Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies and HandsOn Twin Cities Bring a Day of “Purposeful Fun” to Bridging
On July 14, Bridging welcomed 100 volunteers from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) for a day of service organized by our friends at HandsOn Twin Cities (HOTC).
MACP sponsored and built 70 dressers, donated and assembled 300 new kitchen kits, tied 22 new fleece blankets, and wrote heartfelt cards to the families, wishing them well in their new home.
Volunteer Kim Christianson said one of the most rewarding parts of the day was assembling kitchen kits. “Making the kitchen kits and knowing they’re going to help people get their kitchen set up is a nice feeling,” said Kim. “This day of service is a nice opportunity to support a nonprofit that we know is doing good work and combining it with being with coworkers.”
Because Bridging serves 120 households per week, this volunteer effort will have a lasting impact. Those 300 kitchen packs represent nearly a 3-week supply. Seventy households will also have a brand-new Ashley Furniture dresser to take home.
Volunteer Elizabeth Chua found the dresser-build to be “fun and engaging,” and she enjoyed connecting and “building stuff with my colleagues.” The one word she said she’d use to describe the day was, “Fun!”
Leeanne Huber, Director of Communications at MACP, worked on tying blankets. She said, “I can envision one of the families that will select this whimsical blanket, and it feels good to know that this is something you had your hands on!”
MACP has partnered with HOTC, which connects companies and volunteers with nonprofit organizations to build capacity and community impact, for the past 10 years and has been a longstanding supporter of Bridging since 2016, when it helped fund the purchase of the current Roseville building. “We’ve been partnered with HOTC since 2004 – collaborating with MACP and HOTC is a testament to how well the Twin Cities community works together to address critical issues and provide tangible, impactful hands-on support,” said Diana Dalsin, Director of Strategic Partnerships.
The day-long event included a luncheon at Roseville Cedarholm Golf Course and a panel discussion moderated by Tracy Nielsen, Executive Director of HandsOn Twin Cities. “Bridging was honored to be part of how MACP invested in this day to both serve now and in the future,” said Joel Spoonheim, Bridging Executive Director. “It was remarkable to see their staff in action at the warehouse, and dedicating time to engage in a discussion around housing stability and what it takes to enhance the quality of life of those we serve.”
Others on the panel included Karla Henderson, President and CEO of Project for Pride in Living, and Charlotte Kinzley, Chief Program Officer at People Serving People.
After lunch, volunteers returned to Bridging to finish the day. “Watching people matching the kitchen items and color coordinating things” was Tori Selzler‘s favorite part of the day. As the Director of Corporate Projects at HOTC, Tori encourages others to consider volunteering. “Definitely do it,” she said. “It’s so fun. There’s something special about Bridging’s place in the ecosystem. Putting people with things that make their house a home is so special. It’s helping people in a different way.”
This full day of activities demonstrated how partnerships between nonprofits, philanthropy, volunteers, and community organizations can create meaningful change. From assembling essential household items to learning more about housing insecurity, volunteers left with a deeper understanding of how simple acts of service can help transform an empty space into a home and provided Bridging with the means to make it happen.
Learn more about volunteering, sponsoring a dresser-building event, or hosting an essentials drive.
