying prevention. We work with schools, churches, and communities. We are attempting to set the Guinness World Record for Largest Toy Battle in Woodbury, and the proceeds for our event are going to the creation and launch of our bullying prevention app. During this event participants will use foam Nerf Blasters in a series of games that reinforce our core values of inclusion, outreach, team building, and health & wellness. To help the event run smoothly we need a number of volunteers to help set up the inflatable barriers, help with registration, chaperone for world record compliance, and help with take down at the end of the event.
Ages: Families with children ages 5 and older are welcome to participate. Volunteers must be over 14 with a parent or guardian.
Time Commitment: Three, six or nine hours
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Become a Citizen Scientist
Doing Good Together/SciStarter
Date/Time: Flexible, on your own schedule
Location: Your home or community
Make science your next family service project! A citizen scientist is a curious person wiling to volunteer time, effort, and resources to further scientific endeavors, often - though not always - in collaboration with researchers. Choose one among hundreds of research projects searchable through
SciStarter.com. Some are online only. Others get you out into nature. Still others put you to work analyzing results. The truly great thing about citizen science through SciStarter is that you can choose a project based on your interests, the financial investment you're prepared to make, and your child's ability. Visit Doing Good Together's
Be a Citizen Scientist project page for more ideas and resources.
Ages: There are projects for children of all ages
Time Commitment: Varies, depending on project
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Spring into a season of kindness! Join our DGT™ Membership Circle
Spring is the season of renewal, so it's an ideal time to focus on big-hearted activities for the
entire family. When you join the
DGT™ Membership Circle you have year-round access to our experts who provide inspiration, motivation, advice, and ideas. Plus, there are members-only perks, including our Challenges Download. Perfect for those who want to focus their acts of kindness on a weekly topic, such as environmentalism or generosity. Membership costs just $24.99 annually and benefits DGT's programming. Sign up today!
Don't forget: our Facebook Big-Hearted Conversation Group is open to anyone interested in connecting with other big-hearted families. Discuss your kindness and volunteering goals, challenges, and service project ideas, and enjoy the tips posted by our Big-Hearted Families™ Director, Sarah Aadland.
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| This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)
When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project.
Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.
© 2018 Doing Good Together™
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