FREE ONLINE TRAINING AVAILABLE!!
Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 as an Adverse Childhood Experience is hosted by the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center and available to you as Bigs and parents/guardians!
The training will:
- Recognize the negative effects of COVID-19
- Describe the potential risk factors some youth experience during stay at home orders
- Identify support and resources
- Provide strategies for increased positive connection for youth and adults
The link is available through December 30th, 2020.
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Learn to Draw: Art For Kids Hub is a family YouTube channel for kids. New art lessons are uploaded M-F, every week. Follow along and learn how to draw plus other fun art lessons. Many of the lessons are perfect for any age, all you need is a few supplies! You and your match can each draw along to the video and show off your masterpieces! Click here for link to website.
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DECEMBER 18TH IS BAKE COOKIES DAY!
Celebrated each year on December 18th, Bake Cookies Day occurs in the middle of the holiday season, and is a great excuse to bake some delicious cookies to help you get through the cold, winter days! Bake Cookies Day is your excuse to indulge in the art (and eating) of cookies of every stripe and measure, especially those that remind you of the season.
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The Sartell Country Lights Festival! Take a stroll through an amazing 33 acre winter wonderland lit by the glow of thousands of lights! This event is free to the public, and all are welcome! No events or festivities are being held, BUT lights will remain. Lights well be on from dusk until dawn every day of the week through December 31st. Click here for more information.
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Christmas Light Displays: Check out other Christmas light displays in the area. Most displays will be up through December 31st. Click here for a list.
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Santa's Pioneer Village: This year Albany Santa Day will be in Santa's Pioneer Village! (Albany Pioneer Park) You will drive through Santa's village of lights and decorations. The drive through event will be open to the public every weekend through January 3rd. Click here for more information.
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Online Holiday Concert: The Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota will present its annual holiday concert, "All Is Well", for free admission online December 19, 2020 at 7:30pm. Admission is free, and viewers are encouraged to donate what they choose to offset costs. Click here for more information.
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Santa Tracker: NORAD has been tracking Santa for 65 years. Visit the Santa Tracker website on Christmas Eve Day (December 24th) to track Santa's flight around the world.
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Boy Scout Troop 20 35th Annual Christmas Dinner: Friday, December 25th 11:30am-2:30pm take out and delivery only from St. Joseph's Church Basement, 105 6th Ave. N, Waite Park. The meal is free. Please call ahead 320-380-3794 and order your meals and let them know if it will be curbside or delivery.
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Place of Hope Christmas Eve Meals: Thursday, December 24th from 12:00pm and 5:00pm. Free to go meals for pick up at Place of Hope 511 9th Ave N St. Cloud, MN 56303. Click here from more information.
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Great news - the 2021 Live Más Scholarship application period is now open!
This year, we’re giving away more than $7.5 million in scholarships to fund the educational goals of students passionate about creating a better world for all.
Whether you’re planning on attending a 4-year university, community college or a 2-year vocational school, this scholarship is for you! To apply, simply create a 2-minute video that tells us what your passion is and how you’ll use it to make a difference—no grades, essays or test scores required!
If selected as a recipient, you’ll join a community of passionate scholars who are driven to use their passion to ignite change in their communities and beyond. You’ll also receive access to unique opportunities and connections to help you impact the world.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
Taco Bell Foundation
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Scholarship Opportunity for Female High School Seniors
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Scholarship recipients will receive:
• A scholarship of $10,000 per year for four years of college
• A pairing with an executive woman mentor for one year
• A KPMG Future Leaders Retreat that will focus on leadership training, career development, and the college transition.
Applications must be submitted by February 1, 2021. Winners will be selected and notified by April 15, 2021.
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2020-21 OPTIMIST ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST
“Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism”
(sponsored by the Central MN Noon Optimist Club)
The contest is open to contestants under the age of 19, with the opportunity for local prizes, and a district scholarship. We will be providing the following prizes locally:
- 1st place $250
- 2nd place: $150
- 3rd place:$100
Our local contest winner will also be entered into an area essay contest (the Dakotas, Manitoba, Minnesota District of Optimist International) where the first-place prize is a $2,500 scholarship. Last year, there were only 19 contestants at that level.
The contest entry deadline is February 10, 2021.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Central MN
Attention: Aimee Minnerath
345 30th Ave N
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
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A BIG Thank you to Advantage 1!
Last week employees of Advantage 1 Insurance Agency got a chance to play Santa and dropped off gifts for some of our BBBS families.
Advantage 1 has donated gifts for our Littles and their families since 2017 through a giving tree at their office. Their clients or other businesses can volunteer to provide gifts for the youth whose holiday wishes are on the tree. Over the years they have provided holiday gifts for 71 families including 190 youth. They often also include a small gift for the parents like a gift card for food or gas.
Thank you so much for donating all these gifts for our Littles and their families! Your donation is so appreciated!
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LITTLE BIG VIRTUAL ACADEMY
The purpose of the Little Big Virtual Academy is to keep Littles and Bigs connected during times of physically distancing. When matches might not be able meet in-person, they can continue to communicate and interact via phone and computer. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota team has compiled a list of fun and interactive activities and resources for Littles and Bigs to do together- click here to link to the website!
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Listed below are several online resources. Please visit our BBBS website for a more extensive listing.
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PROGRAM STAFF CONTACT INFO |
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Please contact our staff if you have any questions regarding matches.
Ann Matvick, Program Director
Jamie Lodermeier, Program Coordinator
Kayla Meyer, Program Coordinator
Mary Bellefeuille, Lead Program Coordinator
Rebecca Fonss, Program Coordinator
Robyn Rieland, Program Coordinator
Tasha Bruns-Notsch, Lead Enrollment Coordinator
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Hey BIGS!! Do you know someone who would be a great mentor to a child in our community? Use the above Big Nomination graphic by sending it to them. You could message it, text it, print and hand deliver, or post it on their social media. Let them KNOW that you could see them as a BIG! We are now holding Info Sessions online via Zoom- let's create a waiting list of Bigs!
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Listed below are several community resources.
NEW! Heating Assistance Available - The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) helps pay for home heating costs and furnace repairs for income-qualified households. If you or someone you know could use funding for their heating bill. Click here for link to website.
Crisis Text Line - Text MN741741 is Minnesota’s suicide prevention and mental health crisis texting service now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People who text MN to 741741 will be connected to Crisis Text Line. For callers who are the most in distress, average wait times for a response is only 39 seconds. Click here for link to website.
Job Search, Application and Resume Assistance - Career Solutions staff are at the St. Cloud Great River Regional Library Computer Lab from 2:30-4:30pm M-F. They are there temporarily until Career Solutions opens. Career Solutions staff are available to assist with Writing Resumes & Cover Letters, Resume Review, Online & Paper Job Applications, Employer Research, Interview Coaching, Job Search Websites, Community Resources, Labor Market Information, Employment & Training Programs and Job Search Workshop Referrals. Click here for more information on services.
Food Relief Bags - Catholic Charities Emergency Services continues to provide access to food to those in need. Food relief bags will be available for pick-up at the locations below.
United Way 2-1-1 Resource Hotline - United Way is encouraging anyone who may be in need of assistance accessing food, or any other essential service, to dial 2-1-1 or text MNCOVID to 898-211. Click here for more information.
Local Business Information - Many businesses are closed or have reduced their hours. Some stores and restaurants are offering curbside pick up or delivery. Click here for more information.
Great River Library - The library is now open with limited hours and curbside pick up. Information on returning books, overdue books, registering for a library card and more! Click here for more information.
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