February 2009 - Junior League of Minneapolis

Community
Volunteers at the BRIDGING Project Impact event.
PROJECT IMPACT DAY 2009!
By Annie Gorman, Helping Hands Chair
For the second year in a row, members of the JLM joined together to make an
incredible impact on our community! This year, in celebration of our 85 th
anniversary, we expanded Impact Day into two separate events – both were a huge
success!
First, we gathered close to 100 Leaguers at Bridging’s warehouse in Bloomington.
Bridging began in 1987 to provide the economically disadvantaged with a one-time
gift of quality furniture and household items which helps to stabilize and improve
their lives. Since Bridging’s inception, they’ve served over 40,000 thousand families in
our community. We began our evening with a potluck, tours of the facility and
stories from Bridging employees, including Fran Heitzman, the founder of Bridging.
Our project work included assembling jewelry armoires, tables and TV stands. In
total, we assembled 89 pieces of furniture. Our donation of time and hard work will
greatly assist Bridging meet their goals of serving our community in 2009!
Next, 50 volunteers headed to Second Harvest Heartland’s warehouse in NE
Minneapolis. Second Harvest is the Upper Midwest’s largest hunger-relief
organization with a mission of ending hunger through community partnerships. SHH
distributes more than 41 million pounds of food annually to over 1,000 member
agencies and programs in MN and western WI, as well as directly serving individuals
and families. Our morning began with a breakfast potluck and a presentation of
SHH’s impact and mission. Our project work included sorting donated food items
and packing multiple 40 pound food boxes. In total, we packed over 12,000 pounds
of food for SHH to distribute to their partner organizations!
Both of these amazing events offered wonderful opportunities for JLM members
to get out into the community, do some hands-on volunteer work, and learn about
these two incredible local organizations that address critical needs in our
communities. Our time and hard work helped enable these organizations move closer
to meeting their mission and making an impact!
HELPING HANDS:
HELP US HOST
A PARTY
Join Helping Hands to help host
a party for children staying at the
UofM’s Children’s Hospital,
Fairview. We will team with Care
Partners, a past project of the
JLM, to put on this fun event for
children going through a
difficult time in their lives. The
event is Thursday, February 26
from 12:30 – 3:30pm. Sign up
through the volunteer calendar on
the website!
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN
Our first event in the New Year will
be on February 7 at the St. Josephs
Home for Children in Minneapolis.
Once again we will partner with Free
Arts of Minnesota to put on this
event. We will instruct, educate, cook,
craft, and maybe even do a little
exercise component if time and
space permit.
The energy around this new project
is phenomenal. Stay tuned for more
insights and experiences with Kids in
the Kitchen. All volunteer shifts are
full – Thank you!
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