August 2007
Dakota Woodlands is the only facility for homeless women and children in Dakota County.
Our mission is to empower homeless women to create stable futures for their families.
In This Issue:
Links:
From Our Executive Director:
Reyne Branchaud-Linsk
Flying Home
Helping Families Find Their Way
It's been another active summer at Dakota Woodlands! The children were kept busy with trips to the Eagan Fire Station, Caponi Art Park, Schultz Lake, Como Zoo, and a Twins Baseball game. We had a “Harry Potter” party, a “Beat the Heat” Hawaiian themed day, Hip Hop dance lessons and art classes taught by an instructor from the Eagan Art House. All of this plus just the normal efforts to address their issues related to homelessness and housing.
But, summer is coming to a close and “Back to School” is right around the corner. We’ve received so many wonderful donations of school supplies to help the kids get off to great start this year. People have given us backpacks, notebooks, pencils, paper, folders and even gift certificates to local department stores! Every year, we make sure that the children who are living at Dakota Woodlands have what they need on that first day of school; including new school outfits and shoes. It’s so important that they start the year on par with their fellow students.
As we look ahead to the fall months, we are so excited about our 2nd Annual Special Event, “Flying Home”, which will be held once again at the beautiful Schumann Center on the Ecolab Campus in Eagan. On the evening of October 13th from 7:00 to 10:30 PM we will be celebrating the accomplishments of the many families who have been able to fly…to better homes, better jobs, better education, better health and to better lives. We have the privilege of being able to see the transformation that families go through from when they first walk through our door to the day they are moving out to their new homes. It really does feel like we are watching them “fly home”. Our Flying Home Event will feature a Silent Auction with over 80 wonderful hand-painted birdhouses and gift packages, live music, hors d’oeuvres, drinks and the new “Birdhouse Boutique” where you can purchase unique bird-themed gifts and art. Last year’s event was so much fun and so successful that I know you won’t want to miss it this year! Tickets are available now. Please contact me for more information.
Have a safe and fun filled Labor Day Weekend!
A Dakota Woodlands Special Event
Saturday, October 13, 2007
7:00 to 10:30 p.m.
at Ecolab's Schuman Center
655 Lone Oak Drive
Eagan, MN 55121
<click here for address and directions>
Join us for a festive evening with live music, hors d'oeuvres, drinks and a Silent Auction featuring over 80 hand-painted birdhouses with gift packages! New this year is the "Birdhouse Boutique" where you can purchase unique bird-related gift items.
<read more about Flying Home....>
Tickets are $50.00 per person and now available! to order, or for more information, contact Lane at 651-456-9110 or resource@dakotawoodlands.org
Fall
As September rolls around and the kids are back in school, the volunteer opportunities change at Dakota Woodlands, but they don't slow down! You can volunteer as a group or individual once, once in awhile, or on a regular basis.
For more ideas, visit the Current Needs page on our website. Below are some specific ways that you can help:
We could use your help with:
This is our biggest fundraising event for the year. We're expecting 250 guests and there is much work to be done in setting up the venue, running the event and cleaning up. We would love your help on:
Friday, October 12th:
- Decorating-15 people from 2-6 p.m.
- Moving tables, unloading rental truck, setting up bars, etc.
- Display for auction items and Birdhouse Boutique
Saturday, October 13th:
- Greeters
- Selling Drink Tickets
- Food Helpers
- Silent Auction (set up, collect auction sheets, helping bag items for winners)
- Auction Check Out
- The Birdhouse Boutique (set up, selling items, etc.)
- Clean up
For more information about volunteering for Flying Home or other volunteer opportunities at Dakota Woodlands, please contact Ginni at 651-456-9110, ext. 15 or e-mail:volunteer@dakotawoodlands.org
"Wish List"
- Juice
- Women's Deodorant
- Toilet Paper
- Kid's Underwear-all sizes
- Tall Kitchen garbage bags
- 32 Gallon Garbage Bags
- Disposable Diapers: Sizes 5 and 6
- "C" Batteries
Ashley
Ashley is a 24 year old woman who is the proud mother of an adorable 4 month old baby boy named Brody. She’s a perky, cute young mom.
When she came to Dakota Woodlands, Ashley was 3 months pregnant and had been sleeping on people's couches or wherever she could for more than a year. "My parents were both alcoholics when I was growing up," said Ashley. "My dad died from an overdose, my mom was living in a group home. I basically had to raise myself my whole life. It was hard to make the right decisions, but when I learned I was pregnant, life had to be different. I just knew this was my chance; that I had to be the mom to my baby that I never had."
Ashley was referred to Dakota Woodlands through the Dakota County Supportive Housing Unit (SHU) in October of 2006. Ashley had a history of depression and, with her doctor’s permission, had chosen to stop taking her depression medication during her pregnancy. She had great support. While here, Ashley met regularly with her Family Manager, a housing worker, a Public Health Nurse, a Psychologist, and a worker from Dakota Healthy Families. It wasn’t easy, she did experience some depression and there were medical issues, but she was determined and delivered a healthy baby boy in April.
Ashley was here for just over two months. She moved into her own apartment in December of 2006. “I was scared, I guess, to be on my own,” said Ashley, “but mostly I was excited to have a home. I wanted to give my son a stable life and a safe place to grow up.”
We continue to follow up with her and she recently told us, “my apartment feels really homey, it’s decorated really cute and it’s really clean. I love to be there and am really, really happy.”
Ashley has a job in a nearby nursing home as a Resident Assistant. “I like helping people and I think I want to go to school and get my degree as a nursing assistant.” She got her GED while living at Dakota Woodlands and is now looking at further education to get certified as a nursing assistant or home health worker.
Ashley is committed to living without drugs or alcohol, including friendships. Even her old boyfriend (Brody’s dad) is sober. “Brody’s dad and I aren’t together, but he see’s the baby and is involved. He knows that if he wants a relationship with his son he has to stay clean,” added Ashley. “I have high hopes for Brody. He’s going to have a good life.”
Ashley continues to get support. In addition to some assistance she receives from the county, a volunteer from Dakota Healthy Families also visits her regularly. She answers questions she might have about parenting and gives Ashley encouragement for doing such a great job with Brody. “I don’t have a mom to teach me and there are a lot of things I didn’t know. When Sue (her Healthy Family volunteer) comes over, she shows me how to do things that I guess a mom would help me with. She’s a really positive person and makes me feel good about myself, “said Ashley, “I need that sometimes.”
