Letter to the Community
In this issue, you'll read about some of the wonderful people and organizations who have donated time and money recently to support the youth at Avenues. The Old Navy and RAZR Marketing volunteers who showed up at Avenues three days in a row to clean, paint, haul and assemble new furniture were truly amazing. We salute and thank you!!
At the state capitol, the MN Runaway and Homeless Youth Act has been receiving hearings in the House and Senate. Youth from Avenues and other agencies have testified before committees and met with legislators to talk about their personal experiences and the difference programs like Avenues has made in their lives.
You can help by calling or writing your legislators. Tell them you support the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and that you hope they will too. For more information, go to www.leg.state.mn.us and search for HF 1439 and SF 969. You can also find your legislators at the website.
These are difficult economic times, as you all know. The Avenues board and staff is focused on maintaining our high level of programming quality for the youth who need us. You can help.
Every contribution to Avenues and its partner agencies, no matter how large or small, is vitally important. Please call us or visit our website to find out how you can help. Or just click the "Donate Now" link below. Thank you!
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Deborah Loon
Interim Executive Director
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Highlighted Volunteers:
Old Navy / RAZR Marketing
Old Navy and RAZR Marketing employees volunteer for heavy lifting and painting at Avenues.
Old Navy and RAZR Marketing employees volunteered approximately 180 hours over three days at Avenues for Homeless Youth recently.
The volunteers hauled out the very worn out bedroom furniture, cleaned and painted the youth bedrooms, unloaded and assembled the new furniture.
Special thanks to Mike Nelson who capably led and organized the over 40 volunteers. And to Avenues board member Eric Gilseth of RAZR Marketing along with Jeanne Enrooth and other colleagues for pulling it all together.
Avenues for Homeless Youth is grateful for the support and efforts of RAZR Marketing and Old Navy volunteers.
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| How You Can Help
Youth Birthday Parties
Cake, gifts, songs and great food... this is how we celebrate birthdays at Avenues. At our monthly birthday parties we celebrate each youth who has a birthday that month. We want each of our youth to feel special on their day.
Giving each youth a $25 Target gift card on their birthday is an Avenues tradition. With that, all youth have a chance to purchase what they really want on their birthdays.
If you are looking for a way to give, consider purchasing gift cards or contributing toward gift cards. Keep our birthday party tradition alive.
If you have more questions about donating for youth birthdays or in any other way, contact Heather Rist -- heather@avenuesforyouth.org or 612-522-1690.
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| Thanks!
Thank you to our supporters during the month of March!
Organizations -- Alan Braun Foundation, Edina Realty Foundation, Faegre & Benson Foundation, MN RollerGilrs and fans
Individuals -- Tim Baldoni, Michelle Basman, Kaitlin Johnson, Joan Kennedy, Patrick Schreier and Jacqueline White and Marcus Waterbury
In-Kind Donations -- Adventure Club, Daisy Troop #13936, Don Brewer and Tom Mootz, RAZR Marketing and Old Navy
In Memory of Dr.Chuck Workman -- Judy Emmings, Julia Peterson and Jeffrey Winston In Honor of Rev. Jane McBride -- Rev. Richard Seaver
Volunteers -- Old Navy employees, RAZR Marketing employees, Avenues Board of Directors, GLBT Host Home Advisory Council
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News/Updates
Avenues House Gets
New Furniture
Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless Foundation awarded Avenues two grants totaling $20,000 to replace very worn bedroom, living room and dining room furniture.
At the end of March, a semi-truck loaded with furniture arrived and was unloaded. Within 24 hours -- and thanks to Old Navy, RAZR Marketing and their hard working volunteers -- all 15 youth had moved back into their freshly-painted and furnished bedrooms. Read more in the article to the left.
Daisy Troop donates Girl Scout cookies to Avenues
Daisy Troop #13936 donated 85 boxes of delicious Girl Scout cookies to Avenues. Thank you, Daisies!
GLBT Host Home
Program seeks hosts
The GLBT Host Home Program is looking for people interested in becoming hosts. For more information contact, Raquel (Rocki) Simoes, 612-522-1690 or hosthome@avenuesforyouth.org
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Immediate Wish List
- Backpacks
- New Tupperwear (or similar)
- Lockable file cabinets
- Target gift cards
- $10 bus passes
View Our Full Wish List |
| About Us
Avenues for Homeless Youth provides shelter and transitional housing with support services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment. Through such service, Avenues seeks to help youth achieve their personal goals and find a positive transition into young adulthood.
At its North Minneapolis house, Avenues has 15 short-term beds and 1 emergency bed for youth ages 16 to 21. Youth receive basic needs and 24 x 7 caring of Avenues staff. While at Avenues, all youth work with case managers to pursue their individual goals of education, employment, housing, mental health and physical wellness.
Avenues also operates the GLBT Host Home Program, a community-based program that provides safe, supportive homes for homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth.
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