Dear Friend,

It has certainly been a historic and unprecedented twelve months for our country, and just as you are, Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly is hopeful for what the next twelve will bring. Today, I am thrilled to share with you some important news that will profoundly affect LBFE’s work and usher in an exciting new chapter for our organization:

Statewide launch of Coffee Talk, a new toll-free, drop-in chat line
We are delighted to introduce to Minnesota our second phone-based program for older adults called Coffee Talk. This drop-in chat line will offer older adults a quick and easy way to engage with one of our specially trained volunteers. With words of encouragement and an understanding ear, LBFE volunteers will provide callers with friendly conversation, access to community resources, and opportunities to connect with others through LBFE programs.

Coffee Talk will operate Monday through Friday between 8 am and Noon. As the program expands throughout the state, program hours will be adjusted to accommodate increased call volume.

Sale of our Lake Street office location to MIGIZI
In 2019, the LBFE Board of Directors voted to begin the process of finding a new home for the organization; a space that would better facilitate our mission, enable future growth and meet the needs of our elder members and staff. Since the emergence of COVID-19, LBFE staff members have been working remotely, using the Lake Street location for mail delivery and essential administrative functions.

While the LBFE plan always involved selling the Lake Street property, the timeline for doing so was accelerated when we were approached by MIGIZI, whose own property was destroyed during the civil unrest in response to the murder of George Floyd. MIGIZI, a non-profit organization serving Native American youth, was looking for a space they could quickly occupy without having to move out of the neighborhood they have called home since 1975. Our space fit the organization’s unique requirements perfectly, and LBFE leadership was happy to provide a solution that supported the MIGIZI mission.

MIGIZI took ownership of the Lake Street property on January 29, 2021. LBFE staff will continue to work remotely, and the Lake Street address will continue to be used to receive mail until a new office location is secured. The search for LBFE’s new home is currently underway, with a September 1, 2021 target date for a move.

We at LBFE are energized by these developments and feel they will provide an exciting springboard into a new era for our organization. We look forward to updating you on our new location very soon, as well as further changes to our programming as the vaccines roll out across the state.

Should you have any questions or concerns about these changes, please feel free to contact me at jfalvey@littlebrothersmn.org.

Warm regards,

James Falvey
Executive Director