We’re feeling the love from our community partners! We rely on volunteers and community support to keep the houses looking great, stock the closets with hygiene products and welcome baskets, and spread awareness of our work. Over the last fiscal year, Avenues was fortunate to receive support from many companies, congregations, and civic organizations totaling 454 volunteers and 1,670 hours of volunteer service!
Thank you to our friends at Anoka Hennepin Credit Union! For the second year in a row, this community partner collected items and gift cards for young people experiencing homelessness in the northern suburbs. The AHCU community supported both Hope 4 Youth and Avenues for Youth with thoughtful contributions of health and hygiene items, gift cards, and toys for the children in the Young Families program.
Avenues is proud to have so many Thrivent members as friends and are eternally grateful for your Thrivent Choice Dollars. Every month a different supporter will call us up and offer to spend up to $250 on supplies and goods for Avenues’ programs. This last month Cheri (and Cindy featured in the photo) made sure our Young Family program was well stocked in diapers and bedding. Thanks Cheri and Cindy! If you have Thrivent Choice Dollars to put to work, email Kevin at kkjonaas@avenuesforyouth.org for a list of current Avenues needs.
Every young person at Avenues had a special Valentine’s Day thanks to our community partners! Our friends at the Minnesota Association for Justice always show up and show they care. For the last few years this group has sponsored a special Valentine’s day treat for the young people staying in our North Minneapolis shelter. From squish mellows and stress balls to candy, ChapSticks, flashlights and water bottles, every item is fun, useful, and most importantly – given with love. Thanks to Michaela and all of our friends at the Women for Justice section of the Minnesota Association for Justice.
The incredible team over at the Innovate Dance Event gave a giant spotlight to Avenues for Youth this year at their annual 3-day event featuring youth dancers of all ages and from all parts of the state. In addition to the showcases and performances, the dancers all got together to do a service project that celebrated the young people staying at Avenues. The group handmade over 350 friendship bracelets, handmade cards with messages of love and affirmation, and donated hundreds of $5 gift cards to Starbucks, Caribou, and a variety of other fun fast-food restaurants. Thank you all! We love the love.
Thank You Minnesota Aurora FC! Minnesota’s hottest new sports team is not only one of the best competitively (they win all their regular season games) but also one of the coolest partners. As their Pride Night charitable partner last June, the Aurora sold a really powerful co-branded t-shirt proclaiming that trans youth deserve housing and also featured Avenues throughout the game. Their season tickets are on sale now. Support partners that support their community. Plus the games are so much fun!
Avenues for Youth was so proud to partner with the University of Minnesota School of Law’s LGBTQI+ student group, OutLaw! For the second year in a row, OutLaw brought a hard-working crew to the North Minneapolis shelter to help create welcome baskets for new youth arriving at the shelter. For two hours the group organized, packed, and cleaned. Big thank you to Dawn, for coordinating and leading this group activity. You all are always welcome back!
Our friends at TopLine Financial Credit Union were not deterred by this year’s unpredictable winter weather and made sure that when the snow came last week, every young person could be decked out in warm and fashionable hats, mittens, scarves, coats, and hand warmers. These kinds of items can quickly become critical. Most young people staying at Avenues do not have cars and rely on public transit (and their feet) for getting to and from school, work, appointments, and social occasions. Thank you, Topline, for the year-round and seasonal support!
As a special Valentine’s Day visit, our friends from the LGBTQI+ Pride ERG at Enterprise Mobility showed up at Avenues to work. Justine, Betsy, Kallen, Riley, and Andrew just wanted to help and help they did. After labeling and stamping 500 postcards for our annual event (Building on Dreams – and registration is open!), they organized, inventoried, and folded boxes of donated Levi’s! For two hours this small but mighty team worked, learned, shared, and became fast friends with the Avenues staff. Also, we want to express gratitude for a Enterprise Mobility ROAD Forward grant award of $12,000 to support Avenues’ work partnering with youth experiencing homelessness!
Want to Get Involved?
Avenues will house and support more than 250 youth in Minnesota this year, and it takes a community to do this work. As a faith group, corporate partner, business group, or civic group, you can partner with Avenues in a way that feels right for your organization.
To learn more about ways to partner with Avenues for Youth visit: https://avenuesforyouth.org/community-partners/