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This newsletter is intended for registered Make-A-Wish volunteers only.
Please do not forward this message as it may contain confidential information.
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Good morning volunteers,
We're a full week into the new fiscal year, and it's going a mile a minute here!
Did you know we had 50% of our allotted wishes penciled in for FY23 before the year even started? The volume of wishes right is back to pre-pandemic levels for referrals. In August, we surpassed our record for new wish approvals last set in May 2019. However, COVID is still impacting the way we grant wishes: doctors take more time to complete the medical clearance form, budgets may need extra levels of approval, etc.
As you can see in the Wish Journey graphic below, there are many twists and turns to every wish. So much varies – the time it takes a family to come back with signatures or non-travel wish ideas, the time staff need to reach the family to clarify wish ideas or talk through what may be possible, the time contractors or partner organizations need to complete their portion of the wish, a task they are often taking on outside of their regular responsibilities, etc. As we look towards the next fiscal year, please know how much extending patience, grace, assumption of good intent, and understanding to all parties working on a wish will help with making this as smooth and rewarding an experience as possible.
P.S. Don't forget to fill out the Annual Volunteer Satisfaction Survey 15% of volunteers have already completed it - let's get to 100% by September 30th!
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Henry, age 5 from Woodbury, found out from Princes Leia and friends that he is going to Disney World for his wish. Even better, he will be at Disney on his birthday!
Special thanks to the 501st Legion for helping with this wish reveal!
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Airplane Pull Fundraiser
Make-A-Wish Minnesota and travel partner, Sun Country Airlines, have partnered for the Twin Cities' most unique team fundraising challenge of the year - The Sun Country Airplane Pull! Local companies and their employees are coming together to test their strength by pulling planes and raising money for wishes!
Keep checking the Sign Up Genius for available times and opportunities that may open up as we get closer to the event. You can also donate to the Make-A-Wish staff team. Thanks! Questions? Contact Elizabeth Rohrer.
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Wakanheza Training
Have you ever been in a situation where you saw a wish parent getting angry at or frustrated with their child - maybe an overstimulated kid having a meltdown at a shopping mall, or excited siblings constantly running away from the group in an airport - and you weren't sure what to do? For a bystander, it can be hard to know how to intervene without escalating the situation. The Wakanheza (pronounced "wah-kahn-jah") Project offers simple tools to help you find small but effective ways to de-escalate tense situations between adult guardians and children in public. Sign up for the training on September 22 if you're interested! Questions, contact Gabby Santiago.
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Calling all runners!
Make-A-Wish Minnesota is an excited to once again be an Official Charity Partner of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and TC 10 Mile on 10/2. Register, run and fundraise to help grant Minnesota wishes! Spots are limited, so guarantee your spot in the race today! If interested reach out to Brekka Nessler for a special promo code and registration link.
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Referral Intake Coordinator
The Referral Intake Coordinator provides essential support to the Program Department by coordinating all aspects of the wish referral intake and processing for the Foundation. As one of the first contacts a wish family will have with the Foundation, this individual must have excellent customer service skills and the ability to develop a positive rapport with families, volunteers and medical professionals. In addition, this individual must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, impeccable attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines at a time. To view the full details of the position, visit the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits posting and apply with a cover letter and resume to Carleen Crouse.
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New Glad You Asked
Do you have questions? We have answers and so do your fellow volunteers! We are looking for questions or dilemmas that you are facing and will post answers here weekly. Please submit your questions (and answers!) to Volunteer Services via this anonymous form.
Last week's question was:
I am not great with technology, the internet, or video meetings and so many things are virtual now. I get frustrated and overwhelmed. Is there anyone else out there like me and how are you managing things?
- "Before my first virtual meeting, I e-mailed Volunteer Services and asked to do a practice run."
- "I always give myself extra time in case my computer freezes or something else goes wrong, and try to have contact info to let people know if I am having difficulty."
- "This has also been my struggle, and I'm glad in-person meetings are coming back for some kids."
This week's question:
I am about to do a shopping spree with a wish child. How have others approached the stores and what other things have you done to make is special?
We'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas! Fill out the Glad You Asked form and we'll post answers next week.
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New Did You Know...
Make-A-Wish Minnesota granted 218 wishes during fiscal year 2022!
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New Volunteer Satisfaction Survey Now Open!
The Annual Volunteer Satisfaction Survey is now open! Your feedback last year brought about policy adjustments, additional and more specific resources and meet-up opportunities, and many Wish Wednesday spotlights on different aspects of the volunteering process. Please take a moment to complete this year's survey to help us improve our current processes to better meet your needs. Questions? Contact Gabby Santiago.
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New Make-A-Wish MN Online Store
There a new Make-A-Wish online store! Items are currently sold at cost, but there is an option to add a donation at checkout if anyone is so inclined. Questions? Contact Ashley Kilcher.
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New Hmong Cultural Center Field Trip - In Person and Virtual
Have you volunteered with a Hmong wish child before? Today, over 66,000 Hmong-Americans live in Minnesota, and the Twin Cities have the highest concentration of Hmong-Americans in the entire country. Join us for an in-person (Oct. 4) or virtual (Oct. 5) trip to the Hmong Cultural Center Museum, where we will learn about the history of the history, art, and culture of the Hmong in Minnesota. This trip will be a learning opportunity to better understand Hmong wish families you have volunteered with or may volunteer with in the future.
For the in-person trip, masks are required in the museum. If there is interest, Volunteer Services can cover lunch from a local restaurant afterwards. Sign up today! Questions? Contact Gabby Santiago.
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She Shed And Gazebo Construction Help Needed
As we approach the end of the fiscal year, we're also looking for some construction help from 2-3 people who are willing to travel out state for some shed and gazebo wishes! Contact Angela King-Jones for more details.
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Monthly Toy Closet Volunteers Needed
Toy closet volunteers work in teams of 2-3 to fulfill the toy closet requests of wish granters all across the state! This position is open to any volunteers; teens can help with adult supervision. Going forward, requests will be mailed out the 3rd Monday of each month (they will be due by the 3rd Sunday). Sign up today!
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Airport Travel Guide
Former wish kid and now current wish granter, Gus, along with Rachel Kvanbeck and Sun Country airlines, have put together an Airport Travel Guide video for wish families. It is a great resource to share with families who have never flown before or for kids who may be a bit nervous about flying and want to know what to expect.
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Travel Wish Emergence
Make-A-Wish is now ready to progress to our next phase of travel wish emergence, replacing the vaccine requirement with other COVID safety precautions. These include:
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Strongly recommending that each wish participant test for COVID one to two days prior to departure on a travel wish.
- Providing wish participants with N-95 or KN-95 masks for use during the wish.
- Isolation requirements if any wish participant contracts COVID during the wish.
- A detailed plan in place to make arrangements for extended stays and medical care (if needed) should a family contract or be exposed to COVID during the wish.
This is a decision made with the guidance of our National Medical Steering Committee. Each wish child's health situation is different, and we are committed to respecting the expertise and recommendations of their medical team. It should be anticipated that some medical providers may not provide medical clearance for a wish involving travel or large gatherings due to ongoing COVID concerns.
Feel free reach out to Volunteer Services with general questions.
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Regional Wish Granter Meet Ups
Are you interested in meeting fellow wish granters in your area? Check out our series of regional Wish Granter meet-ups. Volunteers will have a chance to meet new people, learn about them, their experience with Make-A-Wish, and their volunteering style - and if you're interested, you can exchange contact information to keep in touch (and maybe sign up for a wish together later!). There will be one-on-one time between groups of two to three, as well as a full group discussion about anything you'd like to bring to the table.
These meet-ups are intended for all experience levels; even if you're currently in a different volunteer role but considering becoming a wish granter at some point in the future, you're welcome! Got a friend who's thinking about volunteering? Bring them too!
For the purposes of these meetings, we will consider the Minnesota regions to be divided as defined in this map. However, you should feel free to sign up for any meet-up where you are within easy driving distance of any county in that region, or that contains any county you have worked with a wish child or wish partner in.
Default meeting location will be virtual; please reach out to Gabby Santiago if you are interested in hosting one in-person. Depending on interest, this could be instead of the virtual meeting, or in addition to it at a time that is most convenient to the host.
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Wish Boost Idea Days
September 9 - National Teddy Bear Day - A great time to send your young wish child a new teddy to love.
September 12 - National Video Games Day - You could do socks like this.
September 13 - World Chocolate Day - The sky is the limit here for wish boosts!
September 14 - National Cream Filled Donut Day - Pick up this pan and some recipes to make their own donuts.
September 20 - National Pepperoni Pizza Day
September 22 - National Ice Cream Cone Day
For more wish boost ideas, check out the Wish Boost list or contact Kim Sunde.
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New Green Garden Bakery
You've mentioned how hard it can be to come up with wish boost for teens, and some fellow teens have stepped up to the plate! The young entrepreneurs at Green Garden Bakery have offered us up to $75 of wish boosts a month! Just email ggborders@gmail.com identifying yourself as a Make-A-Wish volunteer, and stating what items from their online store you would like sent and to what address. They have sweet treats, bath and beauty products, T-shirts, and hats! To make sure that as many volunteers as possible can access this resource, please limit yourself to two requests per month. (Delivery range is limited; if your wish child is outside the Twin Cities, ask them to send to the Make-A-Wish office.)
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Icing Smiles Cakes - Updated Form
Have you heard of Icing Smiles? They have a mission to provide custom sweet treats to critically ill kids...for free! Showing a parent how to request their free cake makes a great wish boost. They recently updated their request process. Please use this new form to verify a child's involvement with Make-A-Wish with no additional diagnosis verification required. Questions? Contact Volunteer Services or your Wish Coordinator.
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Casting with Caleb Boost Idea
Are you working with a wish kid who loves the outdoors, but isn't normally able to go fishing due to medical, sensory, or other special needs? We have a new boost resource for you! Casting with Caleb is an organization founded to honor the memory of Caleb, a boy on the autism spectrum who loved fishing and the great outdoors, by making it accessible to other children and their families. They operate primarily in central MN, but are open to traveling to other parts of the state, having the families travel to them, or meeting halfway. To request a fishing trip for a wish kid, reach out to your wish coordinator! Note, Casting with Caleb will need about a month to get everything in place.
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Campers, Motorized Boats and Pontoons
Due to supply chain concerns, inflation, and increased volume of requests due to the pandemic, Make-A-Wish Minnesota has implemented a temporary prohibition on any new camper, motorized boat, and pontoon wishes. The motorized boat/pontoon prohibition is scheduled to end April 7, 2023; the camper prohibition is scheduled to end August 31, 2023.
If you have a wish discovery coming up and the child is interested in a camper, motorized boat, or pontoon, they may consider alternatives such as seasonal/annual boat rental, personal watercraft, non-motorized boat (canoe, kayaks), fishing trip/excursion wish, RV rental trip, seasonal/annual campsite rental, camping gear, or a camping excursion. Please reach out to Lachelle Semanko with any questions.
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Virtual Training for New Wish Granters
Do you know someone who would be a great wish granter? Volunteer Services will be hosting a virtual wish granter training for new wish granters on September 19 at 12:00pm. If they're not already volunteering in another position send them an application and they can sign up for a slot on our Sign Up Genius. Contact Gabby Santiago with questions!
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This month’s spotlight is...the volunteer YOU recruit! Do you know someone who’d make a great volunteer? Long-term, sustainable volunteering often starts with a personal connection.
This month’s spotlight is on...
- Your friend, the future wish discovery volunteer who’s amazing at getting kids to open up!
- Your family member, the future wish pal who loves creating individualized gifts!
- Your coworker, the future meet-and-greeter who knows MSP like the back of their hand!
- Your partner, the future shopping spree assistant who’s always great about thanking store employees!
Talk to this month’s volunteer spotlight about applying to be a volunteer today! In this new fiscal year, we’ll be especially interested in recruiting volunteers in northeastern Minnesota, as well as volunteers who are fluent in Spanish, Hmong, Arabic, Somali, or Oromo from any part of the state.
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Are you wondering who is working behind the scenes at the chapter office? Meet Angela King-Jones, our Program Manager! | |
Get to Know Our Neighbors | |
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Make-A-Wish Minnesota’s main office is right on the edge of the Hamline-Midway neighborhood in St. Paul, bordering on Union Park. Though we’re far from many of you in miles, we’d like to introduce you to a few of our neighbors to help you feel a little closer.
If you’ve driven down Fairview, you may have seen the painting of a black cat next to a heart on the Feline Rescue low-admission no-kill shelter, or the newer chrysanthemum mural across the street (where they have their vet clinic, admin, and fostering supplies). A volunteer named Julie with cat earrings proudly showed me around the space; Feline Rescue has been in this location since 2006, and for fifteen of those years, Julie has been a volunteer. The best part about her work there? “Seeing cats go to homes. The shelter is a great place, but it’s not a home.”
The shelter is bright and smells of cleaning solution, with multiple rooms for cats so that bonded cats can stay together, or sick cats be isolated. Each door has the names of its current occupants in washable marker: Tango, Walleye, Wallaby... “The names can get a little off-the-wall. We don’t repeat names for five years.” That’s because a Feline Rescue cat is always welcome back if things don’t work out in their new home, so it keeps paperwork a lot clearer if there aren’t twelve Ivans around the place.
Feline Rescue can always use donations of cat food, litter, old carriers and toys, and they go through a lot of wash cloths! They’re also open by appointment to anyone who wants to see or snuggle a cat, with no pressure to adopt.
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Donations & In-Kind Needs | |
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Donate Airline Miles
Want to help grant a wish? Donate your airline miles today! Every mile donated helps wish kids and their families travel to destinations around the US. This is just one simple way you can help grant a life-changing wish experience.
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Corporate Match Programs
Do you want to maximize the impact of your charitable donations and/or volunteer service to Make-A-Wish Minnesota? Many companies have a matching gift program. These programs are corporate philanthropy initiatives that reward an employee's gift of volunteer service to a non-profit organization. What a great way to support Make-A-Wish Minnesota! Contact Pete Johnson with questions.
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Amazon Wish List
Many of our in-kind needs can be purchased directly from our Amazon Wish List. Items can be purchased online and shipped directly to the Make-A-Wish office at 1919 University Avenue W, Suite 415, St. Paul, MN 55104.
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