January 2018 - Twin Cities 

 
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 45 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)
 
Contact: Rita Younger, Kinship Coordinator, rykinship@aol.com or 651.686.0990, www.kidsnkinship.org 

 
Snow Angels- Adopt a Senior this Season!
DARTS
 
Date/Time: Through the winter snow season
 
Location: Dakota County Area- biggest need is in the Apple Valley area

When it snows two inches or more within a 24-hour time frame, volunteers help clear the snow off an older homeowner's driveway and sidewalk. Most assignments take less than an hour. Volunteers make it a little brighter and safer for seniors.    

Ages: Family friendly; all ages are welcome
 
Time Commitment: Duration of the winter snow season when there are two inches or more of snow within a 24-hour time frame.
 
Contact: Jen Myers, jen.myers@darts1.org
 
 
Toss the Snow
Senior Community Services
 
Date/Time: Through the winter snow season
 
Location: Residents homes in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County
 
Develop strong muscles by shoveling the snow off a grateful senior citizen's walkways and driveway. Volunteers will shovel after each two-inch or more snowfall, and sand or salt the homeowners walkways after ice storms. You'll need to bring your own shovel or snow blower, but the resident will provide the warm smile.

Ages: Family teams are welcome; youth must be age seven or older and supervised by an adult. Volunteers must be 16 or older to operate a snow blower.
 
Time Commitment: During the winter snow season when it snows more than two inches.
 
Contact:  Jeanne, scsvolunteer@seniorcommunity.org or 952.767.7894
 
 
Candlelight Hike at Thompson County Park
Dakota County Parks

Date/Time: Friday, January 12, 5:30 - 9pm

Location: Thompson County Park, 360 Butler Avenue East, West St. Paul

Enjoy the park by flickering candlelight and warm up at roaring bonfires. Snowshoe rental and hot food will be available. Volunteers are needed to help with various activities including bonfire tending, greeting, and luminary lighting.

Ages: All ages are welcome. To volunteer without an adult, you must be 16 years old or older

Time Commitment: Various shifts are available; most shifts are two to three and one-half hours depending on assignment.

Contact: Garrett Zaffke, 651.438.4635, garrett.zaffke@co.dakota.mn.us. Registration is available online. Scroll down to Thompson County Park and select either Candlelight Hike - Luminary Set-up or Lighting Volunteer or Candlelight Hike - Luminary Take-Down Volunteer.  www.dakotacounty.us  
 
 
Sort and Repack Food
Second Harvest Heartland
 
Date/Time: A variety of dates and times are available. Please check calendar for availability. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your volunteer shift.
 
Location: 6325 Sandburg Rd. Suite 1700, Golden Valley

Volunteers repackage bulk foods such as pasta or cereal into consumer size packages, sort and salvage damaged products or food items, sort food from food drives and donations, or label cans. Repackaged items go to nearly 1,000 partner agencies, including food shelves and feeding programs that serve our hungry neighbors. This position requires that you are able to stand for several hours. If you or somebody in your party needs to sit for the shift, there are stools without backs available. Click here for more information about youth volunteering. Dress in comfortable clothing, such as a t-shirt or sweatshirt and jeans. For safety reasons, we also require you wear closed toed shoes and remove all jewelry. Second Harvest Heartland advises volunteers with food allergies to exercise caution when determining whether or not to participate in food packing.

Ages: This opportunity is available to youth ages eight and older. Adults who bring infants and children under eight years old will not be able to volunteer.
 
Time Commitment: Two and one-half hours
 
Contact:  651.282.0901 or volunteer@2harvest.org. Registration is available online.
www.2harvest.org
 
 
Food Packing
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC)
 
Date/Time: Multiple dates and times, see website for details
 
Location: FMSC has MN packing locations in Chanhassen, Coon Rapids and Eagan

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a Christian nonprofit that provides nutritionally complete meals that are specifically formulated for malnourished children. FMSC offers volunteers a one-of-a-kind experience. Volunteers hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are then sealed, boxed, placed on pallets and shipped to our incredible partners working hard to reach the neediest children around the world. Through volunteering at FMSC, volunteers get the chance to impact hundreds of kids in just two hours per packing shift. You'll experience what it's like to make a tangible difference-today. Please review the FSMC volunteering policies before you arrive for your shift.
 
Ages: The minimum age to volunteer at FMSC is five years old. Additional FMSC age requirements can be found online.
 
Time Commitment: Two-hour shifts
 
Contact:  Registration is available online. For questions about volunteering or about registering to volunteer, please refer to the FAQ page. If you have questions that are not addressed on the website or FAQ page please contact the following: General inquiries, info@fmsc.org or 763.504.2919. Volunteer and registration questions, registration@fmsc.org or 763.951.7306.
www.fmsc.org
 
 
Learn and Deliver Meals with Your Family!
Meals on Wheels
 
Date/Time: Volunteer one hour during lunchtime, Monday through Friday. Your family can volunteer weekly, monthly, or on a schedule that works for you.
 
Location: With over thirty neighborhood sites throughout the Twin Cities, you can easily be connected with a delivery site near your home! Call 612.623.3363 to be connected to the program nearest you!

Delivering Meals on Wheels with your children or grandchildren is a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time as a family and pass on the values of kindness, compassion, and civic responsibility by helping seniors and individuals with disabilities in your community. Whether you have infants or teenagers, you can make a contribution together to improve your community. Delivering meals involves driving to the program site, picking up, and delivering eight to ten meals. It takes about an hour, and you can choose a program site near your home. The amount you socialize with the clients is dependent on the volunteer and the client.

Ages: Families are welcomed and encouraged to volunteer
 
Time Commitment: About an hour at lunchtime
 
Contact:  Megan Flasch, 612-623-3363, megan@meals-on-wheels.com
 
 
Baby Bin
Simpson Housing Services
 
Date/Time: Flexible
 
Location: Deliver baskets to the SHS main office at 2100 Pillsbury Ave S, Minneapolis, weekdays between 9am and 4pm. No appointment is needed.
 
Simpson Housing Services is a leading nonprofit providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness. In response to unmet community needs, our programs have grown to include emergency shelter, single adult supportive housing, and family supportive housing. We work across the metro area, partnering with landlords and developers to find affordable housing for all families and individuals. Simpson Housing Services is looking for volunteers to create a Baby Bin for mothers with infants in our Family Housing program. Baby Bins provide mom and new baby with basic needs. To participate:

Purchase a laundry basket and the following infant necessities from a discount store:
  • a container of baby wipes
  • package of size 1 diapers
  • bottle of baby wash
  • baby washcloth
  • terry cloth bibs
  • burp cloths
  • our onesies with two coordinating pants, size 3 months
  • two pajamas, size 3 months
  • one sleepsack, size 3-6 months
  • two outfits size 6 months
  • one baby blanket
  • one baby toy
  • one baby book
  • hand sanitizer
  • Vaseline
  • 3-pack of bottles
  • bottle brush
  • Avent soothie pacifiers
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact:  Christina Giese, cgiese@simpsonhousing.org
 
 
Welcome Home Baskets
Simpson Housing Services
 
Date/Time: Flexible
 
Location: Deliver baskets to the SHS main office at 2100 Pillsbury Ave S, Minneapolis, weekdays between 9am and 4pm. No appointment is needed.
 
Simpson Housing Services is a leading nonprofit providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness. In response to unmet community needs, our programs have grown to include emergency shelter, single adult supportive housing, and family supportive housing. We work across the metro area, partnering with landlords and developers to find affordable housing for all families and individuals. Families coming from shelter often only have some clothing and a few items from their previous home. When they move to a new place they need some basic items to get settled. Simpson Housing Services is looking for volunteers to create a memorable gift for a family moving into a new home. You and your family can help by providing a Welcome Home Basket for families as they enter the Family Housing program. Volunteers provide a $20 gift certificate to a discount store like Target and additional household items. Baskets items should total no more than $50. A list of possible items is below.
  • Laundry soap
  • Dish soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper Towels
  • Toilet brush
  • All-purpose cleaner
  • Sponges or scrub brush
  • Dish cloth and towel
  • Shower curtain, liner, and rings
  • Bathroom rug
  • Broom and dustpan
  • Mop and bucket
  • Wall clock and batteries
  • Thermometer:
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact:  Christina Giese, cgiese@simpsonhousing.org
 
 
Frozen Meal Prep for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
The Link
 
Date/Time: Thursday, January 18, 2 - 3:30pm
 
Location: Grace Lutheran Church, 7800 W County Road 42, Apple Valley

The Link works with youth and families to overcome the impacts of poverty and social injustice. 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. The Link has planned the recipe for this volunteer activity and volunteers will be making chicken burrito bowls and macaroni and cheese. Individual volunteers sign up to bring one or more of the ingredients. Volunteers' ingredient contributions will come together to make one big impact for youth living in poverty.

Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Two hours
 
Contact: Lauren Matykowski, Volunteer Manager, volunteer@thelinkmn.org. Registration is available online.
 
 
Frozen Meal Prep for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
The Link
 
Date/Time: Thursday, January 25, 3 - 4:30pm
 
Location: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 3930 Rahn Rd., Eagan

In the spirit of the big game, help us make Super Bowl-themed food for our youth to enjoy! The Link works with youth and families to overcome the impacts of poverty and social injustice. 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. The Link has planned the recipe for this volunteer activity and volunteers will be making pizza sticks and walking tacos. Individual volunteers sign up to bring one or more of the ingredients. Volunteers' ingredient contributions will come together to make one big impact for youth living in poverty. 

Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to participate
 
Time Commitment: Two hours
 
Contact:  Lauren Matykowski, Volunteer Manager, volunteer@thelinkmn.org. Registration is available online.
 
 
Make No-Sew Blankets
Doing Good Together
 
Date/Time: Flexible
 
Location: Your home or community
 
Enjoy a cozy family kindness project for a cold month! Your children can help make these simple, fleece  blankets and provide comfort to a child in need. No sewing is required. Many local organizations would appreciate your donations of these easy-to-create fleece blankets. Check with hospitals, homeless shelters, care facilities, or police and fire stations to gauge interest. Or you can deliver them to your local chapter of  Project Linus or  Binky Patrol. These two groups will distribute them to organizations with the greatest need. Visit the Doing Good Together Make No-Sew Blankets Project page for blanket-making instructions and reflection questions.
 
Ages: Everyone can participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: mail@doinggoodtogether.org
 
Resolve to make 2018 your year to stand for kindness!

Want to make kindness a priority? You're not alone! In fact, there are big-hearted families nationwide who've decided sharing acts of kindness and service should be a top priority in 2018. The Big-Hearted Families Membership Circle can help! Our big-hearted experts are at your service to provide inspiration, motivation, and advice. Plus there are members-only perks too. All for just $24.99 annually.

Get started by joining in conversation with like-minded people. Our Facebook Big-Hearted Conversation Group is now available (free of charge) to anyone who wants to start or continue their family kindness practice. Discuss your goals, challenges, and ideas with other big-hearted families. 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™