We’d like to say a huge “thank-you” to the more than 400 volunteers who came together over the last two weeks to help 600 households moving into stable housing in the greater Twin Cities!
The two-day Home For Good event was also made possible by Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis and the Pipefitters Union Training Center in St. Paul who generously donated their spaces to host the events. Home For Good’s mission is to help families and individuals transitioning into stable housing with items to set up their new space.
We know homelessness in our community has increased 10% since 2015.* The good news is last year approximately 1,400 households across the metro transitioned into stable housing. However, the majority do not have essential household supplies needed for a safe and permanent home.
To help, volunteers assembled Welcome Home Kits containing items such as toilet paper, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, light bulbs, and dish soap. The kits were immediately picked up by 22 United Way community partners for distribution to clients in their programs.
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter participated in Home For Good last year, and this year, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stopped by to pack kits and speak to volunteers. “If you really want a home to be warm and welcoming from the very beginning you need the supplies that go along with that,” Mayor Frey said. “Those things help make a place a home and that’s what United Way is doing- making sure our community has warm, welcoming homes for everyone.”
Minnesota-based company Faribault Woolen Mill donated 100 blankets to give warmth to Home For Good families in addition to bringing their leadership team to volunteer. “Just walking into the building today, it’s 15 degrees outside,” said Paul Moody, partner and chairman of Faribault Woolen Mill. “It’s very meaningful realizing these blankets and kits will provide some comfort to people who are in real need.”
Other Home For Good volunteers included employees from companies small and large as well as labor unions, schools, and a program for adults who are differently abled. “With family impacted by the cost of housing in the Twin Cities combined with working downtown and seeing those impacted by homelessness this cause is personal,” said Molly Schutz, a senior initiatives manager with RBC. “It pulls something inside of me.”
“Giving back is one of our fundamental core values at Wells Fargo and that aligns with my core values of doing things for the greater good of the community,” said Julius Bangu, Regional Banking District Manager at Wells Fargo. “There isn’t a better feeling- I walk away feeling empowered, feeling good, and feeling like I made a difference.”
“United Way has a knack for taking a bigger issue and identifying a niche within it,” said Michael Moore, a member of the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild. “United Way has their finger on the pulse of the community and finds a unique way to meet needs that might not be obvious.”
Events like Home For Good are a great way to make a direct impact on the community in a short amount of time. To hear more about of United Way’s signature volunteer opportunities through Volunteer United, sign up for our e-newsletter. Also, check out photos on our Flickr albums! If you missed the event or want to further amplify our impact in household stability, you can still make a gift.
*Source: Wilder Foundation
