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October 2018 - Twin Cities |
Doing Good Together is now training volunteers to lead a kindness club for their school,
youth group, or scout troop!
Let us help you coach a fun, meaningful kindness club for world-changing kids near you! Learn more or sign up today to connect with our new Just Be Kind program.
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Festival of Giving
Doing Good Together
Date/Time: Sunday, September 30, Noon to 4pm
Location: Nicollet Island Pavilion, Minneapolis
Join big-hearted families like yours for our unique Festival of Giving™ - a one-of-a-kind Twin Cities event with kindness activities, service projects, multicultural performances, and community collaboration. Plus fabulous fair food! Don't miss this chance for your family to celebrate generosity, kindness, and giving back!
Nicollet Island Pavilion is an indoor space, so come rain or shine!
Ages: Fun for the whole family! All ages welcome!
Time Commitment: Come for as long as you'd like, between noon and 4pm. Tickets are available
through Eventbrite or at the door. $5/person or $20/family. Children 2 and under attend free.
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Five Million Meals
Feed My Starving Children
Date/Time: Thursday, October 4 through Sunday, October 7. The following shifts are available each day:
- 9 - 11am
- Noon - 2pm
- 3 - 5pm
- 6 - 8:30pm
Location: HealthEast Sports Center, 4125 Radio Drive, Woodbury
Your family can be a part of something BIG! Over four days 25,000 volunteers will pack 5 million meals to feed the hungry. Volunteers will hand-pack meals complete with rice, soy, dried veggies and minerals that are specially formulated for malnourished kids around the globe. This will be one of the largest FMSC MobilePacks ever in the United States! Ten percent of the money raised at this event will be donated to the local food shelf, Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf.
Ages: Families with children ages five and older are welcome to volunteer
Time Commitment: Two-hour shifts
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Oak Woodland Brush Haul + Lunch!
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR)
Date/Time: Saturday, October 6, 9am - noon
Location: 3M's Oak Woodlands, Cottage Grove - exact directions will be provided to registered volunteers
Thanks to the support of local volunteers and a long-term partnership with 3M, FMR has had the privilege of helping to preserve and restore the oak woodlands at 3M's Cottage Grove facility near the Mississippi River. Former invasive species thickets are now home to wildflowers and wildlife, helping to connect adjacent natural areas and form part of a green corridor in southern Washington County. We will start the morning with a light breakfast and info session, then volunteers will head off to work in small groups with FMR Staff to help restore the oak woodlands by hauling pre-cut brush, primarily buckthorn, before we wrap things up and enjoy a catered lunch provided by 3M. We'll provide the tools, gloves and training; however, registration is required.
Ages: Families with children ages ten and older are welcome.
Time Commitment: Three hours
Contact:
To sign up and receive directions to the meeting spot, contact FMR Volunteer Coordinator Amy Kilgore via the contact form (please select Amy by name from the staff list under "Category") or at [email protected], 651.222.2193 x31. Please include the name of the event, your name, address and phone number and the number in your party. You will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] within two business days. (If you don't, please check your SPAM folder.) Registration is required and capacity is limited. Please note, this event typically fills fast, so an early response is recommended.
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Come Help Us Clean and Refurbish Gently Used Bikes
Free Bikes 4 Kidz
Date/Time: Daily, October 8 through December 1. Shifts are:
- Monday through Thursday: 9am - noon, noon - 3pm, 3 - 6pm, 6 - 9pm
- Friday and Saturday: 9am - noon, noon - 3pm, 3 - 6pm
- Sunday: Noon - 3pm, 3 - 6pm
Location: Free Bikes 4 Kidz Warehouse, TBD
Volunteers are needed to haul, move and organize over 10,000 bikes! Join the Cleaners, Preppers, or Mechanics for a shift to repair bikes. We need volunteers of all skill levels to help us move and clean bikes. We love folks with mad bike repair skills, but if you and your family members are handy with rags, we can put you to work. This is a super fun way for a family to volunteer together. The more the merrier! No experience necessary. Help us share the joy of having a bike with more kids!
Ages: Responsible children ages 10 or older are welcome to volunteer with an adult. 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
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Fall Raking
HOME Program of Senior Community Services (SCS)
Date/Time: Fall raking will get started when the leaves begin to drop in mid-October and go through November when the snow begins to fly. Volunteers can be scheduled on either weekdays or weekends, as long as it's daylight!
Location: Minneapolis or suburban Hennepin County, tell us where you'd like to volunteer!
Help an older adult stay safely and independently in their home by assisting with chores like fall raking. Getting those leaves up is a huge concern for our seniors. Come volunteer with us and help someone in our community. It's a great way to get outside and spend time together.
Ages: Families with children ages seven and older.
Time Commitment: Let us know when you would like to volunteer.
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BT5K Breakthrough for Brain Tumors Run & Walk: Twin Cities
American Brain Tumor Association
Date/Time: Saturday, October 13, 6:30am - 1pm
Location: Lake Como, 1199 Midway Parkway, St. Paul
T5K Twin Cities is part of the American Brain Tumor Association's (ABTA) signature Breakthrough for Brain Tumors 5K series. Currently, more than 700,000 people in the U.S. are living with a brain tumor diagnosis. Your support allows the ABTA to fund desperately needed brain tumor research, patient programs and support services. We're looking for enthusiastic, driven individuals to help make our BT5K Breakthrough for Brain Tumors event a huge success. Lend a hand out on the course as a course marshal, at the event site helping at a booth, with pre- or post-event activities, as part of the planning committee, or in one of many other ways. ABTA staff will be with you all the way through training and event day guidance.
Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to volunteer. Parents with really young children can serve as course marshals for the event as it is something easy and fun for really young children to do. Youth 11 and older can help with their parents at one of our booths. Children under 16 will need a signed parental consent form.
Time Commitment: Up to six hours
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The Great Candy Run 5K Run/Walk
Fetal Health Foundation
Date/Time: Sunday, October 14, 7 - 11am
Location: Veterans Park, 6335 Portland Ave, Richfield
The Great Candy Run 5K Run/Walk is a sweet-themed event that welcomes families to enjoy some time together having fun, getting outdoors and enjoying all things in moderation! Volunteer opportunities include everything from helping with the kids race to registration to handing out water and candy at the finish line! There will also be a family festival featuring games, activity stations, amazing face painting, great refreshments, giveaways and much, much more! The Great Candy Run is ultimately about saving lives and helping families. Proceeds from these events directly benefit the Fetal Health Foundation. The Fetal Health Foundation supports families battling a fetal syndrome during pregnancy through information, support, and research. This event highlights awareness and provides hope to these families.
Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to volunteer. Children under 14 must participate with an adult.
Time Commitment: Between two and one-half and four hours
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LifeHaven Child Care Volunteering
Lutheran Social Service - Metro Homeless Youth Services
Date/Time: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month and every Thursday, 6 - 8pm,
Location: LifeHaven, 325 Jenks Ave, St. Paul
LifeHaven is a program that provides transitional housing to minor mothers and their children experiencing homelessness. LifeHaven provides intensive programming so that these youth learn life skills that will help that lead independent healthy lives in the future. Every Thursday LifeHaven has life skills groups in which the girls are learning parenting and life skills. Child care is needed so that they are able to focus during these groups. LifeHaven also understands that sometimes that youth need a break and take them on outings to bond and to promote self-care. The girls participate in a Girls Night In on the 1st Tuesday of the month and a Girls Night Out on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Child care is also needed on these nights.
Ages: One or more adults 21+, can be accompanied by one to two children of any age.
Time Commitment: Ongoing until notified. Provide child care at least once every three months.
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Rezek House Apartment Turnover Crew
Lutheran Social Service - Metro Homeless Youth Services
Date/Time: On-call; for when an apartment needs to be turned over
Location: 501 N. Asbury St., Saint Paul
Rezek is a program that provides transitional housing and services to youth experiencing homelessness from the ages of 16-21. It contains ten efficiency units and two 1 bedroom units. Rezek youth pay 30% of their income to a savings account which gets matched, and are able to use it to purchase assets upon their exit of the program. The youth are provided with intensive case management services and are required to attend life skills classes. The maximum stay is two years. Rezek house is always looking for teams that are willing to come and clean and set up an apartment to prepare it for a new youth coming in.
Ages: At least one adult and can be accompanied with children that are 15+
Time Commitment: On call - usually a three-hour process
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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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Toy Lending Events
Minneapolis Toy Library
Date/Time: Wednesdays, 4 - 7 pm, and Saturdays, 9am - noon
Location: Richfield Lutheran Church, 8 W 60th St, Minneapolis
The Minneapolis Toy Library is a toy-lending program for families with children ages birth to 5 years. Like a book library, members can check out up to five toys, take them home for 2-4 weeks and exchange them for new ones when they return! The toy library offers an opportunity for families to connect with one another while supporting their children's development through play and reducing their impact on the environment. Volunteers are needed to help shelve returned toys in the correct category; check out new toys for members with our easy to use, custom-built computer program, as well as counting pieces and managing our inventory. All members clean their own toys before returning them, so cleaning is not required, but tidying of shelves is appreciated. Events can be fast-paced and some lifting of large toys may be required. It's a fun and family-friendly environment where you can really feel good about helping your community.
Ages: Families with middle school age children and up are welcome to volunteer.
Time Commitment: Three-hour shifts, up to four times per month
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Halloween Fun Pack
The Link
Date/Time: Friday, October 26, two shifts
- Morning Shift: 10:30 - 11:30am
- Afternoon Shift: 3 - 4pm
Location: Lindquist Apartments, 1931 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis
Help make Halloween fun for youth at The Link by signing up to bring items and participating in one of these fun kit packing events. Learn more about The Link and volunteer with others while making Halloween themed treats and orange and black themed care packages.
Ages: Everyone is welcome
Time Commitment: One-hour shifts
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Rake a Difference Day
Community Thread
Date/Time: Saturday, October 27, 9am - noon. Groups are encouraged to rake yards between 9am - noon, but group leaders are welcome to work with homeowners to schedule another raking time prior to or following the event.
Location: Seniors' yards around Washington County
Make a difference in your community by helping seniors remain independently in their homes. Volunteer with Community Thread for Rake a Difference Day on Saturday, October 27 to rake the yard of a fellow community member. This is a great family-friendly opportunity to connect with local seniors and enjoy a morning outdoors. Locations are available throughout Washington County. Volunteers should bring their own rakes and gloves; homeowners provide leaf bags.
Ages: Open to all ages, volunteers 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult (one adult per every five children age 12 and under).
Time Commitment: Three hours or until yards are finished.
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Offsite Frozen Meal Prep
The Link
Date/Time: Monday through Friday, 8am - 4pm but please contact
Lauren first to make arrangements to drop off meals.
Location: The Link, 1210 Glenwood Avenue, Minneapolis.
Work with The Link to help get youth the basics they deserve. Volunteers are needed to cook meals at home (family style or individually packed) for youth and young families who are experiencing food insecurity in our community. Click
here to find recipes and to learn more.
Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate
Time Commitment: Varies
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Support Arete's Academic Achievement
Arete Academy for Twice Exceptional Students
Date/Time: Flexible availability, mainly after school, weekends, and days off of school.
Location: 4330 Cedar Lake Rd., St. Louis Park
Arete Academy of Exceptional Education is committed to partnering with parents to educate and support twice-exceptional students - gifted students who also have learning disabilities - so they can learn the academic, social and emotional skills needed to overcome their disabilities, reach their full potential, and apply their gifts to make lasting contributions to the world. Volunteers are needed to help with the following projects:
- Paint, clean and organize school classrooms
- Fold and stuff envelopes with marketing materials
- Donate or purchase needed school supplies
- Help with tasks for our November 3rd fundraiser at the Vikings Twin Cities Orthopedics Center such as assembling gift baskets, making decorations, and writing thank you cards
Ages: Volunteers of all ages are welcome
Time Commitment: Two to five hours
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Decorate Lunch Bags for Meals on Wheels
Doing Good Together
Date/Time: Anytime
Location: Check the
national Meals on Wheels site to find your local program
Meals on Wheels operates in virtually every community in America through a network of more than 5,000 independently-run local programs. With the help of Meals on Wheels programs, seniors and people with disabilities get the nourishment and human connection needed to support daily activities, while reducing the need for medical support. For some recipients, these daily meals are the difference between living in their own homes and moving to a nursing home. Think of how fun it would be for Meals on Wheels recipients in your community to receive their meals in brightly decorated lunch bags! Visit Doing Good Together's
Decorate Lunch Bags Project page for more ideas and resources.
Ages: Everyone can participate
Time Commitment: Varies
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Let's raise big-hearted Upstanders!
When it comes to bullying, we can make a difference with a creative approach that helps parents discuss the issue and helps kids strategize ways to deal with sticky situations. DGT's newest offering of Big-Hearted EBooks includes an
Anti-Bullying Ebook which helps parents raise Upstanders who not only resist the urge to bully others, they also speak up for themselves and others. Each
downloadable ebook includes conversation starters, an Upstander Family Plan, and a unique 12-week kindness challenge. Just $4.99 or free for families in our
Membership Circle.
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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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