December 2010
Dakota Woodlands is the only facility specifically for homeless families in our county.
Dakota Woodlands was awarded the 2009 Minnesota Nonprofit Excellence Award
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From Our Executive Director
Beth Bromen
Greetings,
Sparkles, music, and cheers often ring in the New Year, but in contrast my family usually spends a quiet New Year’s Eve at home. The tradition includes a few cheese and crackers and the will to stay awake long enough to officially see the New Year begin. The evening may be uneventful but the chance for a new beginning is appreciated each year with promises to see friends more often, complete unfinished projects, and perhaps lose a few pounds.
New beginnings are what Dakota Woodlands is all about. Because our families are provided a safe place to live that meets their basic needs, they have the time and the assistance to learn what is necessary to move out of poverty and into a more stable life for their family. Beginning again only this time equipped with tools that can help them stay the course.
Help a family have a new beginning this year by making a financial contribution to Dakota Woodlands. Your gift buys a warm bed, nutritious food, clothing and educational services for women and their children.
May your days be bright and all your dreams come true, Happy New Year.
Regards,
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A New Year
New Resolutions
Our mission at Dakota Woodlands is to empower homeless women to create stable futures for their families. As we head in to this New Year, this remains the same, but our residents do not. Our 22 room facility gives a home to an average of 110 families each year. Each family, and individual resident, is unique in personality, skills, goals, wishes and struggles. As new residents move in to our home we must adapt to these differences, and that is why we create individualized plans for each of our residents. The purpose, to help them make and keep goals (Resolutions) for this New Year and new life they are beginning here.
The individualized plans use a combination of the educational and support services we offer at Dakota Woodlands to help each resident successfully move on to a home of their own with one shelter stay. We offer many services that include, but are not limited to:
- Responsible Renters: We developed classes, which we call R.E.N.T (Raising Expectations for Next Time), to include specific curriculum: Finding a Place to Live, Rental Application Process and Rental Agreements, Home Care and Healthy Home Issues and more services that deal with individual issues.
- Income and employment needs: While at Dakota Woodlands, all of the adult residents develop a plan to address income and employment issues. We help them to recognize their strengths, potential job options, and training needs to assist with the job search process or help those with current employment to grow in their position.
- Educational services for adults and children: Volunteers tutor adult residents for GED preparation, including pre-tests, coaching and encouraging them in all test areas. When they are ready, we pay for the testing and provide transportation and child care. During the school year there are tutors at Dakota Woodlands nightly to help the children with their homework. We also have many other education opportunities through our community partnerships.
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Adopt-A-Family
This year we have been very fortunate –enjoying strong community support even in a down economy. We have adopted out all 22 families residing here this season to all types of organizations like Church groups, Moms Clubs, local businesses and neighboring families. Many of these donors shop til they drop, purchasing items our moms and kids have put on their wish lists. We even have a group of middle school kids from Rosemount waging penny wars and collecting coins at school in order to make a donation to families living here this holiday season.
Another group of students from Rosemount High School were kind enough to come to Dakota Woodlands and spend a morning being Santa’s Little Helpers. They wrapped and organized all of the gifts for each family. We could not have asked for a better group. One student even came with his own wrapping paper, scissors, and tape.
We want to extend our thanks to all of the donors and volunteers involved in this year’s Adopt- a -Family program for making our residents’ holidays merry and bright!
----------------------------------------------------------- Volunteer of the Month
Rosemount Middle School 6th Grade Students
This month we are thankful for ALL of the volunteers who helped us in countless ways. Our volunteers tutored school age kids, assembled furniture, decorated bedrooms, picked up deliveries, sorted donations, cooked meals for our residents, and helped with a multitude of Holiday tasks.
There is one group we would like to recognize for going over and above our expectations with a project this Holiday Season. Rosemount Middle School 6th grade students and their faculty advisor, Kevin Hanzlik, decided they wanted to raise general funds for our shelter and take part in our Adopt-A-Family program, by providing Christmas gifts for two of our families. How did they do this you ask? The kids waged war! Penny war, that is. The classes competed against one another in November and December collecting pennies and boy, did they have fun!
They collected over $1,600 dollars in pennies and did it with enthusiasm and heartfelt concern for the homeless. They bought special gifts for their adopted families with some of the money and donated the rest of the cash to Dakota Woodlands. We are so proud of these young students who decided they could make a difference in their community and help change lives one penny at a time!
Thank you and Happy New Year!
To learn about volunteer opportunities, please contact Patty at (651) 456-9110 or volunteer@dakotawoodlands.org.
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Current Needs
*Cash Donations
*Disinfectant wipes
*Digital Camera
*Women's plus size clothing
*Diapers (All sizes)
*Tooth Brushes
*Hair Conditioner
If you would like a full list of Dakota Woodlands' Needs, please follow this link to our Current Needs page. If you have any questions, please contact Abby at resource@dakotawoodlands.org or (651) 456-9110 to learn more about these needs.
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Volunteer Needs
If your New Year' Resolution is to be more active in your community or to help others, Dakota Woodlands has many opportunities that can fit with your skills and schedule.
Volunteers are needed Monday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 pm to help in childcare. We could also use someone to pick up a weekly donation from Target. A great opportunity for groups, companies, families or friends is to come and prepare a meal for the Residents, either at lunch or dinner.
If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact or Volunteer Coordinator, Patty at (651) 289-3565 or email her at volunteer@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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3430 Wescott Woodlands, Eagan, MN 55123
Phone: 651-456-9110 www.dakotawoodlands.org.
