Annual Raise the Bar Day of Service 2018

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Law Council, Minnesota Justice Foundation, and the Dean of Students Office invite you to participate in the Annual Raise the Bar Day of Service on Saturday, January 20, 2018.

There will be a volunteer reception at the Law School prior to the event, with food, guest speakers, and mingling!

Descriptions of the partner organizations, whether they are family friendly, and a general detail of their volunteer needs have been included below. We encourage you to rank the top three organizations where you would like to volunteer in the sign-up form.

Please sign-up for a volunteer event by Wednesday, December 20. The earlier you sign-up, the more likely you are to get the first organization you rank.

We look forward to showing the Twin Cities how much the Law School and all of its members care about our community!

Partner Organization Descriptions

Safe Hands Rescue

Safe Hands Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All positions are staffed by volunteers. All rescue dogs are in foster homes waiting to be adopted and because of this, Safe Hands gets to know the dogs’ personalities very well and use this information to match them to an appropriate home. They do not have a physical shelter. Volunteers will help with adoptions, feeding, and playing with the dogs.

Crisis Nursery

Recruit a team of up to 6 people to purchase groceries, cook on site and serve breakfast, lunch or dinner to children at the Crisis Nursery. A great opportunity for your team of employees, coworkers, faith community, family, or club to cook a meal for approximately 30 children, care provider staff, and volunteers. The committment for this opportunity is flexible, you can do it just one time, once a month, once a week, once a year, whatever works for you.

Note: Volunteers must be 12 years of age or older. Food must be purchased ahead of time to help with the event.

Open Arms

To cook and deliver nutritious food to neighbors living with life-threatening illnesses, we need a LOT of help! Open Arms relies on the tremendous dedication of more than 5,000 volunteers for every aspect of our operations – we could not function without them. Volunteers tell us that they love working with Open Arms because they see the tangible impact of their work, whether they handle vegetables in the kitchen or hand food directly to a person in need. Join us and make a profound difference for people in our community living with life-threatening illnesses, all while having fun and meeting others. We have a wide variety of opportunities and will work with you to find the perfect fit for your skills, interests and availability.

Goodwill-Easter Seals

Goodwill-Easter Seals provides education, job training and placement services to eliminate barriers to work and independence. Their “donate-shop-reuse-educate-employ” model diverts over 50 million pounds from landfills annually and funds their job training and placement services. Volunteers will conduct group mock interviews, assembly kits, and help with retail needs.

The Food Group

We could not provide our hungry neighbors with good food without you! By donating time, volunteers make a significant difference in the community and to the impact of The Food Group’s work and mission. We, and all those we serve, are grateful for volunteers who join us in providing good food in the good fight against hunger. Volunteers will help pack meals and sort food for area food shelves.

Note: Volunteers must be 12 years of age or older.

Bridging

Since Fran founded Bridging in 1987, the organization has grown tremendously. To date, Bridging has served over 80,000 households and currently operates out of two locations – Bloomington and Roseville. Bridging serves over 14,000 people in need every year, including 7,000 youth and children. On average, Bridging distributes 14 semi-truck loads of furniture and household goods to 80 households every week. Bridging continues to accept quality, gently used items, and by doing so, diverts 200,000 pounds of inventory from the landfill each week. The impact Bridging has made in the lives of local people in need, the environment, and its volunteers is monumental. Through support from individuals and businesses throughout the community, Bridging continues to bring hope and stability to thousands of local households in need. Volunteers help with general warehouse assistance, like loading and unloading trucks, sorting through donated goods, rolling linens and restocking shelves.

Community Emergency Service

The accomplishments of CES's small staff are amplified by a strong and enthusiastic corps of more than 2,300 volunteers. Each year, CES hosts many volunteer groups from as far away as Michigan. About half of the volunteers help deliver CES Meals On Wheels; the other half fulfills a variety of functions within CES. Volunteers will group food by category into storage boxes for the food shelf.

People Serving People

Our vision is “People Serving People envisions a community in which all children have the stability and support they need to develop their full capacity to thrive.” Our mission is “People Serving People helps homeless and at-risk children and their families manage crisis situations and build a strong foundation for their long-term success.” Volunteers will be serving and providing lunch.

Note: Volunteers must be over 12 years of age.

Avenues for Youth

The mission of Avenues for Homeless Youth is to provide emergency shelter, short-term housing and supportive services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment. Through such service, Avenues seeks to help youth achieve their personal goals and make a positive transition into young adulthood. Volunteers will deep clean houses or cook meals for youths.

Note: All volunteers must be over 21 years of age.

Neighbors Inc

Neighbors is a non-profit, social-service agency serving the northern Dakota County communities of Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Mendota, Sunfish Lake and Lilydale. Primarily through the service of volunteers, Neighbors provides emergency assistance and supportive assistance programs. Neighbors was established by local churches in 1972.

Arc’s Value Village

The Arc Greater Twin Cities funds programs for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through Arc’s Value Village Thrift Stores and Donation Centers. Volunteers are vital to the operation of Arc’s thrift stores to ensure maximum proceeds from store sales go to funding these programs. Participants in this volunteer event will help organize and prepare items for sale at the stores.

DARTS

A community-based nonprofit, DARTS is committed to a mission of “creating connections that enrich aging.” DARTS will be providing an opportunity for students to assist area seniors in using technology to enhance their lives and support their independence. Groups of volunteers will visit seniors in their homes to assist with technology issues, from setting up tablets to DVD players, and assist with various tasks to aid seniors in independent living.

East Side Elders

East Side Elders is committed to “helping seniors stay in the home or community they want for as long as they want.” Volunteers will support East Side Elders in their mission of nurturing a strong senior community by participating in activities with seniors.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is an international nonprofit working toward a vision of “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.” Volunteers will do interior finishing work on a home-building project in St. Paul.

Note: This project requires parent/guardian permission for volunteers ages 16-17.

Midwest Animal Rescue and Services

MARS is a foster-based animal rescue group that cares for and rehomes at-risk or homeless dogs and cats. Volunteers will assist with general maintenance and foster home food packing.

Note: This project requires parent/guardian permission for volunteers ages 16-17, and ages 16 and under must be accompanied by parent/guardian.

Feed My Starving Children

Feed My Starving Children is a Christian nonprofit dedicated to providing nutritionally complete food to starving and malnourished children around the world. Volunteers will work in teams to pack nutritious meals.

Sojourner Project

Sojourner Project, named in honor of Sojourner Truth, seeks to “provide emergency shelter, support, and legal advocacy services to those victimized by domestic violence and other forms interpersonal violence.” Volunteers will assist with various projects and tasks around the shelter facility.

Note: All volunteers must complete a background check. Volunteers ages 10-17 must be under adult supervision.

Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights

The mission of the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) is to enforce Minneapolis Code of Ordinances related to civil rights concerns and promote understanding of civil rights among residents, businesses and government. Volunteers will be trained in conducting Labor Standards testing for sick/safe time rules, and will then go out in small groups to visit restaurants and assess implementation of the new rules. Afterwards, volunteers will come together for a meal and debrief with one or more Civil Rights Department staff.