December 2008
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.
Links:
From Our Executive Director:
Reyne Branchaud-Linsk
This holiday season is a difficult time for so many of us. I keep hearing stories of people who are cutting back or not exchanging gifts or buying only practical things this holiday season. It makes us even more grateful for the many gifts that you have given to our residents and our organization. As you’ll see in the Volunteer of the Month section of our Digest, so many people have helped to make the holidays brighter for our families experiencing homelessness.
This year the needs for our services are greater. More than ever when I go and talk to people about our work, there are people who understand the concepts of what leads to homelessness. We all know people who have lost jobs, employers who are cutting back on hours and people living a paycheck away from troubled financial times. Dakota Woodlands is a place that brings comfort and a sense of calm to homeless families.
We wish you calm, comforting times to enjoy with those you love. Thank you for your thoughts and gifts to Dakota Woodlands.
Happy Holidays,
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Volunteers of the Month
When we reflected on who to honor as a “volunteer of the month” we had so many choices. So, we want to thank everyone who has given to us.
Since the end of November we’ve had more than 300 volunteers. So far this year we’ve had over 7,145 hours of volunteer time and talents.
Some of the gifts included;
All of our families have been “adopted” to receive holiday gifts. We’ve set the gifts aside and are currently discussing their holiday traditions. Some of the families have Santa arrive at Grandma’s house on Christmas Eve; others know that Santa will deliver their gifts here by the time they awake on Christmas morning.
Many people brought in items from our Wish List. Our residents and families who have recently moved to their new homes will have a Merry Christmas thanks to you. The children will be so happy!!!
A roomful of adults and children at Hosanna Church hosted our families for a wonderful holiday party, complete with a great meal, gifts, singing, and a visit from Santa.
Delta Dental employees wrapped the gifts we have received for our residents to open on Christmas Day.
Terry Duggins, of Duggins Law Firm, came up with a wonderful idea many years ago to host “Santa Brings a Law Suit” in downtown St. Paul. He asks lawyers to bring nice clothing and children’s supplies. This year’s event was last week and Dakota Woodlands received many beautiful pieces of clothing.
Teresa Kavanaugh and families from her children’s school brought gingerbread houses for each family and helped the residents decorate them.
Annette Zabala, a hair stylist and childcare volunteer, has been cutting residents’ hair once a month. This month, many are so happy to have new hair styles for the holidays.
The Prescott High School Junior Varsity Dance Team, came over from Prescott, Wisconsin
to help with children’s services and work on a special event that involved wrapping books at Barnes and Noble with shoppers giving donations to Dakota Woodlands. (By the way, we have one more book wrapping date at Barnes and Noble in Eagan on this Tuesday the 23rd from 10 am to 2 pm, so if you have last minute gifts and are shopping for a book or two, have your books gift-wrapped by Dakota Woodlands volunteers.)
Rosemount High School’s Honors Social Studies students in Dr. Tom Scott’s room came to Dakota Woodlands for three hours to sort presents, wrap gifts, clean our vans and so much more. Dr. Scott says coming here is important for his students because they are able to study the issue of poverty and are able to give back to the community. Dakota Woodlands Executive Director, Reyne Branchaud-Linsk, has gone to speak to the class on poverty and homelessness in Dakota County for the last 5 years. “Coming here is a win-win situation. It helps the kids be more involved in the community and it teaches them about poverty in a way where they can see it and be affected by it. And the students always seem to enjoy it as well,” Dr. Scott said. Thank you to Dr. Tom Scott and all his helpful students.
Madeline Knoll, who celebrates her birthday on December 23rd, had a birhtday party and asked her friends to bring a stuffed animal to donate to Dakota Woodlands instead of a birthday gift for herself.
Many companies have hosted "Adopt a Family" opportunities and others have matched employee’s financial gifts made at this time of year. One such collaboration was done by the Straka family. It was their son, Thomas Gladis, who had the idea to give to a charity instead of to each other this holiday season. A great idea that isn’t so unique. They researched options and found us and our website and thought we were a perfect match for their interests. So the Straka family, along with the company Karen Straka owns, and the companies she partners with, all came together to give to Dakota Woodlands. They came from Elk River with a load of items, including boxes and boxes of new clothing, gifts, and items for our families which will last longer than the holiday season.
(From left to right is Heather Rodriguez, Kalea Gladis and Karen Straka, with a load of donations is Karen Straka, Thomas Gladis and Stephen Straka.)
Thank you to all of our volunteers and everyone who has donated to us during the month of December.
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In her own words...A Resident 'Thank You' Letter
As residents move out we often get thank you cards or kind notes. We thought we’d share a note from a young mother who moved last week into their new apartment.
“I just want to say thank you. I am very grateful for everything you guys have done for me and my son. I don’t know what I would have done without the shelter. You have helped me so much. I got so much support. Leaving here I’m a different person. I would have never thought this place would impact me that well. I will miss you guys so much. Thank you for helping me make a lifetime change, I will never forget you.
Have a great holiday everyone.”
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Volunteer Needs
We have many current volunteer needs. The most urgent are...
- Helping our staff provide children's activities any weekday evening from 6-8:30 p.m. (for high school age through adults.)
- Light cleaning help, sorting donations, and kitchen help. Various times available.
For more information about volunteer opportunities at Dakota Woodlands, please contact Ginni at
651-289-3565 or email at volunteer@dakotawoodlands.org.
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Current Needs List:
We are especially in need of financial gifts. Every amount matters. Our fiscal year closes on December 31st. We can accept gifts any time through our website… http://www.dakotawoodlands.org/waystogive.html
This will direct you to our “Ways to Give” page. Or, feel free to send your financial gift to us at Dakota Woodlands
3430 Wescott Woodlands, Eagan, MN 55123
We update our website frequently to show our on-going current needs, check out the Current Needs page for more information.
If you have items for the wish list please contact Abby at 651-289-3562 or resource@dakotawoodlands.org
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3430 Wescott Woodlands
Eagan, MN 55123
Phone: 651-456-9110
www.dakotawoodlands.org