Assistance With Basic Needs
Food not Bombs serves free food every Saturday at 3 p.m. in the empty lot between 5
Corners bar and the old Dania Hall site on Cedar Ave.
Sisters Camelot distributes free organic produce in South Minneapolis Mon., Wed., and
Fri., from noon to 4 p.m. Call 612-418-9475 for exact location.
The Women’s Cancer Resource Center , 4604 Chicago Ave. S., collaborates with more
than 60 organizations focusing on women’s health, cancer prevention and creating a
healthy environment for all. One of the organizations is Woman to Woman, an African
American breast cancer support project that provides one-to-one support and advocacy for
African American women with breast cancer. To find out more, contact the Women’s
Cancer Resource Center at 612- 822-4846.
The Powderhorn/Phillips Cultural Wellness Center, 1527 E. Lake St., provides activities
that address personal, community and cultural wellness. Classes are offered in personal
health improvement, cultural wellness and community healing. FFI call 612-721-5745.
For lower prescription costs, seniors can fill prescriptions by e-mail from licensed
international pharmacies. To compare prices, check www.medicines.md for international
price lists of many prescription drugs.
The Senior LinkAge Line is a free telephone information and assistance service which can
help connect with services including transportation, housing, adult day centers, home
health care, housework, volunteering, hospice care, caregiver support, food/meal delivery,
legal assistance, financial assistance, snow/lawn care, employment, minor home repairs,
health insurance counseling and more. Call
1-800-333-2433.
Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, a nonprofit community organization that provides
confidential counseling, debt management and education, can send out a free brochure
outlining the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. The brochure explains what collectors
can and cannot do and how to get help if collectors violate the Collections Practices Act.
For a brochure or assistance in working out a payment arrangement with creditors (LSS
financial counseling), call 1-888-577-2227.
Free legal advice for small businesses is available at Trujillo Tax Services, 2929 4th
Ave. S.,
Suite. 100.
Legal Advocacy for Elder Americans is a project of the Legal Aid Society. Legal assistance
is available for eligible seniors residing in Hennepin county who are 60 years old or
older. The southside office is at 2929 4th Ave. S. Call 612-827-3774.
Grease Pit Bike Shop is open three days a week to provide help with do-it-yourself bike
repairs, cheap parts and tools. Sun., 4–7 p.m., Mon., 5–8 p.m., and Tues.,
7–10 p.m. in the basement of Bedlam Theatre, 504 Cedar Ave. S.
Support
If you think your temper, overprotective tendency and need to control your partner’s
choices are standing in the way of a healthier relationship, think about calling the
Men’s Line, a free service that provides confidential, short-term counseling for men
and boys. The Men’s Line was started over three years ago by the Men’s Messages
Action Team of the Initiative for Violence-Free Families and Communities (St. Paul-Ramsey
County Public Health) as a way of speaking out against domestic violence. The Men’s
Messages Action Team is counting on early-stage abusers and those who witnessed domestic
violence as children to use the Men’s Line to get the support they need to break the
cycle of violence. Call 612-379-MENS (6367).
Volunteer Opportunities
Pillsbury House, 3501 Chicago Ave. S., has several opportunities for volunteers.
A supervised visitation facilitator is needed every other Wednesday,
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Receptionists are needed at various times. Anyone interested must pre-register for
receptionist training from 4 – 6 p.m. on Tue., July 17.
Childcare providers are needed for special events. Payment is in
credits, exchangeable for shampoo, detergent, diapers and more for each hour of service.
English as a Second Language (ESL) daytime instructors are needed for
basic English classes. ESL certificate preferred, experience required. Stipend and credits
offered. For further information call 612-824-0708, x110.
Phone counselors are needed for
Crisis Connection, a nonprofit, mental health agency which provides 24-hour crisis
counseling by telephone. Anyone can call for help and talk about issues such as
depression, suicide, abuse, and family and relationship problems. We also provide
information on subjects like welfare reform, homeless shelters, chemical abuse services,
etc. This service is free, confidential and available 365 days of the year to callers from
the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Crisis Connection counselors answering the crisis phone lines are
skilled professionals and trained volunteers. They respond to callers in nonjudgmental and
positive ways. Our goal is to help people at risk of harming themselves or others reach a
place of emotional and physical safety.
We depend on volunteers to provide crisis counseling to people who call
us. Become a phone counselor. The training is free. The hours are flexible. The atmosphere
is congenial. And your commitment could save a life! The next training session starts
Wednesday, Aug. 15. Call 612-379-6364 for details.
Volunteers are needed for
The Home Gardening Project, 916 2nd Ave. S., which provides free raised-bed organic
vegetable gardens for low-income Twin Cities families with children under six years of
age. Spanish speakers a plus. June–Sept., Call Susan Davies at 612-813-5522.
Classes
55 Alive’s four-hour senior driver class will be offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(one-hour break for lunch) on Thu., July 19, at the St. Paul JCC, 1375 St. Paul Ave. This
is open to the public and is for people who have already taken the eight hour class and
qualify under a new state law to take a four hour refresher course every three years. The
fee is $10. FFI call 651-698-0751.
A six-hour computer class for adults, “Introduction to the World Wide Web,” will
be offered in July at the St. Paul JCC, 1375 St. Paul Ave. The cost is $45. Call
651-698-0751 for more information.
Pillsbury House, 3501 Chicago Ave. S., offers basic computer classes on the second
Thursday of the month, 6–9 p.m., and advanced classes on the third Saturday of the
month, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Call 612-824-0708, x110 for more information.
The Community Barter Network, a grass-roots program of Pillsbury United Communities, will
partner with St. Joan of Arc Catholic church to offer a range of classes for barter or a
fee. The fees will support programs at Pillsbury United Communities. Professionals from
CBN will offer classes at St. Joan of Arc, 43rd St. and 3rd Ave. S., on “Aging
Gracefully for Men 40 - 60,” “Shoulder & Hand Massage,” “Hand
Reflexology,” “Intro to Aromatherapy” and more. FFI about CBN and the
classes call Katherine at 952-926-6757 or Karen at 952-403-1239. To register for CBN
orientation call Carole at 612-824-0708.
Yoga classes for breast cancer survivors and their supporters take place 6:30 – 8
p.m., Sundays from Aug.12 through Sept. 16 at the Uptown YWCA, 2808 Hennepin Ave. S. Sling
fee scale—no one will be turned away for inability to pay. Call 612-215-4142 to
register.
Justice
The Twin Cities Coalition to Defend Mumia Abu-Jamal meets at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at the
Arise! Bookstore, 2441 Lyndale Ave. S. Call 651-649-4579 for more information.
Mental Illness
Mind Literary and Art Journal of, by and for persons who have experienced mental illness
or emotional disturbances, is seeking poetry, short stories and line drawings. Payment is
one copy. Contact James Livingston, c/o Walker Methodist Church, Box 7588, Mpls., MN
55407, or call 612-376-7779.
Events
The John H. Stevens House, located in Minnehaha Park, will be open Fridays 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $2 for Adults and $1 for Children.
All programming at the Museum is supported through admissions and memberships.
Walking Tour of Historic Minnehaha Park—August 12
The next walking tour of Longfellow House will be Sun., Aug. 12 at 2:30
p.m. The tour costs $4 for Adults and $3 for children and seniors. Included in the cost
will be a voucher to return to the Stevens House for a full tour of the museum and a
special half price ice cream cone at the Refractory.
For more information or for group tours, please call 612-722-2220.
Hale, Page & Diamond Lake Community Association announces its 10th annual Picnic in
the Park, to take place on Thu., July 26, 2001 at Todd Park, 56th & Chicago Ave. S. in
Minneapolis.
This family event celebrates the neighborhood, and offers information
booths by local businesses, organizations, and churches, with door prizes, food, face
painting, games, activities for children, a visit from McGruff and other interesting
characters, and live entertainment. This year D. Crew, a metropolitan-based reggae band,
will be featured at the bandstand.
The celebration takes place from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. For further
information call 612-824-7707.
Upcoming events at Pillsbury House, 3501 Chicago Ave. S. , will host a Lead Workshop from
5 – 6 p.m., Tue., July 24. For further information call 612-824-0708.
Neighborhoods all over the Twin Cities will celebrate National Night Out on Tue., Aug. 7.
Check with your neighbors to see where the block party will be. If nothing has been
planned, start organizing the party yourself.
You are invited to be a part of ArtStop this summer! Join this year’s lead artist
Teresa Hichens-Olson, Del Bay and other local artists and musicians at the community
garden on 32nd and Chicago for art activities geared toward children and families. We will
be making a portable mural to display in our neighborhood and sharing refreshments on
Saturdays, July 21 and 28, from noon to 3 p.m. All events are free. Call Vanessa at
822-3263 for more information.
Environment
Friends of the Mississippi River are planning three events for the rest of the summer.
From 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Sat., July 21, a guided canoe and kayak trip is planned,
beginning at the Mississippi River Gorge, U of M, and ending at Hidden Falls. Canoe
rentals are available and pre-registration is required. There is a fee, lunch is provided.
Registration forms are available at www.fmr.org.
There will be a river flats clean-up, 9 a.m. - 12 noon, Sat., Aug. 11. Meet at the
Minneapolis Rowing Club, just north of Lake Street. Call to sign up.
Bracket Park, 3800 E. 28th St., is the site for an informative and interactive workshop on
“Your Urban Yard--Landscaping for Water Quality,” 6:30 – 8 p.m., Wed., Aug.
15. Information on composting, soil testing and rain barrels will be available. One of the
instructors is a native plant specialist. FFI see ahawkins@fmr.org. Call to sign up. The
number for Friends of the Mississippi River is 651-222-2193.
Minnesota River Cleanup Conference
The 6th Annual Minnesota River Summer Conference will be held Thu. and Fri., Aug. 2 and 3,
at the Training and Community Center, 711 S. 17th St. in Montevideo, Minn. In recent years
citizen groups and public agencies have been working hard toward protecting and restoring
the Minnesota River so that its waters are “fishable and swimmable.” Progress
toward that goal will be scrutinized at the conference. “We are at a turning point in
the future of the MInnesota River environment,” said Lynn Lokken, executive director
of Clean Up the River Environment. “We have worked hard to get to this point, but
there are many financial and organizational challenges ahead. We need to . . . create a
plan that ensures clean water in our lifetime.” For more information contact Steve
Hansen, Minnesota River Basin Joint Powers Board at 952-361-6590, or Lynn Lokken, CURE,
114 S. 1st St. W., Montevideo, MN. Or log on to www.pca.state.mn.us and select
“Water.”
