Today, I drove my car to the gym and back. I drove my daughter to preschool and then I drove to the office. During the day I drove my car to and from a meeting. And I will drive home. I did all of this when I either wanted or needed to and my car [...]
The 3M Film and Materials Resource Division has been volunteering in small groups at Neighbors on a monthly basis since July 2017. This is what they had to say about their experience: Describe your involvement with Neighbors: We usually work in the Food Shelf. Some of us have been volunteering at Neighbors over eight years. We [...]
Volunteer Couples Feel the Love at Neighbors During a recent analysis of our volunteers, we were amazed to discover there are 33 married couples who regularly volunteer their time and talents at Neighbors, Inc. That makes up 16% of our on-going volunteer base. Although the number of volunteer couples at Neighbors is amazing, it [...]
As a member of the Neighbors Welcome Center volunteer team, Maria is devoted to assisting clients, helping with donations and keeping the front desk area – including the bakery shelf and waiting room – “clean and tidy” for all our visitors. She takes pride in providing a good “first impression.” Maria came to Neighbors as [...]
December’s volunteer spotlight is Susan, one of our dedicated Holiday Gift Program volunteers. Susan works hard to make sure all of the families seeking holiday gift assistance have warm winter gear and clothing for their children. “I have enjoyed all of the aspects of (my) volunteering but it is especially rewarding to help with the [...]
This is the second year the Lakeville, Farmington and Apple Valley locations of Fantastic Sams have participated in the Neighbors' Holiday Gift Program by adopting several families. This is what one of their employees had to say about her experience: We wanted to do something for our community during the season of giving. We could [...]
Jessica became involved with the Neighbors’ Come As You Are program in her early 20’s when she began taking her younger brother to the bi-monthly events. She quickly transitioned from attendee to helping out as a volunteer and now she leads the events. Working alongside the Volunteer Department at Neighbors, Jessica helps coordinate the programs [...]
Students who are enrolled in the District 917 TESA (Transitional Education Service Alternative Program) program have been volunteering at the Neighbors food shelf since September 2016. Originally placed by VolunteerMatch, students in the TESA group acquire valuable volunteer experience on a weekly basis. TESA’s post high school program also gives students with disabilities between 18 [...]
Neighbors Clothes Closet Thrift Store Grand Reopening September 11, 2018 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. August 27, 2018 - For Immediate Release South St. Paul, Minn. – Neighbors, Inc. is pleased to announce the grand reopening of its thrift store, the Neighbors Clothes Closet. After a brief closure to refresh the store, the Neighbors Clothes [...]
A regular Neighbors Clothes Closet and Event Department Volunteer, Elise, recently also joined the team of volunteers that pick up extra produce at local Farmer’s Markets. Since she volunteers in a variety of ways for Neighbors, we wanted to ask her about her experiences. Q: What brought you to Neighbors? A: I remember my aunt [...]
Virginia has been an avid volunteer at Neighbors since 2012 when she responded to the agency’s plea for volunteers in a community newspaper. She considers it a privilege to be among the first volunteers to work at the agency’s Grand Avenue building in South Saint Paul. Previously, the agency was housed at another location. Neighbors is [...]
Phil N. is an active volunteer transportation driver for Neighbors, Inc. with compassion for others. Initially recruited by a Neighbors’ staff member for the role while he was already a Neighbors’ food shelf volunteer, he transitioned into volunteer driving to transport residents of northern Dakota County to medical and dental appointments. He currently provides 2-3 [...]
Neighbors, Inc. held its 46th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, April 19, 2018. This Oscars-themed celebration recognized the contributions of all Neighbors volunteers over the last year. The following individuals, organizations and programs were recognized for their outstanding volunteer performance and dedication to the mission of Neighbors: Marilyn Erickson – Empowerment Michaela Vondrum – [...]
Mike, Tom, Dave and Howard are a small, but dedicated group of volunteers that provide an important service for Neighbors’ food shelf: donation pick-up. Since our donations are many and we are few, Neighbors relies on volunteers to help us retrieve, load and deliver some of the donations we get from our local food partners. [...]
Cherokee Tavern! Congratulations to the Saint Joe's Burger at Cherokee Tavern for being voted this year's best burger in the 2018 Great Neighbors' Food Fight restaurant competition and fundraiser. A special thank you to all of the participating restaurants who generously donated their delicious burgers for the competition.
It's the final burger report of the 2018 Food Fight! Travis' last stop took him to Perkins in West St. Paul for their Classic Cheeseburger, and here's what he had to say: "I didn’t know what to expect from Perkins. I always think of them for good breakfast, but have never tried a burger from [...]
As we approach the end of the 2018 Great Neighbors' Food Fight, we've got the second to last blog from Travis to share with you! He stopped by Cherokee Tavern to try the Saint Joe's Burger, and here's his review: "This is one of my new favorites! The quality of the beef was exceptional, along [...]
Next up for Travis? Concord Lanes and the Jalapeno Popper Burger. Here's the dish: "I'm partial to anything jalapeno popper-related, so I'd been looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint! It was cooked perfectly and was nice and juicy. I'd definitely get this burger again!" Want more information on this year’s Food Fight? Click [...]
Travis has hit the halfway point in his 2018 Food Fight journey! Jersey's Bar & Grill was his latest stop, and you can read about his thoughts on the Jersey Burger below: "The Jeresy Burger is your all-American burger with a splash of BBQ sauce. I’ll admit, I’m not generally a fan of BBQ sauce [...]
Our volunteer spotlights continue, highlighting the many ways volunteers are serving the community and helping our neighbors in need! For more information on how you can get involved, visit www.neighborsmn.org/volunteer. -- Gayle C. is a valued member of one of Neighbors’ most important client-facing teams: the front desk staff. As part of this role, Gayle fields [...]