Advancing the Common Good

What Your Dollar Buys

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Have you ever thought about the little things you spend money on every day? $3.50 might seem like a paltry amount at the time you’re spending it, but if you buy that $3.50 latte every day on your way to work, that adds up to almost $1,000 each year. And don’t forget lunch: even at a fast food place or a café, you could be spending upwards of $8 (or more) a day, which comes out to over $2,000 each year. Not such an insignificant amount of money now, is it?

This post is not meant to be a lecture on how to manage your finances or a judgement on whether or not you should cut back. As you consider these numbers, I want you to also think about the needs of your community, needs that United Way does its best to provide for, and how much those needs cost. For example, it costs just over $100 to provide the recommended twice-yearly dental care visits for a child, on site at his school. $780 can provide a second chance for a homeless family, including a temporary home and resources to stop a downward spiral.

The year 2012 is approaching, and maybe you are already considering your New Year’s Resolutions. As you do, I propose that you think about whether 60 nutritious meals* for a needy individual are worth a small sacrifice on your part—a sacrifice as small as cutting out one latte a week.

Find out what else a weekly United Way gift can buy at http://uwolmsted.org/give/what-your-dollar-buys.php

*60 nutritious meals can be provided for a gift of $1 a week—the equivalent of one DVD kiosk rental each week.

 

Winter OuterWear Initiative

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

The final numbers are in!

Last month, we wrapped up our Winter OuterWear initiative, which aimed to provide coats, gloves, scarves, and more to those in our community who would otherwise be unable to obtain them in time for winter.

While we were only able to provide coats 2,561 of those individuals at our distribution, those who did not find a winter coat in their correct size were given a coat voucher to be used at the Salvation Army Thrift Store.

A big thank you to our community partners, who were a huge help throughout the initiative. We really appreciate the efforts of Dison’s Cleaners, HyVee, Cumulus Broadcasting, Mayo Clinic, and The Salvation Army.

Thank you, as well, to our volunteer interpreters from Mayo Language Department, Migrant Head Start, and the general community. These volunteers provided interpreting assistance to over 100 families during the distribution.

Finally, we wish to thank the 250 individuals who volunteered more than 800 hours during the entire Winter OuterWear intiative. This is in addition to the hours put in by the staff, interns, and drive/drop site partners!

Winter has not yet started—there is still time to help! You can help by donating any extra coats, boots, snowsuits, gloves, scarves, or anything else that would benefit your neighbors during the winter season. Make donations to The Salvation Army and provide someone else with a warm winter!

 

Volunteers Get Into the Holiday Spirit

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

“But it’s not even November yet!”

 This is probably what you’re thinking as all the stores ready their Christmas displays and announce their layaway programs, and your friends talk about getting started on their holiday shopping. While we might think it’s too soon deal with holiday preparations, the truth is that winter is right around the corner.

For some people, this can be one of the hardest times of the year. Many of our neighbors worry about how they will keep their families warm, give their children Christmas presents, or provide a traditional holiday feast.

With this in mind, the seemingly early arrival of the holiday season brings with it various opportunities to give of ourselves and help ease the stress of our struggling neighbors.

Here are some holiday-related volunteer opportunities to get you started:

Hiawatha Homes Festival of Trees – A Celebration of Giving

November 22-27, 2011

Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, MN

The Festival of Trees helps Hiawatha Homes to provide residential, in home, and community-based programs to individuals with disabilities in our community. Volunteers are needed to be Gift Thyme Shoppe Helpers, Door Greeters, Floor Ambassadors, Ticket Takers, Holiday Café Helpers, Children’s Carnival Helpers and more.

Click here to find more information on the Festival of Trees volunteer opportunities!

Gift of Life Transplant House – Thanksgiving Feast

November 24, 2011

Gift of Life is asking for volunteers to help provide a memorable Thanksgiving Feast for the guests and caregivers staying at the Transplant House during the Thanksgiving holiday. They are in need of a variety of prepared side dishes, desserts, vegetables, salads, etc.

Click here to find out when and where to drop off your donations for the Thanksgiving Feast!

In addition, the Salvation Army has many Christmas volunteer opportunities. You could be matched with a child and go to ShopKo, to help that child select Christmas gifts for his or her family. Maybe you would like to assist families in need in registering for the Salvation Army’s Christmas programs. You could even take two hours out of your day and be a bell ringer for the Red Kettle Christmas campaign; every two hours of bell ringing raises an average of $100+!

Click here to explore all the projects the Salvation Army has for volunteers to participate in!  

(And if you make a fun video like this one, be sure to send it to us!)

Community Support Equals Community Success

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

By now, many of you have met the 2011 Live United Campaign Chair, Scott Heck,  and his alter ego, Scotty Idol. As he showed you a different side of his personality, he asked that everyone do something different FOR someone this year: mentor a child, speak up for education, check on an elderly neighbor, or make a contribution.

Many of us have hopes and dreams; dreams as extravagant as becoming a sports star or as simple as learning a new hobby. Some dreams are more urgent, such as urgent as being able to feed your family and buy warm clothes for a Minnesota winter. Along the way to those dreams, we have met people who have inspired and influenced our path. We have met people who have mentored and guided us along the way.

For many in our community, they are still looking for that inspiration or that mentor; someone who can provide encouragement to a person when they are the most overwhelmed by doubt. Doubt that creeps in at the end of the month, when some parents have to choose between food and warm clothes for their children. Doubt lurking in the classroom, where a student faces obstacles and wonders if they can pass this class, let alone graduate or go to college.

Doubt cripples hopes. Doubt kills dreams. And the only known cure is support; from family, from friends, and from the community.

This is where the United Way and partner organizations step in. Living United, we can conquer doubt, revive dreams, and make tomorrow a better place.

What will YOU differently this year to make a difference in someone’s life?

Who knows. Through helping someone else, you might find the life you change…is your own.

 

Join the United Way at Taste of Rochester this weekend. If you have not yet done so, read Scott Heck’s campaign kick-off letter. Visit the Be the 1 blog for other inspiring stories.

Join the Live United tribe.

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Low lights flickered off the scarfs and pictures on the wall as group of belly dancers weaved onto the stage. The dancers took turns choosing what motions the entire group would do. First, one dancer would step forward to lead. The rest of the dancers mimic her motions, supporting her through dance. This leader would then step back and another dancer would come up to replace her. All dancers had the opportunity to be in the spot light and the transfer of “power” took place seamlessly on the stage.

This style of dance is referred to as “tribal dance.” The word “tribal” really supported the image I was witnessing on the stage. Each dancer supported the others through movement. It was a communal experience and one which communities of all types could learn from.

Within the realm of volunteerism, too few people step up to take that lead role.  But within a volunteer community, you are not alone. Those around you do not want you to fail. There is a wide support network to help you as you help others.

Think of how much we could accomplish if we all took our chance in the spotlight. You could grow as an individual and also help the community grow as a whole.

Locally, there are plenty of opportunities to take that role. If you want to start small, two or three hours would help Running Start for School distribute backpacks to students August 23, 24, and 25.  With a larger leap, you could apply to the Emerging Leaders in Giving as a Design Team members. Take the volunteer pledge.

Together, we can help support each other and our community. Join the Live United tribe.

Help Local Students Get a “Running Start” on School

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Back-to-school excitement. The cool new backpacks, Trapper Keepers (remember those), and all sort of paper, pens, and pencils. Going shopping and picking things out really got me excited for the new school year.

Looking back now, I wonder how much of that excitement extended into the school year?  Did it also help me mentally feel present and ready to learn?

Many kids in our community don’t necessarily feel the same excitement. Back-to-school can bring stress to a family where school supplies and other needs pinch an already stretched budget. Working with community partners, the Olmsted County United Way has an annual “Running Start for School” campaign where eligible K-12 students receive the school supplies they need to be prepared that first day.

The goal this year is to register 3,094 students to receive school supplies. Any child in Olmsted County who receives free or reduced lunches is eligible to receive school supplies. Students at Longfellow must register by July 15. All other students must register by August 12. You can register a student by calling 507-287-1958.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Have some fun. Enjoy these pictures of back-to-school supplies from previous eras. Did you have any of these? What are your favorite back to school memories?

Trapper Keeper

Hot Air Balloon Trapper Keeper

Calculators

Little Professor Calculator

What if you could save $908 per year?

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Every high-school dropout costs Minnesota taxpayers $908.96 per year or $415,986 over lifetime of the high school dropout. Despite progress being made with improving high school graduation rates, one-fourth of students in high school will not graduate with their class.

Add to this 97 million high-skilled employees are needed by American businesses and only 45 million Americans have the skills needed. The jobs market is directed away from low-skill jobs. “By 2020, three-quarters of the job market will be high-skill and only 26 percent will be low-skill.” The impact of high school dropouts is not just felt by that student or the local community. Nationwide, this creates a workforce where the significant population of the available workforce are without the education needed to compete1.

Early childhood development is one of the best tools we have as a community to combat the problems that come with students dropping out of high school.  Studies have shown that young children are capable of learning and have an interest in learning that should be encouraged. For at risk children, whose risk factors make them more likely to fail in school, intervention through early childhood education increases their chances for success in school2. By the time a child reaches middle school or high school, it is often too late to provide the important support needed to avoid high school dropout.  Studies have shown that, with students who had early school education, more students were employed at age 19 and fewer were on welfare3.

But we still have many students who did not have those opportunities. We need them to succeed as well. Education is a cycle that is part of our culture, our communities, and our economy. An educated workforce fills a need employers have. People with higher education are less likely to need assistance, which provides relief to government budgets that are stretched thin.

When talk comes to budget discussions and things to cut, it is too easy to not spend the money now, when it could make the most difference. Instead we delay action and end up paying more down the road. And the cycle continues.

Until we become the change that is needed. Live United. Participate in the community and help make it a place where all have the opportunity to succeed.

What changes can you see that would benefit the education of our future work force?

1Across the Great Divide – Perspectives of CEOs and College Presidents on America’s Higher Education and Skills Gap March

http://www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/across-the-great-divide.pdf

2National Research Council (2001) Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309068363

3National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University

http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies/early-childhood-education

 

Bring Hope to Homeless Youth

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

Your car breaks down. You lose your job and don’t have money for your rent. During this latest economic crisis, many of us not only can imagine these scenarios; we lived them. When it happened to you, who did you call?

A friend to whom you could vent your fears? A family member who could help you out?

Stretch your imagination a step further and imagine a life without this support structure. No friends and no family to rely on when life throws a curve ball. No help. No hope.

This is the reality for far too many young people. The FASTEST growing homeless population in Minnesota is youth 21 years of age and younger who are on their own? In the Rochester area, 185 students experienced homelessness during the 2009-2010, an INCREASE of 60% from the 08-09 school year.

Help is available in Rochester for this vulnerable population. Local organizations in Rochester are seeking to educate the public regarding this problem and raise money to fund solutions.

“A Place Called Home” is spearheaded by the Leadership Greater Rochester class. This month, join them at a local restaurant for “Stories from the Street” dinner series.  The goal is to increase public awareness of this issue and encourage collaboration within the community. Through the LINK program at Rochester YMCA, youth clients receive assistance to help with independent living issues, such as resume writing, interview preparation, and living skills classes. LINK also offers a transitional housing program. A Youth Resource Center, where area youth and teens can access tools for career development and other skills, is located in the Workforce Development Center.

Learn more about local issues and how you can help at the “A Place Called Home” website.

What do YOU think can be done to help homeless local youth?

2010 Brings Changes to Imagination Library

Monday, December 21st, 2009

dpillogoblog1Beginning in January 2010, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library will begin shipping soft cover books to children ages 2 – 5.

Younger children will continue to receive board books.

The Imagination Library estimates the change will result in a 18%-20% reduction in costs to local partners like United Way of Olmsted County.

The inclusion of the soft cover books anticipates major changes in the USPS postal rates for items like books. These changes will classify books as parcels incurring higher mailing rates. Not only does this change avoid substantial rate hikes in the future, it brings significant reduction in current expenses for mailing and books.

The books will have the same interior pages and the new covers will retain the same color quality and clarity as the old covers. The flexibility should reduce some of the damage that has occurred in the past with the more rigid covers.

In November, 5,949 books were shipped to Olmsted County children at a cost of $13,623.21. In 2009, the total cost of the Imagination Library in Olmsted County was $154, 429.47.

The Imagination Library is one of our major investments in early childhood . Our own local research has tracked with other local and national findings of the benefits of providing children access to books early in life in general and the positive impacts of the Imagination Library in particular.

The program was immediately popular with parents, volunteers, and donors. Even without the data, they all knew it just made sense. Since its launch in June 2006, over 172,000 books have been delivered to registered children.

The Imagination Library is available through us to any child under five residing in Olmsted County and registered by a parent or guardian. With this reduction in costs, we will be able to achieve our 2010 growth targets at a cost below that of 2009. That’s a good thing.

We  hope to reach 75% of the eligible children by 2015.

Help Fill the Truck!

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

 winterdrivelogoweb

Help ‘Fill-The-Truck’ with winter coats and accessories this weekend.

Do you have gently used winter coats or winter accessories that are taking up space in your closet? Are you looking for a good cause to donate these items? If you’d like to help 3,000 Olmsted County residents stay warm this winter, please help us Fill The Trucks this weekend!

Community Winter OuterWear’s Fill The Truck event will be held on Friday, October 9th from 3-6 p.m. and Saturday, October 10th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Hy-Vee Barlow Plaza – 1315 6th Street NW
  • Rochester North – 500 37th Street NW
  • Hy-Vee South – 500 Crossroads Drive SW

The Community Winter OuterWear Initiative provides winter coats and outerwear items to Olmsted County individuals and families who do not have the financial means to purchase them.

Last year 2,048 coats were collected and distributed through collaborative efforts of community members, businesses, service clubs, faith organizations, and initiative partners, including Cumulus Broadcasting (KROC AM/FM), Dison’s Cleaners, Mayo Clinic, The Salvation Army, and United Way of Olmsted County.

This year the need has grown to over 3,000 individuals who have registered to receive a winter coat and outerwear items.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in this important, community-wide initiative.

All you need to do is bring new or gently used and clean winter outerwear items including: coats, snow pants, snowsuits, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, boots to the ‘Fill-the-Truck’ locations (Rochester Hy-Vee Stores) on Friday, October 9th from 3-6 p.m., or on Saturday, October 10th truckwebbetween 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Coats of all sizes are needed, especially infant, toddler and youth sizes.

To get a full listing of needed winter outerwear items and further information about the Community Winter OuterWear Initiative go to www.uwolmsted.org/winterouterwear. You can also call 507-535-5519 for further information.