Minnesota Women of Today

This area covers a wide variety of projects whenever a service is provided to our communities, either directly or indirectly. It also promotes ideas and activities that allow youth to discover and experience the importance of volunteering, and also promotes foundations related to youth activities. A major emphasis in this area is Kid's Week held in August. The Outstanding Young Adult program is held annually at Winter State. Young persons are honored for their contribution to the community, and scholarships are awarded by the Minnesota Women of Today.

Outstanding Young Adult Scholarship

Do you know a young adult in grades 9-12 who have that has shown a commitment to community service, an excellence in leadership abilities, and academic achievement?  Consider submitting them for an Outstanding Young Adult Award.  I am looking for at least 10 nominations by the November 16th deadline.  You can find the Outstanding Young Adult manual at the State Store.  The nomination forms are available online at mnwt.org (choose “Service” then “Youth of Today”) or by e-mailing me at yt@mnwt.org.  The top honorees each year are given a scholarship as an award for their outstanding leadership and volunteer service.  This money comes from the Outstanding Young Adult Scholarship Fund through the MNWT Foundation.  Since this award is given annually, we need to replenish it through donations.  Each chapter or individual who donates at least $25 to this fund will be entered in a drawing for a set of pearl earrings.  This drawing will be held at Annual Convention in May.  Please send your donations to the Minnesota Women of Today Foundation and mail them to MN Women of Today, ATTN: MNWT Foundation, PO Box 232, Anoka, MN 55303.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

Youth & Community Involvement Project Ideas

Kids Week is a great opportunity for your chapters to celebrate kids! But you can still do these activities all year round. There are so many things you can do, here is a list to get your creative juices flowing.

• Assemble book bags for babies delivered at your local hospital – include a baby book, reading tips for parents, library location and schedule, nursery rhymes, poems, songs, and don’t forget information about your Women of Today chapter!
• Hold a book drive or school supply drive Host a story hour at your local library.
• Make or decorate bookmarks and donate them to a local reading program or library Raise money for your favorite youth organization (Consider First Book – www.firstbook.org)
• Have a chapter family BBQ at a local park Host a family game day Assemble birthday bags for your local food shelf or for Cheerful Givers (www.cheerfulgivers.org)
• Make fleece blankets for kids in the hospital and don’t forget to invite the kids to help! Check out www.projectlinus.org for patterns and to find drop off locations.
• Make cards for sick kids. Check out www.makeachildsmile.org for details.
• Organize a collection of something needed in your community.
• Speak with your local food shelf or community closet to determine what is needed most. Consider items such as blankets, linens, clothing, towels, and more!
• Host a “Create a Giving Box” party. The Giving Box is a box where the entire family can put their extra change and at the end of each month (or year) the money in the box is donated to a charity of their choice.
• Host a family service event for your community. Visit www.doinggoodtogether.org/FamilyServiceNight.html for full details!
• Write letters and draw pictures to send to soldiers overseas.
• Decorate placemats to donate to the local Meals on Wheels or similar organization.
• Create care packages for local seniors – here is one example from Meals on Wheels in the Twin Cities: www.meals-on-wheels.com/assets/files/AboutUsDocs/Create%20We%20Care%20Packages%20Job%20Description.doc
• Make cat toys or dog toys for the local animal shelter.
• Hold a lemonade stand with proceeds going to charity of the children’s choice. Visit www.alexslemonade.org for information on running a stand and signs you can print.
• Collect, clip, and donate coupons to military families. Visit www.ocpnet.org for details.
• Host a coloring contest.
• Hosting or helping with a camp experience at a local hospital for the children who can’t get to camp (see www.campgetawella.org for details)

Websites with more ideas:

• www.doinggoodtogether.org
• www.compassionatekids.com/volunteering.shtml
• www.cookiemag.com/homefront/2008/11/volunteering
• www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/2003-01-23-kid-picks_x.htm
• www.kidscare.org www.dosomething.org
• www.bygpub.com/books/tg2rw/volunteer.htm
• www.kidsturncentral.com/holidays/christmas/volunteer.htm
• www.artistshelpingchildren.org/wayschildrencanvolunteer.html