August 2010
Dakota Woodlands is the only facility specifically for homeless families in our county.
Dakota Woodlands is awarded the 2009 Minnesota Nonprofit Excellence Award
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From Our Executive Director
Reyne Branchaud-Linsk
As summer comes to an end, Dakota Woodlands is getting ready for all the exciting things Fall will bring.
Over the summer we have had so many wonderful volunteers and can't begin to express how much we appreciate the time that each has shared with us. I love the energy of the teenagers who come to assist us!
As you'll see, we are hosting a "Back to School" Book Fair at the Eagan Barnes and Noble. This Saturday, August 28, at 10 A.M., we will be at Barnes and Noble to read a few books at story time. Stop in to support Dakota Woodlands by purchasing a book or just stop by to say "Hi".
We are hard at work planning our Flying Home gala! This is our 5th annual event and it is going to be such a fun night. We hope you can all join us.
Thank you so much for taking interest in and supporting our work. Thank you for reading our Digest.
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Back to School
Barnes and Noble Book Fair
It is back to school time! One of the ways Dakota Woodlands is celebrating the back to school season is by holding our first ever Book Fair at the Eagan Barnes and Noble.
Dakota Woodlands is in a unique position to serve children whose parents are in crisis and help them to improve the educational standings of their children. Kids in poverty often have a much lower rate of school success than their peers. The proceeds of this event will go to support our educational services and our work to improve our residents' educational standings.
On August 28th, at 10:00 AM, staff from Dakota Woodlands will be at the Eagan Barnes and Noble to kick off our book fair with story time. We will share fictional stories about homelessness, as well as information about homelessness in our community. For the rest of the day customers will be able to purchase books and designate part of the proceeds to go to Dakota Woodlands. There will also be an opportunity for people to purchase books that have been specifically chosen by our education coordinator for the children staying at Dakota Woodlands. We will be able to give books to the children staying with us and also receive a percentage of the proceeds to go towards our supportive back to school services. Make sure to mention as you check out that you want a percentage of your purchases to benefit Dakota Woodlands!
If you are able, please join us on the 28th, we would love to see you. However, if that date does not work for you, we invite you to participate online between August 29th and September 4th. Purchase any books for yourself or your family at www.barnesandnoble.com and enter book fair number 10242048 at check out. Dakota Woodlands will receive a donation of 10% of your total.
If you have any questions, please contact Abby at resource@dakotawoodands.org
or call Barnes and Noble, Eagan at (651) 683-1955.
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Volunteer of the Month
Deepa Panicker
This month we have selected Deepa Panicker for our Volunteer of the Month. Deepa has a giving and generous spirit and has been a good friend to Dakota Woodlands for the past year. Deepa was born and raised in Kerala, India, which is rich in culture and located at the southwestern tip of the country, near the Arabian Sea. In 1998, after receiving her masters in sociology, Deepa moved to Minnesota with her husband for his job and made Eagan their home. The Panickers have 3 children, ages 12, 8 and 3 and they really love it here! Currently Deepa is a stay-at-home mom and heard about our work at Dakota Woodlands through Deerwood Elementary. She was drawn to help people in need here in Minnesota because she has memories of her parents giving to those who were less fortunate in India.
To keep her family tradition of giving alive, Deepa volunteers twice a month at the shelter and involves her family in providing meals, clothing, gifts and necessities for our residents.
Thank you Deepa for all you’ve done for us. We are grateful that you’ve introduced others to our work.
To learn about volunteer opportunities, please contact Patty at (651) 456-9110 or volunteer@dakotawoodlands.org. As the school year begins, if you have time to volunteer, we'd love to have you consider volunteering here.
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5th Annual Flying Home
A Night of Fun, Friends and Fundraising
The 5th annual Flying Home is just around the corner! In honor of our 30th anniversary, this will be our best event yet! We are excited for all thechanges and additions this year: a new night, Friday, October 8th; a new venue, Eagan Community Center; and a new attraction, The Birds Nest. Along with all of these changes, we kept the classics that make this a must attend-event: a live and silent auction of decorated birdhouses and gift packages, wonderful food, great people, entertainment and more.
Beautiful birdhouses, decorated by local artists and celebrities, staff and volunteers, have already started coming in. Each birdhouse is creative, unique and lovely; a great addition to the auction items we are collecting. Here is a sneak peak at a few of the staff favorites.
If Flying Home isn’t already on your calendar, please mark October 8th, from 7:00 to 10:30 PM, as a night of fun, friends and fundraising. Tickets are $50.00 and can be purchased by calling Abby at (651) 289-3567 or by emailing her at resource@dakotawoodlands.org.
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Find us on Facebook
We invite you to sign in and follow us on Facebook. It is a great way to keep up with what is going on at Dakota Woodlands. Keep an eye out for upcoming activities and events, new pictures, information on ways to help and news about homelessness and poverty. We welcome your feedback and hope you join our network of support.
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Current Needs
* School Supplies: solid color folders, high lighters, 3 ring binders (2 inch size), flashcards/note cards, pencil sharpeners, pencil cases, scissors, wide ruled spiral notebooks, glue sticks, compass/protractor
* New, medium sized stuffed animals
* Toddler Car Seats (regular car seats not boosters) to 40 pounds
* Comfortable overstuffed living room chair (in great shape) that matches tan leather sectional.
* Gift cards for gas stations, movie theatres, ice cream, fast food and other funplaces for summer events for kids.
* If you are visiting or hosting a garage sale this summer, be on the look-out for cereal bowls, silverware, dinnerware and sets of pots and pans, kitchen towels or bathroom hand towels (in great shape).
* Funding for back to school shoes and clothing for our kids
Contact Abby to learn more about these needs.
(651) 456-9110 or em ail her at resource@dakotawoodlands.org
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Volunteer Needs
We are in need of many volunteers for our 5th annual Flying Home. During the day we need help with set-up and organization. During the event we have opportunities to help with check in, check out, the silent auction, clean up and more. If you are interested in volunteering for Flying Home, please contact Patty at (651) 289-3565 or email her at volunteer@dakotawoodlands.org.
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3430 Wescott Woodlands, Eagan, MN 55123
Phone: 651-456-9110 www.dakotawoodlands.org.