November, 2009
Dakota Woodlands is the only facility specifically for homeless families in our County.
Links:
From Our Executive Director
Reyne Branchaud-Linsk
November has been a very exciting month at Dakota Woodlands. We participated in the Give to the Max Day, through a new on-line giving site for Minnesota nonprofit organizations on November 17th. In just 24 hours, many wonderful people donated over $8,000 towards our supportive services.
The highlight of the Month was being honored with the 2009 Minnesota Nonprofit Excellence Award. We received the award after demonstrating our high quality work, relative to distinct Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence, in many areas including our operations, governance, human resources, advocacy, financial management and fundraising.
We were presented with a beautiful award at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council of Foundations annual meeting. I had to speak (very nerve-wracking and an amazing honor) in front of 1,800 people. Check out our award. It is a beautiful hand-blown glass vase made for us by the local artist, Robinson Scott.
As part of the award, they made a two minute video that is a quick and wonderful view of our work and features a former resident, Julie and her wonderful family who are doing so well now. Click here to see the video Two minute video
Of course, we're also very busy delivering great services and helping families move to new housing and welcoming others to our shelter. Our follow up work has been very exciting and we are enhancing services for children.
Wishing you much happiness. Thank you for your support of our work and for reading our Digest.
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Partner of the Month
Trinity Lone Oak School
The partner of the month of November is a little school with a big heart, Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran School in Eagan. The staff at Trinity Lone Oak are teaching their students about the importance of giving to others. They choose to support a different group every quarter of their school year. We were fortunate enough to be their recipients this fall. The students of Trinity Lone Oak collected a variety of items that we needed and monetary donations at their Wednesday chapel services for 8 weeks. We received an amazing amount of: paper products, canned food, personal care items, and $645!
Ellen Pittman and Lindsey Flaten are the teachers who organized the collection. They wanted their students to not only give but also gain an understanding of those who are less fortunate than themselves right here in their community. Ellen Pittman says that families were incredibly dedicated to the project and that her students were excited to help kids like them.
Thank you Trinity Lone Oak School for all of these amazing donations and for helping to spread the mission of Dakota Woodlands.
If your business, church, school, or group would like to find out more about partnering with Dakota Woodlands please contact Abby Webster at resource@dakotawoodlands.org or 651-289-3567.
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Volunteer of the Month
Jenni Wood
Our volunteer for the month of November is Jenni Wood.
Jenni was born and raised in South Minneapolis. She was a single mom for many years who didn’t receive child support to assist her family financially. She says that she can appreciate “how easy it is to become homeless and feels it was either the grace of God or sheer luck that I avoided that fate.” Jenni spent 20 years working in the food and beverage industry to support her family. Currently, Jenni works as a realtor with Keller Williams. She is determined to “become part of the solution” in the housing industry by advising families about how to avoid foreclosure and helping people find homes that they can afford.
Jenni married her Junior High sweetheart, Barry, 5 years ago and says “he is the nicest person I know!” She is a “football and wrestling mom” since her two sons have been very involved in sports. Her oldest son, Dominic, is leaving December 29th for Army boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. We wish him well.
Jenni has embraced our mission of empowering homeless women to create stable futures for their families. She is a long time donor, she’s a fan of our Flying Home Event attending each year and now a regular volunteer. We are very grateful all you do for us, Jenni.
Jill Hogan, our House Manger grew up with Jenni. Jill says “It is so much fun to share the mission of Dakota Woodlands with a friend."
Thanks Jenni for all you've done for us.
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...How to Help...
Volunteer Opportunities
We have opportunities for individuals or small groups to assist us, without a large time commitment
- Do you like to sort and organize items? We'd love to have your help once a week, or a couple hours a month
- Would your group like to come in to prepare, serve and clean up a special meal for our families? We welcome you to just prepare a meal or think of it as a special event such as Pizza and Pictionary or Mexican food and a piñata or a picnic in the winter.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the above opportunities or 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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Current Needs
- Full sheet sets
- Full and Twin Mattress pads
- Wet wipes for babies (We are in great need of baby wet wipes.)
- Adult and children's socks (all sizes)
- Bras (all sizes)
- Like many non profit organizations, we are in need of financial support. Every amount matters to assist us in meeting the basic needs and supportive services for families. Your donation is tax deductible. You can make a donation through our website....Donate Now or send your donation to us at the address below.
- We have begun the holiday season at Dakota Woodlands. If you would like to assist us, please contact Patty at 651-456-9110 at our holiday extension 599 or email her at holiday@dakotawoodlands.org
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3430 Wescott Woodlands
Eagan, MN 55123
Phone: 651-456-9110
www.dakotawoodlands.org