TopLine Federal Credit Union completed its two-month bedding drive for Avenues and their collection will make a huge impact on how we can show up for youth. 55 youth and families moving into our programs will have new bedding and pillows, and TopLine also collected 65 dental kits. For a youth experiencing homelessness, a bed with clean sheets and a new pillow can make all the difference in feeling comfortable and at home.
Thank you, TopLine, and everyone who contributed to the drive.
Thank you to Sunrise Banks for being a long-time, dedicated supporter of Avenues for Youth! We are so grateful for your partnership and glad that you highlighted this story!
Thank you Meena and Shrey Pothini for supporting Avenues and for inspiring your community to make an impact on youth homelessness! This month Avenues received body wash and towels from Meena and Shrey. They both hold annual drives to collect essential items for Avenues and Meena recently inspired guests by speaking at our Building on Dreams event.
Thank You for Building on Dreams
Last week, hundreds of supporters came together to Dream, Listen, and Rise Together in support of youth experiencing homelessness. Avenues' eighth annual Building on Dreams event raised over $93,000 for youth in our communities. Thank you to each and every person who attended the event and gave generously.
If you missed the event, you can watch it by clicking the button below. You can also help us reach out $100,000 goal by sharing the program link below with your community. Tag Avenues on social media using @Avenuesforyouth.
We'd like to thank the table hosts, Building on Dreams Host Committee Members, and sponsors who made this event possible. Building on Dreams was presented by Alerus Mortgage, a partner of Avenues that continually shows up for youth experiencing homelessness.
Jerome Hager, lovingly known as Grandma Jerome, used his extra time during COVID-19 to create a recipe book with donation proceeds going to Avenues! His recipe book includes over 80 recipes, from entrees to appetizers, including his famous peach cobbler.
Grandma Jerome draws on his grandmother’s family recipes, who grew up on farm in a small town in Wisconsin. Recipes have also been tested and praised at CookboyzMSP, a monthly pot luck for LGBTQI+ people in the Twin Cities metro area.
Grandma Jerome’s goal is to raise $4,000 or more for Avenues. You can purchase a recipe book by making a donation below (Grandma Jerome recommends a $40 donation or more) and it will be mailed to your billing address.
Mason Persons, a former participant in Avenues ConneQT host home program, shared about his experience in other youth housing programs at Building on Dreams. Like many other LGBTQI+ youth, Mason didn't feel safe while living in youth shelters.
“When I was in shelter it was very hard for me to feel comfortable opening up at all because the second I tried to, I got bullied, I got called slurs," Mason said. "It was very unsafe, even though the whole point of shelter, especially youth shelters, is to provide a safe space."
LGBTQI+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their binary peers. Despite this, there are few youth housing programs specifically for queer and trans youth. Because LGBTQI+ youth are less likely to go to a traditional shelter, they are more likely to be on the streets, experience violence, or be exploited.
ConneQT, formerly known as the GLBT Host Home Program, was made in part to provide safer, LGBTQI+ specific housing for youth ages 16-24. The program matches youth with volunteer hosts who are LGBTQI+ themselves or allies. Youth live with hosts for a few weeks or up to a year, depending on their needs. Mason participated in the program several years ago.
“If it wasn’t for Avenues, and my hosts, and the people I’ve kept in contact with through these programs, I don’t know where I would be," Mason shared. "I’m in such a good place now because of the people who were able to help me.”
Avenues is continually recruiting volunteer hosts for this program. Learn more below or contact Ryan Berg, ConneQT Program Manager, at rberg@avenuesforyouth.org.
If your company or community would like to support Avenues or ConneQT during Pride Month, contact Marni Zimlin at mzimlin@avenuesforyouth.org.
Avenues recently updated its Amazon Wishlist with our current needs. Our programs are almost out of hair care products for. Your donation with ship directly to Avenues, and you can select Avenues as your Amazon Smile Charity. Shop now below.
