New Hope Food Packaging Event

Kids Against Hunger

Date/Time: Thursday, November 3 6-7:30pm. Other dates may be available on the KAH calendar

Location: 5401 Boone Avenue North, New Hope

Help package food at Kids Against Hunger's (KAH) International Headquarters in New Hope. At a food packaging event volunteers assemble the meal ingredients in a specified order and quantity, weigh and seal the bags, box them up, and load them onto pallets. Packaging food is a wonderful, fulfilling way to feel that you are making a real difference! When volunteering at Kids Against Hunger children learn about world hunger, to look beyond themselves, and that it is possible to accomplish seemingly overwhelming tasks if they are willing to work together. 

Ages:  All ages are welcome but may be more appropriate for children ages 5 and older.  Young children need one to one adult supervision.

Time Commitment: 1.5 hours

Contact: For more information visit www.kidsagainsthunger.org. Click "Package Meals at our Headquarters in New Hope, MN" on the top right corner of the home page or visit their volunteer page or call 763.257.0202

www.kidsagainsthunger.org

Volunteer Bell Ringers 

Salvation Army

Date/Time: November 10-December 24, shifts available Monday-Saturday

Location: Opportunities are available throughout the metro area

You, too, can be a bell-ringer this Christmas season. Join the tradition of giving and discover the joy of making a difference in your community. Individuals, families, and groups can all volunteer.  You sign up for a time, date, and location that are convenient for you. After your timeslot has been confirmed simply show up at the appointed location. A kettle and bell will be at your location or you will take over for the ringer stationed there before you. Just start ringing and smiling!  Wish shoppers a "Merry Christmas" and be sure to thank people for their donation. Click here to read our bell ringing frequently asked questions for more information. 

Ages: Everyone of any age is welcome to ring at the kettle!  Youth under the age of 16 must have their parent's permission; children under the age of 14 need to have adult supervision while volunteering.

Time Commitment:  Varies depending on location, 2 hour shift minimum

Contact: For more information and to sign up for bell ringing click volunteer bell ringing

www.thesalarmy.org 

Fall Raking for Seniors

CEAP-Community Emergency Assistance Program

Date/Time: Through November 6

Location: Homes of seniors in Brooklyn Park & Brooklyn Center

Many of the elderly and disabled in our community are not able to rake and prepare their yards for winter. CEAP is still looking for volunteers to help 30 homeowners rake their yards. Opportunities are available evenings and weekends

Ages: All ages are welcome

Time Commitment: Two to four hours

Contact: Kay Blake, 763.450.3679, kay.blake@ceap.com

www.ceap.org

Sponsor A Youth 

Lutheran Social Service, Metro Homeless Youth Programs

Date/Time: This is an episodic opportunity to sponsor youth and their children for the holidays. All gifts must be dropped off by Wednesday, December 14.

Location: The gift drop off location is in the Midway area of St. Paul

Help brighten the holidays for homeless youth and their children by sponsoring them for the holidays! Sponsors shop for and donate gifts for the youth and children in our programs.  The holidays are a difficult time for many of our youth; the gifts that sponsors provide for the youth and their children not only supply basic needed items but they also let the youth know that there is someone in the community who is thinking about them during the holidays. Sponsors can receive wish lists that youth have completed, donate "fill in gifts" or a combination of both!

Ages: All ages - great for families, individuals and groups!

Time Commitment: one time or annually

Contact: Annie Harm, annie.harm@lssmn.org, 651.470.8801

www.lssmn.org/homelessyouthmetro/

Walk to End Hunger 

Twin Cities Hunger Initiative

Date/Time: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 7:30-10am

Location: Mall of America

 The Twin Cities Hunger Initiative presents the Walk to End Hunger, a large-scale public event the week of Thanksgiving at the Mall of America®. The event will include a Phone-A-Thon during the event to raise awareness and funding for the initiative, a Food Drive to collect non-perishable food items to be sent to Minnesota food shelves and a family-friendly walk on Thanksgiving morning that offers the community an opportunity to participate together and contribute to this important and worthy cause. Family volunteers can help as greeters or at the water stations. Families are also welcome to participate by forming a team and walking. The entire Walk to End Hunger 5K route is equal to six laps around the first floor of the Mall of America but participants are welcome to walk as much or as little as they like. Activities and entertainment will take place at three locations along the Walk route. For easy access to Registration on Thanksgiving morning, park in the East Parking Ramp and enter via the East Entrance.

Ages: All ages can participate

Time Commitment: A few hours on Thanksgiving morning

Contact: www.walktoendhunger.org for more information and to sign up to volunteer

www.walktoendhunger.org 

Project Impact

Supper Servers at Our Saviour's Housing

Date/Time: Friday, November 25, 5:30-8:30pm

Location: 2219 Chicago Avenue S, Minneapolis

 Join volunteers as they prepare and serve a meal to guests at Our Saviour's Housing in Minneapolis.  Volunteers help make Our Saviour's a stable home by providing comforting meals. Our Saviour's Housing offers shelter for 40 adults experiencing homelessness.  Transitional and permanent supportive housing is also available, as well as case management services. Volunteers are asked to bring some ingredients to contribute to the meal to offset costs if they are able. The Project Coordinator will email you with what is needed before the project. 

Ages: Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  Minimum volunteer age is 6. All volunteers under 18 must bring a youth waiver signed by a parent/guardian. To register for this project, an adult must register both parties by creating a volunteer team 

Time Commitment: Three hours

Contact: Visit handsontwincities.org and search the Project Calendar for Supper Servers @ Our Saviour's.  For registration questions contact Hands on Twin Cities at 612.379.4900

www.handsontwincities.org 

Breakfast Bags 

Ronald McDonald House Charities -- Upper Midwest

Date/Time: Flexible

Location: Breakfast bags can be assembled at your own home, then dropped off at 818 Fulton Street SE; Minneapolis

 Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest creates, finds and supports programs that provide a caring community for families with seriously ill children while increasing children's access to health care services. Help families staying at the Ronald McDonald House by providing a quick and nutritious breakfast that they can grab and go on their way to the hospital in the morning. Purchase breakfast bars, bagels, yogurt, fruit cups, etc., and sort them in to individual brown bags for families.  Children can decorate the bags before filling them. 

Ages: All ages can participate

Time Commitment: Flexible

Contact: Carynn Roehrick, carynn@rmhtwincities.org, 612.767.2788

www.rmhtwincities.org

Operation Comfort 

Date/Time: Flexible, but blankets should be delivered by December 4

Location: Blankets can be delivered to Mary Rustad Herrera, 8468 Bryce Court, Inver Grove Heights

Over the last five years Operation Comfort volunteers have made over 200 blankets and pillows. These blankets and pillows have been donated to social service agencies such as Cornerstone and the Children's Hospital.  The making of the blankets is fast and simple....all you need to do is select your material. You can accomplish this one of two ways: 

1. JoAnn Fabrics has prepackaged blanket and pillow kits.
2. If you want to select from the bolts of fabric, these are the yardage requirements:

• Baby/Toddler Size - 1.5 yards x 2
• Child/Lap Size - 2-2.5 yards x 2
• Adult/Bed size - 2.5-3 yards x 2

Ages: All ages can participate

Time Commitment: Each blanket will take approx 1½ -2hours,  depending on the size - the smaller ones won't take as long as the larger ones. The pillows are quicker but if you choose to make a pillow you will also need to purchase a pillow form

Contact: Mary Rustad Herrera, 651.451.2041 or 651.775.1480, or email  mherrera@helmsbriscoe.com

Sponsor a Family for the Holidays 

The Family Partnership

Date/Time: Gift drop off deadline is Friday, December 16

Location: Location, hours and directions will be provided when you are matched with a family

Are you and your family looking for a meaningful way to share the holiday season? Partner with us to sponsor a family in need.  Here's how it works:

• Choose the size of the family you wish to sponsor this holiday season
• Receive a wish list for each member of your sponsored family
• Shop, wrap and label gifts
• Bring the gifts to our drop off site 

Ages: All ages can participate

Time Commitment: Time needed to shop, wrap, label and drop off gifts

Contact: Dorian Bowlds, 612.294.2652, dbowlds@thefamilypartnership

www.thefamilypartnership.org