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The winter season has just begun and the 911������ community is stepping up in significant ways to ensure students have what they need to succeed. Whether it’s a holiday food drive, a gift of warm winter clothing, a generous monetary donation, or the beautiful bolts of fabric for students enrolled in the Apparel Technologies program, our friends and neighbors are enhancing the student experience at 911������ and adding light to the season. This article is our way of sharing a few of the ways our community gives back.

Holiday Food Drive

A holiday food drive, inspired by Foundation Board members Carolyn Hall and Chuck Malkerson, was held through mid-December generating more than 20 shopping carts overflowing with food, winter hats and gloves, and personal care items for the Food Pantry and Student Resource Center. Hall and Malkerson personally donated brownie mix, cranberry sauce, and yams to fill 100 holiday meal bags, as well as assorted supplies throughout the month-long drive. Their fellow residents of Loring Green West participated in a significant way, continuously giving throughout the month.

Women’s Club of Minneapolis

The Women’s Club of Minneapolis had a vision to become more actively engaged in the community and civic matters that benefit Minneapolis and its residents. One of those initiatives is to be more involved with 911������. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, members of the Women’s Club donated more than $1,700 to the Food Pantry and intends to make this gift annually. Continuing their generosity, members also donated six cases of breakfast cereal to the food drive.

“The financial and in-kind donations to our food pantry will have great impact to our students in need,” said Becky Nordin, Dean of Students and TRIO Director, who believes this gift is a representation of compassion, kindness, and humanity. “It will create a ripple effect in our student’s lives. Students will be able to provide food for themselves and their families. In return, students can focus on their education knowing that the basic need of food is being met. Every act of giving has a profound impact and we are grateful for the Loring Green West and Women’s Club donations.”

According to Heidi Goettl, Director of the Student Resource Center, in 2024 alone, 4,301 students accessed the Food Pantry and 49,841 pounds of food were distributed. “Research consistently shows a strong link between good nutrition and educational success,” said Goettl. “The Food Pantry helps ensure students in need have access to food which can significantly impact their ability to learn, focus, and achieve academically.”

First Unitarian Society

Throughout December and every other week during the year, the First Unitarian Society donates 100 snack packs every other week to the Food Pantry. Snack packs include beef sticks, chips, fruit cups, juice boxes, and more. They are essential to students across campus providing a boost of energy to help them get through their day.

Warm Winter Clothing

A regular contributor to the Random Acts of Kindness Fund, Joan Strand, donated high quality warm winter clothing to the Student Resource Center. 911������ shapes its environment through a holistic approach ensuring students have access to basic needs so they can focus on staying in school and reaching their goals.

“I am so grateful I’m able to help students by providing donations to the Random Acts of Kindness Fund and clothing to the Resource Center,” said Strand who believes in supporting community in any way she can. “I so appreciate the meaning and impact of the Fund, the work of the Resource Center, and the kindness of the faculty and staff toward their hard-working students.”

Winter Scarves

The St. Mark’s Knitting Club delivered a dozen handmade winter scarves to the Student Resource Center to keep some of our students warm through winter. Their intention is to provide additional scarves throughout the season.

The Knitting Club makes scarves, hats, and socks for local shelters, schools, HCMC, and senior living homes. Started more than 30 years ago by Marilyn Halker, participants have also donated more than 500 prayer shawls for individuals in need of comfort during difficult times and they have given beautiful, soft baby blankets to every child baptized at St. Mark’s.

Fabric

In the Apparel Technologies program, students receive extensive hands-on training in design, manufacturing, alteration and fitting. Creating their own garments is part of the student experience so when several bolts of crushed velvet fabric landed in the classroom this month, and others throughout the year, it creates boundless opportunities for creativity.

“We feel so very fortunate to be the recipients of multiple garment and fabric donations this year,” said Kristine Gyolai, Dean of the School of Design and the Arts. “Gifts like the exquisite Schiaparelli hat gave our faculty the opportunity to show students historical techniques and designs firsthand. The generous donations of fabric bring supply costs down for students in our Apparel Technology program and provide them the opportunity to experiment with a wide range of textures, colors, and properties of fabrics. We can’t wait to get these items into the hands of excited students.”

If you would like to make a positive impact on students enrolled at 911������, there are many ways to give. Go to the Ways to Give webpage to learn more.