November 2014 - Twin Cities 

Free, Community-wide Doing Good Together™ Family Service Fair

Doing Good Together™

Date/Time: Friday, November 21, 5-8 pm

Location: Midtown Global Market, 920 East Lake Street, Minneapolis   

Doing Good Together, in collaboration with generationOn, is hosting a free, community-wide Family Service Fair at the Midtown Global Market. Families are invited to come together to do simple, hands-on service projects, reflect on the importance of giving back, and learn about opportunities to get involved in our local community.
A diverse group of non-profit organizations will be participating - each hosting a "station" with a fun, kid-friendly service activity for families to complete, including assembling home starter kits for low-income families and making chew toys for orphaned dogs. The partner organizations will provide information about their mission and volunteer opportunities that are available for families. 

This event will be held in conjunction with Midtown Global Market's Family night, and will feature live, family entertainment from 5:30 to 7:30pm in the Market's Central Plaza.  

Ages: All ages are welcome    

Time Commitment: Come for as long as you'd like between 5pm and 8pm. If you are interested in joining the team of Doing Good Together™ Family Service Fair volunteers, please contact Nassim Rossi.

Contact: Nassim Rossi, [email protected]
www.doinggoodtogether.org 

Looking for a Great Holiday Gift that Gives Back?  

Doing Good Together™

Location: Order online. Your young recipient can enjoy the Big-Hearted Book Club right at home every month.  

Have kids on your gift-giving list? Looking for something you feel GOOD about giving? ALL the proceeds help DGT™ continue to serve children and families. In addition, the gifts themselves teach children about the joy of doing for others. Most important of all, though, children will LOVE this fabulous book club! Each month your recipient will receive one high-quality children's book, along with a kindness activity, fun stickers and an original recipe. Turn family night into a book-centered kindness practice! Choose between a one-month, three-month, six-month or full-year subscription. (You can decide which month your subscription will begin.) Learn more and subscribe at our DGT Store.

Ages: Most appropriate for children 4-10 years old   

Contact:  Laurie at [email protected] with any questions  
www.doinggoodtogether.org  

Make a Difference for Families Struggling with Homelessness  

Doing Good Together and Edina Community Education

Date/Time: Tuesday, November 11, 6:30-8pm

Location: Edina Community Center, 5701 Normandale Rd, Edina  

Your family has an opportunity to do three fun yet meaningful service projects to help families struggling with homelessness. Activities include assembling literacy kits, decorating fresh new pillowcases, and making play dough. All projects will go to benefit People Serving People (PSP), a local shelter for homeless children and their families. Young class participants will go home with their own decorated box for collecting donations so your family can continue the "giving habit." All Twin Cities families are welcome to attend this Edina Community Education class. There is a small fee and pre-registration is required  

Ages: All ages are welcome! 

Time Commitment: One and a half hours, but feel free to come late or leave early if you need to

Contact: Jenny Friedman at [email protected]. You must register online to attend.
www.doinggoodtogether.org 

Help Older Homeowners with Fall Clean-up  

DARTS

Date/Time: Now through November 7, volunteer groups set date and time

Location: Older homeowners living throughout the Dakota County area  

DARTS is a community-based nonprofit that connects people to services and partnerships that improve their quality of life, help them age well, and enable them to engage in their community. Volunteer families can help seniors remain in their homes by raking and bagging the leaves in their yards.

Ages: Young families and beyond  

Time Commitment: Two to four hours per yard

Contact: Barb Tiggemann, DARTS Volunteer Coordinator, [email protected]
www.dartsconnects.org 

Holiday Home Care Baskets  

Our Saviour's Housing

Date/Time: Delivery requested by Wednesday December 17, contact Rachel to arrange delivery   

Location: 2219 Chicago Ave. S, Minneapolis  

Our Saviour's Housing is a homeless shelter in South Minneapolis. We have three housing programs: an Emergency Shelter serving 40 adults a night, Transitional Housing serving 16 adults, and Permanent Supportive Housing serving 90 adults. Our 90 Permanent Supportive Housing residents have all gained their own apartments after years of homelessness and health problems. The residents' limited budgets make it tough for them to afford the necessities to care for their homes. You and your family can brighten their holidays and ease their budgets by providing a festive gift basket filled with household cleaning supplies along with other festive gifts or treats! Click for a list of suggested items. (Please note, we serve adults only and are unable to accept items for children.)  

Ages: All ages are welcome! 

Time Commitment: Flexible and can be put together at your own location 

Contact: Rachel Kennedy - Volunteer Coordinator [email protected], 612.872.4193 x2
www.oscs-mn.org

Meal Service Volunteers  

Loaves & Fishes

Date/Time: Most Loaves & Fishes dinner volunteer shifts start between 2 and 3pm and end by 7pm, depending on day and location. Click for current volunteer shift needs.

Location: Loaves & Fishes volunteers prepare and serve meals on weekday evenings at our dining sites located in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Brooklyn Center, Coon Rapids, Hopkins, Shakopee, Bloomington, Eagan and Richfield

Loaves and Fishes is a nonprofit meal program in Minnesota, serving a hot meal to those in need. In 2013, we served over 340,000 hot, nutritious meals. Loaves & Fishes volunteers help prepare and serve free meals to those in need. Volunteers who help with meal service assist with assembling trays or plates of food and delivering them to dining site guests. Volunteers also help with cleanup associated with the meal service and dining area maintenance.  

Ages: Volunteers must be eight or older

Time Commitment: Typically two hours, depends on exact shift

Contact: Carly Quintus, Director of Volunteers, 612.326.3673, [email protected]
www.loavesandfishesmn.org   

Adopt a Family for the Holidays  

RESOURCE   

Date/Time: Donors will be matched with families between now and December 12; gifts should be delivered to RESOURCE by December 16

Location: 1900 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis  

RESOURCE empowers people to achieve greater personal, social, and economic success through providing employment, training, chemical health, and mental health services to the Twin Cities. RESOURCE hosts an Adopt-a-Family program as a way to give the families we serve a chance to celebrate the holidays and find hope in their lives. When you register to adopt a family you will be asked what family size you feel most comfortable with and if you are interested in meeting the family you're adopting. We will provide you with the family's wish list and then you can purchase items for the family. Gifts can be wrapped or unwrapped. We can also accommodate larger groups that would like to adopt multiple families or provide gifts for a certain number of people for "Giving Trees."  The Adopt-a-Family project is a fun and meaningful holiday project for a family. Click for more information.  

Ages: Everyone can participate

Time Commitment: Varies

Contact: Samantha Sleeman, [email protected] or 612.752.8030
www.resource-mn.org

Walk to End Hunger  

The Mosaic Company

Date/Time: Thursday, November 27, 7-10am. Volunteer shift times may vary; walk registration runs from 7-9:30am

Location: Mall of America, 60 East Broadway, Bloomington.  

The Walk to End Hunger is a family-friendly 5K fun walk presented by The Mosaic Company. The Walk to End Hunger, held on Thanksgiving morning in the Mall of America, is a great way to start your holiday off right - giving back before you give thanks! Since its inception in 2008, the Walk to End Hunger has raised over $1,200,000 to help support hunger relief organizations working to eliminate hunger in the Twin Cities metro area. 100% of the net proceeds of the Walk to End Hunger are distributed to our partner organizations. We have a lot of fun planned! Two rides at Nickelodeon Universe will be open for all walkers, and our first-floor route will have music, balloon animals, Santa, and a craft table for kids. Registration begins at 7am on Thanksgiving morning and ends at 9:30am. There is an official Walk to End Hunger kick-off at 7:30 am. The crowds will be having fun and fighting hunger all morning from 7am until 10am. Families are welcome to volunteer as Greeters, Water Station Attendants and in the Children's Craft Area.  

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate in the walk. Volunteers should be 10 or older and children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult.

Time Commitment: Volunteer shifts are three hours, plus a volunteer orientation on November 24. Walkers can participate for as long as they'd like from 7-10am.

Contact: Kristi Shepherd at [email protected]. Register for volunteer opportunities online. To register for the walk click here.
www.walktoendhunger.org 

Kids Against Hunger- West Metro Pack-a-thon  

Kids Against Hunger- West Metro

Date/Time: Friday, November 7, 5-9:30pm & Saturday, November 8, 8am-6pm

Location: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Rd 19, Excelsior  

Kids Against Hunger-West Metro (KAH-WM) is a volunteer-driven organization committed to inspiring, engaging, and educating people, starting with our children, by packaging life-saving meals that ease world hunger. Join us at our tenth annual Pack-a-thon and help us pack 350,000 meals for children in Haiti and to fill a food pantry in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. KAH-WM also hosts monthly packing events.    

Ages: All ages are welcome to participate. Young children may be restricted from some jobs such as weighing and sealing food packages

Time Commitment: Two hours 

Contact: Julie Kiefer, [email protected], volunteer registration is available online
www.kidsagainsthungerwm.org

Camp Courage Winter Camp  

True Friends

Date/Time: December 26-31

Location: Camp Courage in Maple Lake, MN   

Families of up to seven members will assist during winter camp depending on their skill sets, including, but not limited to: cabin support, kitchen support, housekeeping, or program design. 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 five and older are welcome to volunteer (adults provide supervision for those under 18 years). Onsite housing and meals are provided.

Time Commitment: Five days, food and housing provided

Contact: Conor McGrath [email protected] or 952-852-0113
www.truefriends.org 

Operation Comfort  

Date/Time: Flexible, but we would like to receive all blankets no later than Sunday, December 7    

Location: Blankets can be dropped off at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church located at 7160 S. Robert Trail, Inver Grove Heights, 651.455.0093  

Over the last eight years Operation Comfort volunteers have made and donated over 400 blankets. These blankets have been donated to social service agencies such as Cornerstone, The Ronald McDonald House and Children's Hospital. The making of fleece no-sew blankets is fast and simple; all you need to do is select your material and follow directions. You can accomplish this one of two ways:   

1. JoAnn Fabrics has prepackaged blanket and pillow kits that include directions 

2. If you want to select from the bolts of fleece, these are the yardage requirements:

• Baby/Toddler Size - 1.5 yards x 2
• Child/Lap Size - 2-2.5 yards x 2
• Adult/Bed size - 2.5-3 yards x 2  

You will need a top layer and coordinating bottom fabric. JoAnn Fabrics also has photocopies of directions for the blankets or you can follow these easy to use instructions:

• Take the two pieces of fleece - any coordinating colors or patterns
• Lay out one on top of the other
• Cut off the salvage edge to make all sides even
• Cut 4-5" squares from each corner
• Make the same length cuts along each side about 1" apart
• Double knot the fringe pieces together connecting the top and bottom pieces of fabric - be careful not to tie them too tight as the side will begin to curl up

If you are unable to make a blanket but would still like to contribute you can donate money that will be used to purchase material for someone else to make the blankets.

Ages: All ages can participate 

Time Commitment: Each blanket will take approximately 1� hours, depending on the size - the smaller ones won't take as long as the larger ones

Contact: Maya or Brenda at [email protected] or 651.453.9617 or 651.332.4406

Help Clean and Refurbish Bikes for Kids  

Free Bikes 4 Kidz

Date/Time: Volunteers are needed to help clean and refurbish bikes from now thru December 5. Shifts are available Monday-Thursday, 9am-9pm; Friday and Saturday, 9am-6pm; and Sunday, noon-6pm.

Location: The FB4K warehouse is located at 5736 Main St. NE, Minneapolis  

Free Bikes 4 Kidz is a non-profit organization geared toward helping all kids ride into a happier, healthier childhood by providing bikes to those most in need. It's our goal to help every child feel the joys and freedom of riding his or her first bike. Through our bike philanthropy method, we aim to help our communities grow stronger and closer through the power of cycling. Want to help get the 5,000 bikes ready to be given away to kids in early December? If you and your family members are handy with rags, you can help us wipe cobwebs off the bikes! We also need volunteers with bike repair skills to help us refurbish the bikes after they've been cleaned. This is a fun activity for a family to do together and we hope you'll join us! Visit us at www.fb4k.org/volunteer to sign up for a shift or two (or more!)  

Ages: Children age eight or older with adult supervision are welcome to volunteer. Youth groups with ages older than 12 are welcome, but we ask for a 1:5 child to adult ratio.  

Time Commitment: Three hour shifts, but there is flexibility

Contact: Jennifer Vogel, Volunteer Coordinator, [email protected]

www.fb4k.org 

Holiday Hope Volunteer Opportunities  

Community Thread  

Date/Time: Variety of needs and times in November and December

Location: 2300 Orleans Street West, Stillwater 

There are a variety of ways that families can help their community and share the holiday spirit through the Holiday Hope program. Families can make a difference this holiday season by signing up up to sponsor a family or individual in the Stillwater Area School District. Click for more details about Holiday Hope Sponsor opportunities. Additionally, a wide variety of volunteer opportunities are available during the Holiday Hope program, many that are family-friendly. You can learn more about these volunteer opportunities on the Community Thread website. Volunteer spots fill up fast, so sign up early. This is a great opportunity to teach your children about giving back to your local community by providing a helping hand during the holiday season  

Ages: All ages can participate 

Time Commitment: Flexible

Welcome Basket Bundling- National Family Volunteer Day Project

Aeon

Date/Time: Saturday, November 22, 10am-2pm

Location: Renaissance Box, 200 East 10th St, St. Paul  

Gather your family and friends and join us for National Family Volunteer Day!
Join Aeon to create homemade welcome cards for our residents as well as help us bundle welcome baskets for future residents. This opportunity is perfect for volunteers of all ages as we work together to create Welcome Baskets and Welcome Home cards for our residents, many of whom arrive with little more than the clothes on their back.      

Ages: All ages are welcome to participate 

Time Commitment: Four hours 

Contact: Tashia, 612.746.0524, [email protected]. Registration is available online
aeonmn.org 

No Sew Blankets  

Project Linus

Date/Time: Flexible, ongoing need

Location: Deliver your blankets to your local Project Linus chapter   

As the weather grows colder, why not share something snuggly with those in need. Project Linus provides homemade blankets to children in need. Our blankets are lovingly made by adults and children from all walks of life. Volunteer blanket makers help provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans. You and your family can make easy, no sew blankets to donate to children in need. Click for blanket making instructions.  

Ages: Everyone can participate 

Time Commitment: Varies

Contact: Check the chapter listings page to find a chapter near you
www.projectlinus.org