Our local newstation, Fox 9, interviewed our Executive Director, Reyne Branchaud-Linsk and a resident about the rising number of foreclosures and homelessness in Minnesota. It's a great piece and a glimpse of our facility during the holidays!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Save Time and Donate to Dakota Woodlands!
Just think, you can save time, bring a fabulous meal to any gathering AND give to Dakota Woodlands ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!! How you ask??? It's easy!
Let's Dish! is an innovative store with 7 locations throughout Minnesota, (including Apple Valley) where you can make (or pick up) family-friendly dishes designed to be frozen and cooked when you need them. You can cook the meals in the store, order meals online that are prepared by their staff, order dishes for your party or just stop by one of their stores and select a “ready made” dish on the way home! Not only is this a life saver during the holidays, but also a great way to give to Dakota Woodlands. From now until December 31st, you can enter in the code “Woodlands” when placing your order and they will donate 5% back to Dakota Woodlands!
For more information about Let's Dish! and this wonderful opportunity to support Dakota Woodlands, visit their website. Enter the code "Woodlands" online when you place your order, or visit one of their store locations.
For more information about Let's Dish! and this wonderful opportunity to support Dakota Woodlands, visit their website. Enter the code "Woodlands" online when you place your order, or visit one of their store locations.
One of the delicious meals you can prepare at Let's Dish!
Thompson West...Volunteers of the Month!
Volunteers of the Month
Thank You Thompson West!
Each month a group of employees from Thompson West volunteer their time and talent to Dakota Woodlands. As part of their Community Partners Program they mentor and tutor students, prepare and serve meals, sort donations and whatever else needs doing. Most recently a group came to help spread woodchips around the playground and backyard to help us prepare for winter. With military precision they filled wheel barrels, garbage cans and whatever else we had with woodchips and as they were dumped out another group was ready to rake. The end result was fabulous! We appreciate Thompson West's continued support of Dakota Woodlands and the fantastic job they do.
Each month a group of employees from Thompson West volunteer their time and talent to Dakota Woodlands. As part of their Community Partners Program they mentor and tutor students, prepare and serve meals, sort donations and whatever else needs doing. Most recently a group came to help spread woodchips around the playground and backyard to help us prepare for winter. With military precision they filled wheel barrels, garbage cans and whatever else we had with woodchips and as they were dumped out another group was ready to rake. The end result was fabulous! We appreciate Thompson West's continued support of Dakota Woodlands and the fantastic job they do.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Make a Difference...Eat at Noodles!
Make a Difference!
EAT AT NOODLES!!
Saturday, October 27th
EAT AT NOODLES!!
Saturday, October 27th
USA Today has challenged the nation to take one day to make a difference in someone's life. On Saturday, October 27th, Make a Difference Day, the West St. Paul Noodles & Company will donate 10% of their sales to Dakota Woodlands. The food is fantastic, the atmosphere is casual (and family friendly) and we'll be there to answer any questions you may have about our facility. The W. St. Paul Noodles is only about 7 miles from Dakota Woodlands.
Noodles & Company
1590 Robert St S.
West Paul, MN 55118
1590 Robert St S.
West Paul, MN 55118
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Rosemount Neighborhoods Collect Donations on National Night Out
Rosemount Police Officers Rosa and Enger
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 was National Night Out and for the third year in a row, the Rosemount Police Department asked neighborhoods in Rosemount to consider collecting donations for Dakota Woodlands, the only short-term homeless shelter in Dakota County for women and children. “We had 26 neighborhoods in Rosemount that participated this year and we received donations from every one of them,” said Officer Chad Rosa, the Community Resources Officer for the Rosemount Police Department.
Neighborhood organizers distributed flyers letting people know about Dakota Woodlands and the specific items that were needed. In addition to socializing, enjoying root beer floats and having fun, neighborhoods throughout Rosemount collected paper products, non-perishable food items, household goods, money as well as gift certificates for everything from school supplies to movie tickets. On the Thursday following National Night Out, Officer Rosa, along with Karin Enger, the Community Services Officer from the Rosemount Police Department, delivered 35 bags filled with much needed donations to Dakota Woodlands. They even carried it all in!
It's that kind of community support that helps families get back on their feet so that they can find housing. Thanks Rosemount!!!
Neighborhood organizers distributed flyers letting people know about Dakota Woodlands and the specific items that were needed. In addition to socializing, enjoying root beer floats and having fun, neighborhoods throughout Rosemount collected paper products, non-perishable food items, household goods, money as well as gift certificates for everything from school supplies to movie tickets. On the Thursday following National Night Out, Officer Rosa, along with Karin Enger, the Community Services Officer from the Rosemount Police Department, delivered 35 bags filled with much needed donations to Dakota Woodlands. They even carried it all in!
It's that kind of community support that helps families get back on their feet so that they can find housing. Thanks Rosemount!!!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Independence Day!
This article is from the current issue of the Dakota Digest, our online e-newsletter. To read the newsletter or to subscribe, click here: Dakota Digest
From Our Executive Director:
Reyne Branchaud-Linsk
Independence Day:
Empowering Women to be Self-Sufficient
Life can be overwhelming in the best of circumstances. We all want to be independent, to be able to take care of ourselves and our families; to not have to ask anyone for money, rides or a place to live. Many of the women that come to Dakota Woodlands have relied on friends and family for support and, for whatever reason, that help is no longer available.They need to learn the skills necessary to better care for themselves and their families. But being self-sufficient doesn't mean you never ask for help; it means that you know when you do need help and where to find it.
When our residents leave Dakota Woodlands to move into their own homes, we want them to feel they are capable of handling what comes their way. It's important that they develop a sense of independence and have the confidence to not only deal with the inevitable ups and downs of everyday living, but can also manage a household. This might mean they need help learning to plan healthy meals, how to manage their finances, scheduling inexpensive familiy fun or maybe how to get rides to doctor's appointments.
We collaborate with the University of Minnesota Extension Services to teach nutrition classes and meal preparation. Using a budget, we help them create a menu and a grocery list, how to use coupons and/or store specials and how to cook healthy, economical meals for their familiy. We also stress the importance of sitting down as a family for as many meals as they can and to have regular meal times.
Transportation is often an issue— they may have been depending on friends or family to give them rides or may never have used public transportation before. We help people figure out bus routes and let them know about other transportation services they may be eligible to use, such as getting to medical appointments,etc.
Finding things to do as a family on a limited income can be challenging, but not impossible! Moms may not be aware of the "cheap" entertainment that's available to them in the Metro Area. There are dollar movies, free museum days, free concerts in the park throughout the summer and even scholarships to the YMCA that they can apply to. Maybe their kids haven't been able to participate in school athletics or other extra-curricular activities because of the expense. There is scholarship money available through their school district that they can apply for.
I hope you’re all having a wonderful summer so far! Thank you again for your generous support. Every day we see the changes made in the lives of families who are able to go from no homes to their own homes.
Reyne
Empowering Women to be Self-Sufficient
Life can be overwhelming in the best of circumstances. We all want to be independent, to be able to take care of ourselves and our families; to not have to ask anyone for money, rides or a place to live. Many of the women that come to Dakota Woodlands have relied on friends and family for support and, for whatever reason, that help is no longer available.They need to learn the skills necessary to better care for themselves and their families. But being self-sufficient doesn't mean you never ask for help; it means that you know when you do need help and where to find it.
When our residents leave Dakota Woodlands to move into their own homes, we want them to feel they are capable of handling what comes their way. It's important that they develop a sense of independence and have the confidence to not only deal with the inevitable ups and downs of everyday living, but can also manage a household. This might mean they need help learning to plan healthy meals, how to manage their finances, scheduling inexpensive familiy fun or maybe how to get rides to doctor's appointments.
We collaborate with the University of Minnesota Extension Services to teach nutrition classes and meal preparation. Using a budget, we help them create a menu and a grocery list, how to use coupons and/or store specials and how to cook healthy, economical meals for their familiy. We also stress the importance of sitting down as a family for as many meals as they can and to have regular meal times.
Transportation is often an issue— they may have been depending on friends or family to give them rides or may never have used public transportation before. We help people figure out bus routes and let them know about other transportation services they may be eligible to use, such as getting to medical appointments,etc.
Finding things to do as a family on a limited income can be challenging, but not impossible! Moms may not be aware of the "cheap" entertainment that's available to them in the Metro Area. There are dollar movies, free museum days, free concerts in the park throughout the summer and even scholarships to the YMCA that they can apply to. Maybe their kids haven't been able to participate in school athletics or other extra-curricular activities because of the expense. There is scholarship money available through their school district that they can apply for.
I hope you’re all having a wonderful summer so far! Thank you again for your generous support. Every day we see the changes made in the lives of families who are able to go from no homes to their own homes.
Reyne
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
National Night Out
National Night Out is August 7th, 2007.
Dakota Woodlands has some very special relationships with Dakota County police departments. For the past several years Mendota Heights and Rosemount police departments have organized National Night Out drives that support Dakota Woodlands. Collecting paper products, can food, as well as monetary donations. In fact last year Officer Chad Rosa from Rosemount delivered over 150 bags of food and paper products from the city.
If your neighborhood is interested in joining in in the festivities please contact Dakota Woodlands for more information!
If your neighborhood is interested in joining in in the festivities please contact Dakota Woodlands for more information!
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