Open Arms of Minnesota - Free to Dish E-Newsletter

Free to Dish? is weekly update to keep the Open Arms community connected. We will update you on Open Arms news, events and on-call volunteer opportunities for the coming week.

This Week's Volunteer Opportunities
Please email lila@openarmsmn.org or call us at 612-872-1152 for current opportunities!

Delivery Shifts:
Friday (8/29): Downtown Minneapolis, Southeast Minneapolis, St. Paul, Golden Valley
Monday (9/1): Closed for Labor Day!
Tuesday (9/2): Northeast Minneapolis, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maplewood, Brooklyn Park

Please email Pete to sign up for a delivery shift, or to ask about other openings.

Kitchen Shifts:
Friday (8/29): 11 -1 pm; 1 -3 pm
Saturday 8/30): 1 – 3 pm; 3 – 5 pm; baking 10 - 12 pm; 11 - 1 pm
Sunday (8/31): 10-12 pm; 12 - 2 pm; 2 – 4 pm; baking 8 - 10 am; 10 - 12 pm
Monday (9/1): Closed for Labor Day!
Tuesday (9/2): 9 – 11am; 1 – 3 pm; 3 – 5 pm; 5 – 7 pm; 7 – 9:30 pm

Please email Lila to sign up for a kitchen shift or to ask about other openings.

Calling all Blue Bags!
If you have any blue delivery bags hanging around your car or home please return them, with our ever increasing client population we need every last delivery bag.

Recognized in the news
In case you missed the 6:00 pm news on Monday night, WCCO ran a story on how Open Arms is preparing to feed St. Paul clients with the challenges of increased traffic and influx of people expected with the Republican National Convention. Check out the Video!

Save the Date!
Open Arms will be breaking ground on our new building! Groundbreaking has been set for Saturday, September 27 at 11am on the grounds of our new building; 25th & Bloomington Ave S. Save the date and join us for this monumental event in our agency's history. You've made it happen! Look for invitations and more details in the coming weeks!

Interested in Harvesting Vegetables for Open Arms?
Natura Organic Farm in Forrest Lake has enjoyed a plentiful harvest this year! They have offered to donate some of their produce to Open Arms; we just have to gather some volunteers to pick the fresh vegetables! If there is time in the next week and a half that you would like to share with Natura Farms, contact Lila for details!

Client Numbers Skyrocket!
We are now serving 480 clients! We are endlessly appreciative of our amazing volunteers for making this happen! We need you NOW more than ever! Many of you have experienced first hand what an impact a volunteer shift truly makes. Volunteers are essential to our services; we could not run for even one day without this tremendous support. As our client requests have increased, so have our delivery and kitchen needs. It's not that we're trying to maintain, but we're continuing to grow, and we can't do that without the help of our community - both with time and donations. Thank you to all of those that have continued to support us and to all those who will in the future!

New Opportunities in the Open Arms Kitchen!
With our growing number of clients we have found it necessary to open up new kitchen shifts. On Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday we will have shifts now from 1 - 3 pm and 3 - 5 pm! Email Lila for more details.

Double Your Donation with Matching Gifts
Does your employer match your charitable donations? If you don't know, be sure to find out! Your $50 gift can easily become $100, making twice the impact to our program and ultimately, to our clients. Thank you for taking an extra minute to help us with this!

United Way Giving
Although Open Arms is not an agency of the United Way, you may still designate your contributions to Open Arms through workplace giving. Simply contact your human resources or payroll department, request a Donor Designated Funds Form for United Way giving, and designate Open Arms of Minnesota, 1414 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404 as the recipient of your contribution. Our federal identification number is 41-1681317. If forms are not available, you may write a brief letter stating your intention to designate your donation to Open Arms.

Regular Delivery Routes Open
With summer here, school out and schedules changing we are looking for more regular volunteer drivers. If you are able to give of your time from 11 am – 1 pm on a weekday, we would love your help with a regular route. We are looking to fill regular delivery openings in St. Paul and Minneapolis. If you can help, let us know!

Visit Our Blog
http://openarmsmn.blogspot.com/ Open Arms has another way to share stories and information about our programs and our new building - our own blog. Kevin Winge, Open Arms' executive director, has posted stories to the site, so it's up and running! We always have a link on this website, so you can easily read the most recent entries.

The Gift of Gab?
As our client lists grow, and more volunteers take time to cook and deliver with Open Arms, we realize that we also need to add some support to our reception and hospitality areas. If you’re willing to answer our phones, greet volunteers as they enter our building, and lend a hand here or there, let us know. We have shifts from 9-11am and from 11am to 1pm for you, our Hospitality Volunteers. Please ask Lila or Pete if you have any questions. 612-872-1152.

If you are not currently receiving Free To Dish automatically but would like to be included, please send an email to our volunteer director, and you will be added to the weekly distribution list.