May 2010
Dakota Woodlands is the only facility specifically for homeless families in our county.
Dakota Woodlands wins 2009 Minnesota Nonprofit Excellence Award
Links:
From Our Executive Director
Reyne Branchaud-Linsk
As you see from the top left corner, lettuce is growing at Dakota Woodlands. We have a beautiful large raised garden where we are growing produce for our meals. Thanks to volunteers and residents we'll be having fresh vegetables from our own garden.
Enclosed in this issue is information regarding our involvement in the Eagan Fun Fest and a special way you can assist us. Plus you'll read about our very successful HOMES event and the wonderful people who assist us.
Thank you so much for supporting our work. Thank you for reading our Digest.
Best wishes,
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Volunteers of the Month
Roy and Teri Bell
We love to have families assist us. Teri and Roy became acquainted with Dakota Woodlands, as many people do, by donating items we need.
Teri is now consulting after a long career in social work working with children with special needs. Roy retired from Flint Hills Resources.
They assisted us with a fundraising project in March, talking to small businesses about our work and trying to collect a " Pot of Gold." Thanks to them, many businesses put out coin collection containers and supported our work. They said "it was a fun project that got them out in the community talking about Dakota Woodlands."
They both attended our HOMES event, with Roy photographing the activities of the morning.
Teri is lending her expertise to assist our education coordinator with our parenting classes. Erin is thrilled to have the support and guidance. Teri's support is like having "CliffNotes for parenting discussions." Teri is thinking about tailoring classes to parents who are coping with the stresses of homelessness and poverty and addressing their children's needs.
They both are active with Open Arms in addition to assisting us.
They've offered to help us with the Eagan Fun Fest that you'll see below. We are looking forward to working with them for years to come. Thank you so much Teri and Roy!!!
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..How to Help...
Volunteer Opportunities
We have a very special need...
Dakota Woodlands has an opportunity to raise funds this summer during the 4th of July weekend at the Eagan Fun Fest.
Lennar, a builder of new homes and our new neighbor, is generously donating a beautiful playhouse for us to raffle. All of the proceeds will go towards our supportive and educational services.
We need many people to walk around the Fun Fest and sell raffle tickets. We have two hour daytime and evening shifts available on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of July.
This would be a fun volunteer service project for groups, individuals and families because you can participate in the carnival atmosphere at the Fun Fest, while helping families who are homeless. If you are willing to help or have questions, please contact Patty, our volunteer coordinator.
* If you are interested in learning about other ways to assist us, please contact Patty, our Volunteer Coordinator at 651-289-3565 (direct phone number) or email her at volunteer@dakotawoodlands.org.
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Our HOMES Event
Saturday May 8th. 8:30-9:30am
Oak Hills Church in Eagan
On Saturday May 8th, the day before Mother’s Day, we held our 7th annual HOMES event. This year was our best yet. We had amazing speakers including; Karen Zynda who shared her story of being a single mom living paycheck to paycheck and missed homelessness in their lives. She now volunteers her time to assist Dakota Woodlands. Jenni Wood, a new member of our Board of Directors also shared her passionate story about what brought her to Dakota Woodlands. The highlight, as always, was two of our former residents who shared their stories of homelessness, life at Dakota Woodlands and their successful stories.
This year we had an amazing trio of churches that contributed to this great event. Oak Hills Church supported us by providing the beautiful space and volunteers assisting at the event. Kerala Christian Congregation provided all of the food and decorations along with volunteering to assist us. Hosanna Lutheran Church provided us with an extremely generous $5,000 challenge grant which we met by raising over $5,000 as a result of the event. Thank you to these three wonderful congregations for your support of our work.
Many people offered their financial support, interest in volunteering and helping in other ways.
It was a VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT!
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Current Needs*Toddler Car Seats (regular car seats not boosters)
*Sturdy plastic glasses, cereal bowls, spoons and forks for our meals here
* Baby monitors (new and gently used is great)
* Hair conditioner (various types)
* Size 5 diapers
* 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).
* Our most urgent needs right now are for gift cards for Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, Movie Theatres, and other fun outings for our families.
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3430 Wescott Woodlands, Eagan, MN 55123
Phone: 651-456-9110 www.dakotawoodlands.org.