November 2015 - Twin Cities 

 
Free, Community-wide Doing Good Together™ Family Service Fair
Doing Good Together
 
Date/Time: Friday, November 20, 5 - 7:30 pm
 
Location: Midtown Global Market, 920 East Lake Street, Minneapolis

Doing Good Together is hosting a free, community-wide Family Service Fair in celebration of National Family Volunteer Day. 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 more involved as a family in the community.  A diverse group of nonprofit organizations will be participating (Open Arms, Hats and Mittens, Volunteers of America, Bundles of Love, People Serving People, the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, The Lift Garage, Walker Methodist, Global Citizens Network and the Community Outreach arm of the Animal Humane Society) - each hosting a station with a fun, kid-friendly service activity for families to complete, such as assembling snack bags, decorating literacy kits and making no-sew fleece scarves.

We thank our sponsors generationOn and Disney Friends for Change (Gold) and Global Citizens Network (Silver) for making this event possible. Doing Good Together's National Family Volunteer Day Family Service Fair 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, which features a wide variety of ethnic dinner options.
 
Ages: All ages are welcome
 
Time Commitment: Come for as long as you'd like any time between 5pm and 7:30 pm
 
Contact: If you are interested in joining the team of Doing Good Together™ Family Service Fair volunteers or if your business is interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Nassim Rossi at nassim@doinggoodtogether.org.
www.doinggoodtogether.org
 
 
Host families for International Students
Academic Year in America
 
Date/Time: Ongoing
 
Location: Your home and community

The local chapter of Academic Year in America is seeking families to host incoming international exchange students. This is a fantastic opportunity for families who wish to enrich their families' culture, to build memories and friendships, and to showcase their culture and values.  

Ages: Families of all shapes and sizes are welcome.
 
Time Commitment: Families can choose to host a student for 6 weeks, for a semester, or for an academic year.

Contact: Jackie, jfedor@aifs.org, 203.399.5043  
 
 
Holiday Home Care Baskets
Our Saviour's Housing

Date/Time: Delivery requested by Thursday December 17th, please contact to schedule delivery time.

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 many essential items to really make their house a home. You can brighten their holidays and ease their budgets by providing a festive gift basket. Please note, we serve adults only and are unable to accept items for children. Suggested items include:
  • Kitchenware (including cooking & eating)
  • Shower curtains & liners
  • Basic tools
  • Throw blankets & pillows
  • Towel and full bed sheet sets
  • Household décor items such as picture frames
  • Calendars or day planners
  • Socks, gloves, hats, scarves, or slippers
  • Headphones
Ages: All ages are welcome

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

Contact: Rachel Kennedy, Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@oshousing.org, 612.872.4193 x2
http://oscs-mn.org/oursaviourshousing

 
Walk to End Hunger
The Mosaic Company
 
Date/Time: Thursday, November 26, 7 - 10am. Volunteer shift times may vary; walk registration runs from 7 - 9:30am.
 
Location: Mall of America, 60 East Broadway, Bloomington. For easy access to registration on Thanksgiving morning, park on the fourth level of the East Parking Ramp and enter via the East Entrance, on the fourth level.
 
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 $1,500,000 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! The first-floor route will have music, balloon animals, Santa, and a craft table for kids. On the second floor, walkers can "break a sweat" and do family-friendly, calorie burning exercises with Bodies by Burgoon. Registration begins at 7am on Thanksgiving morning and ends at 9:30am. There is an official Walk to End Hunger kick-off at 7:15am in the Rotunda. 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 23rd. Walkers can participate for as long as they'd like from 7 - 10am.
 
Contact: Kristi Shepherd at kristi@eventarch.com. Register for volunteer opportunities online. To register for the walk click here.
www.walktoendhunger.org
 
 
Adopt a Family for the Holidays
RESOURCE
 
Date/Time: Donors will be matched with families between now and December 1; gifts should be delivered to RESOURCE by December 7.
 
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.
 
Ages: Everyone can participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: Samantha Sleeman, ssleeman@resource-mn.org or 612.752.8030
www.resource-mn.org
 
 
Caring Cooks
RESOURCE, Inc.
 
Date/Time: 1st and 3rd Thursday each month. The meal must be ready to serve by 6pm, generally volunteers arrive for food preparation at 4pm
 
Location: North Minneapolis location

Meal service volunteers are needed at our evening client workshops. This is a great opportunity for small groups or families! We are looking for volunteers to provide a meal for about 15 workshop participants. Volunteers can either:
  • Prepare and serve a meal that has already been planned.
  • Plan, purchase ingredients, and prepare a meal for one of our programs that host evening workshops and activities. There is a kitchen available on-site for volunteer use.
  • Bring store/restaurant bought food and serve participants.
  • Prepare a freezable meal ahead of time and drop it off for one of our programs to utilize with reheating instructions.
Ages: This is a great family opportunity. Children must be able to help parents in the kitchen and follow directions.
 
Time Commitment: Meal must be ready to serve at 6pm, so please plan accordingly. The average time commitment is one and one-half to two and one-half hours. This meal service opportunity can be one-time or ongoing.
 
Contact: Samantha Sleeman, ssleeman@resource-mn.org  or 612.752.8030
www.resource-mn.org

 
Meal Delivery Driver
Optage Senior Dining
 
Date/Time: Ongoing; pick a day that works for you, Monday - Friday, around 10:30am
 
Location: Seniors homes in Maplewood, Oakdale, Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Stillwater, Bloomington, or Forest Lake
 
Volunteer drivers deliver meals daily or weekly, help participants store, heat and eat meals and review weekly menus, or assist with table set-ups for daily hot meals. Equally important are regular check-ins with participants to make sure they're doing well. Volunteers will pick up meals and deliver them to those in need, on a route or a one stop apartment building.
 
Ages: Families are welcome to volunteer; adult must have valid drivers license
 
Time Commitment: About an hour
 
Contact: Kris Mailand, kmailand@preshomes.org, 651.724.8955.
www.optage.org
 
 
Thanksgiving Day Celebration
Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly
 
Date/Time: Thursday, November 26, between 11am and 3pm, depending on volunteer activity
 
Location: The Prom Center, 484 Inwood Ave N, Oakdale
 
Help brighten the Thanksgiving holiday for isolated elders served by Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly at their annual Thanksgiving Day celebrations. There are a couple of ways you and your family can help: 
  • Drive elder participants to the dinner site, eat and visit with them during the event, and drive them home afterward. Total time commitment is from 11am to 3pm
  • Deliver a meal and have a brief visit with an elder participant unable to attend the dinner on Thanksgiving. Meal pick up time is at 12:30 p.m. Total time commitment is about two hours.
Ages: All ages can participate
 
Time Commitment: Two or four hours
 
Contact: Danielle Fehring, dfehring@littlebrothersmn.org, 612.746.0726
www.littlebrothersmn.org
 
 
Christmas Day Celebration
Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly
 
Date/Time: Thursday, December 25, between 11am and 3pm, depending on volunteer activity
 
Location: St. Mary's University, 2500 Park Ave S, Minneapolis
 
Help brighten the Christmas holiday for isolated elders served by Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly at their annual Christmas Day celebration. There are a couple of ways you and your family can help: 
  • Drive elder participants to the dinner site, eat and visit with them during the event, and drive them home afterward. Total time commitment is from 11am to 3pm
  • Deliver a meal and have a brief visit with an elder participant unable to attend the dinner on Christmas Day. Meal pick up time is at 12:30 p.m. Total time commitment is about two hours.
Ages: All ages can participate
 
Time Commitment: Two or four hours
 
Contact: Danielle Fehring, dfehring@littlebrothersmn.org, 612.746.0726
www.littlebrothersmn.org
 
 
Repackage Rice and Beans- Help Stock the Food Pantry
Feeding America
 
Date/Time: Ongoing
 
Location: Find a food shelf in your local community
 
One in seven people in America are food insecure, living in households that lack the means to get enough nutritious food on a regular basis. Rice and beans are nourishing, filling, and infinitely adaptable food staples. You and your family can help feed the hungry in your community by transforming inexpensive bulk-packaged goods into meal-sized portions. Check out the Doing Good Together project page for project instructions and reflection questions. 
 
Ages: Everyone can participate
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Contact: Find your local food shelf on the Feeding America website
www.FeedingAmerica.org
 
 
Give to the Max Day is almost here!

During this season of thanks, we'd like to extend our appreciation to all of our donors, subscribers, website visitors, and social media followers. And a special thanks to the families who use and enjoy the vast array of DGT™ programs, projects, and resources. These free offerings would not be available if it weren't for the generosity of our donors. Please include Doing Good Together™ in your giving plan for Give To The Max Day on November 12! Not available that day? Schedule your donation beginning on November 1.

 

 

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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. 
                                                                            

                                                                                                     © 2015 Doing Good Together™