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Dear friends,
The impact of Hurricane Michael is so real and so visible and so incredibly heartwrending. As weather analysts shared the science of yet another "perfect storm," its fury devastated homes and towns, schools and infrastructure and businesses. And people, displaced from all that has been familiar and safe, struggle to find reasons to feel hopeful.
Closer to home, this storm whose visual devastation leaves no doubt about its power to upend lives and futures, seemed to me an unwelcome metaphor for the less visible and silent storm of homelessness that is brewing in our midst.
Locally and regionally, the data is in. An attrition of formerly affordable rental housing gone to market rate, and the growing gap between real incomes and ordinary living costs, is sending an exodus of low-income families and individuals of our community into an economic tailspin. These are the folks we see every day at Interfaith. We need to get ahead of this storm with all the ingenuity and heart and will we can muster.
Sleep Out 2018 needs to awaken us to act and invest in innovative ways to preserve affordable housing stock and prevent the scourge of homelessness in our midst. Stay tuned, friends, for ways you can help.
LaDonna Hoy
Executive Director
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Get ready for the Sleep Out! |
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2018 SLEEP OUT
DATES: NOV. 10 - DEC. 31
GOAL: $2,400,000
One in five families that comes to Interfaith Outreach is experiencing a crisis of homelessness.
For 23 years, thousands of caring community members have slept outside in boxes, tents and cars (or crashed on carpets) to raise awareness and funds to prevent homelessness and support struggling local families.
Learn more and join us!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Donate from today until Nov. 15 and your gift will be DOUBLED (up to $200,000)
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Give the gift of joy this holiday season |
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With the support of our generous community and partners, Interfaith Outreach provides assistance to families celebrating a variety of holiday traditions including Chanukah, Christmas, Eid al-Fitr and Thanksgiving. Learn more.
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Last year 2,472 people (705 households) in our community experienced the warmth of your kindness through the
Holiday Gift Program
. Can you help make the holidays a little brighter for our neighbors?
BECOME A SPONSOR
We will match you with a family of the size you choose (based on a $50-per-person guideline) and provide you with a wish list from the family. Use the list to shop for holiday gifts. Learn more. You can also skip the shopping and make a financial gift.
VOLUNTEER
We are looking for volunteers in October to assist with family registration or proof reading.
Sign up today - over 200 needed!
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Thank you, we're amazed!
Thanks to everyone who participated in a very successful Great Expectations campaign. The campaign
exceeded its $260,000 goal - thanks to you and a community that once again stepped up to love its kids.
- YOU RAISED $270,937 to fund early childhood care and education, out-of-school-time learning, extracurricular opportunities, and so much more.
- YOU SENT 815 kids back to school with backpacks stuffed with brand new school supplies.
- YOU SHOWED UP for kids! At the Great Expectations Breakfast in August, many of the 240 attendees signed up to volunteer or found other ways to invest in changing the future for our kids. Check out volunteer opportunities.
Amazing! From our kids, a kid-felt, heartfelt thank you!
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WOW! We thank you and this incredible community for all
you do. Learn how your contribution helped our neighbors
feel cared for, included and hopeful this past year.
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Earl Cup Woodhill Classic - thank you! |
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John Berg takes a break with "newbie" golfer LaDonna Hoy
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The annual Earl Cup Woodhill Classic golf tournament took place at the Woodhill Country Club in Wayzata in September. What a beautiful day it was! 17 foursomes participated in the tournament. Todd Mohagen, Greg Felling, Tom Burke, Max Mohagen took home the coveted Earl Cup trophies.
Thanks to golfers, sponsors and in-kind donors, Interfaith Outreach raised over $130,000 for the programs and services of Interfaith Outreach. Over $28,000 of the funds raised will go towards the Great Opportunities Fund to help local students participate in extra-curricular activities.
Special thanks to our Hole in One sponsors Don and Jane Brattain, Babs Koch, the Munsell Family in Memory of Bill; and to our fantastic corporate partner Best Buy.
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