Success Stories
Success in networking! Here are a few examples of connections made as a result of participating in our Compassion Action Network and Circle of Influence (COI) meetings.
After accessing the local free stores, a community social worker who was serving a young mom with an infant requested help finding baby clothes & supplies. Through the Circle of Influence she connected with Gail Weems at Fridley Covenant Church who partnered with her to help this mom provide for her infant.
Joyce Carlson from the Senior Community Service Employment Program first attended our COI meetings earlier this year to tell us about opportunities for low income adults 55 and older to re-enter the workforce without jeopardizing their income status. Also in attendance was Patty Halvorson from Central Center for Family Resources who later contacted Joyce about getting a volunteer to help out in their office. Joyce found the perfect fit for Patty's University Ave office, where the volunteer now handles clerical responsibilities for Central Center.
Mom's Haven of Hope, a new program looking to support young single moms sponsored by Redeemer Lutheran church in Fridley, announced its plan to start a support group this fall & connect the young moms with mentors in the community. Almost immediately, a representative from the Youth Outreach Program of the Emma B. Howe YMCA suggested she knew of several young moms who lived in the area & are in need of support & offered to be both a referral & educational resource to Mom's Haven of Hope.
Simply Good Eating, a nutritional program sponsored by the U of MN Extension Services of Anoka County, demonstrated one of the nutritional presentations they offer. During their presentation they mentioned how they provide demonstrations to local food shelf recipients on how to cook nutritious meals with the food they receive at the food shelf. Upon hearing this, both Mom's Haven for Hope & the YMCA Youth Outreach program were interested in having Simply Good Eating do similar demonstrations at their programs for the youth they work with.
Join us at our next COI meeting. The networking is endless!
1st Thursday of every month
1:30 p.m. in Room 210
Emmanuel Christian Center
7777 University Ave. N. E.
Spring Lake Park
