Volunteer Projects:

ORGANIZATION: Bridging                     

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY: CCA volunteers prepare donated items for use by needy families (sort and put silverware, dishes and bedding sets together, assemble dresser kits and clean furniture before client pickup), load and unload trucks, and whatever else needs to be done. Alternatives available for CCA volunteers with restrictions.

 

LOCATION: 201 W. 87th Street, Bloomington, MN 55420

 

DAYS AND TIMES: Four times annually (dates to be determined) from 1:00-3:30 p.m.

 

ESTIMATED ANNUAL CCA VOLUNTEER IMPACT: Groups of 3 to 5 volunteered 235 hours in fiscal 2019 to help Bridging clients transition from homelessness. Due to COVID, Bridging was closed for CCA volunteer groups until June 2022.

 

ABOUT BRIDGING:

• Through the effective reuse of donated items, Bridging improves lives by providing quality furniture and household goods to those transitioning out of homelessness. Bridging serves more 4,500 households annually. The average value of the home furnishings and essentials provided to a family is $1,800 (thrift store value). More than half of the individuals served are under the age of 17 and 87% of clients have a household income of less than $20,000/year.
• By accepting quality, gently used items, Bridging diverts 200,000 pounds from the landfill each week (10 million pounds/year).
• Website: https://www.bridging.org/
• Individual Volunteer Opportunities: https://www.bridging.org/engage/volunteer/

 

CCA PROJECT LEAD/CONTACT:

Gene Van't Hof: 612.877.0533        email: gvantof@comcast.net

ORGANIZATION: The Good Acre (TGA)                                                            Back to Top

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: 

• Food Share Program Support including (i) assembling farm share boxes, (ii) packing the boxes with fresh produce, and (iii) supporting “drive through” pick up of food share boxes at TGA
• Gardening/outdoor maintenance

LOCATION: 1790 Larpenteur Ave. W., Falcon Heights, MN 55113

DAYS AND TIMES: TBD – the plan is to sponsor a 3-to-4-hour event each month beginning in Mid-August 2022.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL CCA VOLUNTEER IMPACT: TBD

Over a year, CCA will potentially volunteer 288 to 480 hours to help TGA connect and strengthen farmers, food makers, and communities.

ABOUT TGA:

• TGA brings services, support and skills to farmers, food makers and eaters that  drive positive change in the Twin Cities food system.
• TGA in 2021, spent over $1.2 million dollars with local farmers and food producers. 80% of that spending was with BIOPC growers who grew 87 different produce varieties.
• TGA in 2021 donated over 105,000 pounds of produce to hunger relief organizations like Second Harvest Heartland.
• Website: Home - The Good Acre
• Individual Volunteer Opportunities (skill based): Volunteer - The Good Acre or contact Project Lead for additional information

CCA PROJECT LEAD(PL)/CONTACT(OC):

PL:  Jan Weisberg:   phone: 612.220.9052     email: janiceweisberg01@gmail.com

OC: Tom Streit:         phone: 507/444-0485     email: tstreit57@gmail.com

ORGANIZATION:  The Food Group                                                       Back to Top

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY: Repackage donated food into smaller boxes or packages to be distributed to TFG's network of hunger relief organizations; sort and remove damaged, perishable and nonfood items that have been donated; package special foods packs for specific programs such as Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

LOCATION: 8501 54^th Ave. N. New Hope

DAYS AND TIMES: First Wednesday of the month (unless a holiday) from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL CCA VOLUNTEER IMPACT: In fiscal 2019, CCA members volunteered 346 hours to pack food that goes to food shelfs and other hunger relief organizations.

 

ABOUT THE FOOD GROUP:

• For more than 40 years, TFG has worked to provide good foods to those who need it most. TFG focuses on local food access, equity and nutrition issues related to food and hunger in more than 30 counties in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin and works on both ends of the food system from production to distribution.
• TFG also partners with more than 200 food shelves and meal programs too offer distribution of food, bulk purchasing, nutrition education and resources, capacity building support, and culturally equitable food and resources.
• TFG also has a traveling nutritious grocery store, which makes monthly stops at 37 distribution sites across the Twin Cities and greater MN to offer fresh produce and quality meats with discounts up to 30 percent off retail prices.
• TFG's BIG RIVER Farms creates market opportunities for participating farmers.
• Website: https://thefoodgroupmn.org
• Individual Volunteer Opportunities: https://thefoodgroupmn.org/get-involved/volunteer/

CCA PROJECT LEAD/CONTACT:

John Tschumperlin:  952.472.4465     email: tschump@aol.com

ORGANIZATION:  Feed My Starving Children                                     Back to Top      

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY: FMSC offers volunteers a one-of -a-kind experience. You will hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are then sealed, boxed, placed on pallets, and shipped to FMSC’s incredible partners working hard to reach the neediest children around the world.

LOCATIONS: FMSC Sites at Coon Rapids (401 93^rd Ave. NW, 55433) and Chanhassen (18732 Lake Dr. E., 55317)

DAYS AND TIMES: Shifts are scheduled at Coon Rapids and Chanhassen – twice a year at each site. Shifts are 9:00 - 10:45 a.m.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL CCA VOLUNTEER IMPACT: In 2021, CCA members and guests logged 154 hours that helped reduce the number of starving children throughout the world. CCA Volunteer impact in 2021 was due to COVID limiting volunteer shifts.

ABOUT FMSC: 

• FMSC’s Mission is feeding God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit.

• Every year, millions of children die from preventable causes such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and undernutrition. Hunger is still causing nearly half of deaths in children under 5 years old. From this data, FMSC estimates at least 6,200 children die each day from causes related to undernutrition. This is heartbreaking.

• FMSC believes hope starts with food. As a Christian nonprofit, FMSC is dedicated to seeing every child whole in body and spirit. FMSC works with food distribution partners that stay with communities for the long haul, empowering them to move from relief to development.

• FMSC meals were developed by food science and nutrition professionals (including people from Cargill) to supplement nutritional needs and reduce problems with malnutrition. Nutrition allows children to grow, thrive and develop to their full potential.

• Website: https://www.fmsc.org/

• Individual Volunteer Opportunities: https://www.fmsc.org/get-involved/volunteer-info

 

CCA PROJECT LEAD/CONTACT INFORMATION:

Thom Schultz  763-568-1233          email:  thomschultz@hotmail.com

ORGANIZATION:  Habitat for Humanity                                Back to Top 

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY:  Home construction from foundations to final trim at home build sites. CCA also works in the panel plant framing walls during the winter and spring. CCA provides construction workers, crew leaders and general labor.

 

LOCATION: Various sites in the Metro Twin Cities area.

 

DATES AND TIMES: Volunteer times - September and October (Cargill-sponsored build): Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Other months: Most Tuesdays when and where Habitat schedules our team, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please volunteer ahead of time in order to ensure proper waivers are completed prior to arriving at the site.

ANNUAL CCA ESTIMATED VOLUNTEER IMPACT: In 2021, CCA volunteers devoted over 1,600 hours to H4H and provided a family with a finished house in Chaska. At the average construction laborer hourly wage in Minneapolis, these hours are valued at more than $40,000.

 

ABOUT H4H: 

• Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Habitat’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat focusses on shelter while promoting dignity and hope, supporting sustainable and transformative development and advocating for affordable housing.

• Housing insecurity touches nearly half of adults in the United States at some point in their lives. Most Americans believe that it is challenging to find affordable quality housing in their communities. More than half of all adults say they have made at least one trade-off in order to cover their rent or mortgage, including taking second jobs, cutting back on health care and healthy food, and moving to less safe neighborhoods.

• Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization.

• National Website: https://www.habitat.org/

• Twin Cities Website: https:www.tchabitat.org

• Twin Cities Individual Volunteer Opportunities: https://www.tchabitat.org/volunteer/individual

 

CCA PROJECT LEAD/CONTACT INFORMATION:

Tom Sasman: 763.218.7627             email: tomsasman@gmail.com

Mike Lilly: 763.546.9665                   email: michaellill00@gmail.com

 

ORGANIZATION:  Hope Academy                                                Back to Top

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY: Teams of CCA volunteers use their expertise in science, math or language skills to tutor Hope Academy students in preparation for the ACT college exam. 

LOCATION:  2300 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis

DATES AND TIMES: Specific dates are determined each fall, spring and summer but, typically, in the fall and spring tutoring are from 8:30-9:30 am on Thursdays for about 8 weeks (early September to mid-November (for fall) and mid-February – March/early April (for spring). Summer tutoring is from 12:30-2:30, 4 days/week (Mon-Thurs) for 4 weeks. Each volunteer does not need to attend every day that tutoring is offered.

ANNUAL CCA ESTIMATED VOLUNTEER IMPACT: Volunteer hours for the 2021-2022 school year and summer session totaled 100. The following are some average percentile increases tutored students obtained in their ACT scores from PreACT test scores:

English	25.7 %
Math	12.3 %
Reading	5.6 %
Science	15.0 %
Composite	15.6 %

Improved ACT scores help students be more competitive for scholarships and better prepared to be successful in college

ABOUT HOPE ACADEMY:

• Hope Academy was established to help prepare Minneapolis’ next generation of servant leaders. It equips students within the inner-city neighborhoods of Minneapolis with core knowledge to deal purposefully and responsibly with the complex issues of living in the present society.
• Hope Academy is and inter-denominational Christian school, working for justice, economic opportunity, racial harmony, hope for the family, and joy in the community.
• Website: http://hopeschool.org
• Individual Volunteer Opportunities: http://hopeschool.org/volunteer/           

 CCA PROJECT LEAD/CONTACT INFORMATION:

Mike Lilly: 763.546.9665                 email: michaellilly00@gmail.com

ORGANIZATION: Prodeo Academy                                                  Back to Top

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY: Small group projects completing various behind-the-scenes activities and odd-jobs to support the work teachers do. This includes labeling and sorting books, making flash cards, “grading” donated books, organizing supplies, putting up shelves, admin support, creating charts, preparing Literacy Night packets, Organizing and replenishing “buckets” of school supplies for each grade, etc.

LOCATION:  620 Olson Memorial Highway, Minneapolis 55411 (near the Minneapolis downtown farmers’ market)

DATES AND TIMES:

Small group projects are scheduled for the last Wednesday of the month during the school year (September through May) from 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

ANNUAL CCA ESTIMATED VOLUNTEER IMPACT: This was a new opportunity for CCA in 2016. In fiscal 2019, CCA volunteers in a small team of 6 to 8, worked 97 hours behind-the-scenes on activities and odd-jobs to support the work teachers do.

ABOUT PRODEO: 

• Prodeo Academy is a college preparatory school that develops students to be critical thinkers and intelligent leaders, expanding their opportunities to contribute positively and productively to society.
• In Latin, Prodeo means "to advance" or "go forward", and at Prodeo Academy, we believe in the growth of the whole person. From their first day on campus, we are preparing our children for college and the skills necessary to be successful in life. Everything we do at Prodeo Academy, both in and out of the classroom, is based on our Five Core Values: P.R.I.D.E. (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Development, and Enthusiasm.)
• Website: http://prodeoacademy.org/
• Individual Volunteer Opportunities: https://www.prodeoacademy.org/apps/pages/volunteer                        

PROJECT LEAD/CONTACT INFORMATION:

Dave Braden: 952.237.5870                 email: dbbraden@gmail.com                    

ORGANIZATION:   Second Harvest Heartland                           Back to Top

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY: Sort, label and package donated commodities

LOCATION: 7101 Winnetka Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, 55428

DAYS AND TIMES: CCA shifts are typically held on the second and third Tuesday and the last Wednesday of each month from 9:00 - 11:00 AM.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL CCA VOLUNTEER IMPACT: Over the last year, CCA volunteers provided approximately 1,000 hours of service at Second Harvest. That equates to about 175,000 meals to help the hungry in our community. Cargill also provides Second Harvest with both monetary support and donations of Cargill products.

ABOUT SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND (SHH):

• Second Harvest is one of the largest, most effective and most innovative hunger relief organizations in the nation. In September 2021, 1 in 12 people in Minnesota, including 1 in 8 Minnesota kids, didn’t know where their next meal would come from. Last year, SHH provided more than 107 million meals to 360 food shelves and more than 1,000 hunger-relief programs throughout the region.
• SHH has created a sustainable system that provides access to food, helping hungry neighbors to thrive. More than 62% of the meals provided by SHH are fresh, including meat, produce, bakery and dairy items. Product that would otherwise go unharvested is redirected into the emergency hunger relief system. In addition, the Retail Food Rescue program collects thousands of pounds of grocery items from nearly 500 retail partners every day.
• SHH’s food bank is only part of how it reaches people in the community. SHH also advocates for programs and policies that support the families it serves.
• Website: https://www.2harvest.org/
• Individual Volunteer Opportunities: https://www.2harvest.org/get-involved/volunteer/ 

 

PROJECT LEAD/CONTACT INFORMATION:

Julie Rothstein:  612.219.8568                 email:  Julie Rothstein

ORGANIZATION:   Three Rivers Park District                                  Back to Top

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY:  Maintain the trail by doing a Spring and Fall cleanup. 

LOCATIONS: Sections 3 and 4 of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail system (approximately 4.5 miles).

DAYS AND TIMES: Determined by Project Lead depending on weather. Spring cleanup is typically in April or May and fall cleanup in October.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL CCA VOLUNTEER IMPACT: In fiscal 2019, CCA members volunteered 65 hours on Dakota Rail Regional Trail maintenance.

ABOUT THREE RIVERS:

• Three Rivers Park District is a park district serving the suburban areas of the Twin Cities including suburban Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Ramsey counties.
• Three Rivers' mission is "To promote environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system."
• Three Rivers operates twenty parks and ten regional trails (over 27,000 acres), with at least two more regional trails planned.
• Nearly seven million people visit Three Rivers facilities each year.
• Website: https://www.threeriversparks.org/  
• Individual Volunteer Opportunities:   https://www.threeriversparks.org/page/volunteer

PROJECT LEAD/CONTACT INFORMATION:

John Tschumperlin: 952.472.4465        email: tschump@aol.com

ORGANIZATION:   Cargill Cares Alumni (CCA) Member Support   Back to Top

ORGANIZATION:    Cargill Cares Alumni (CCA) Support

VOLUNTERR ACTIVITY:

Provide various support activities to maintain a robust organization that nourishes our community and enhances the Alumni’s active life styles.

 

LOCATIONS:  Work done remotely using WildApricot and MSTeams

 

CCA VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:

CCA Admin Support: ongoing operations

• respond to alumni queries
• update file content
• develop procedures, forms, etc.
• web site: development, maintenance, and support
• develop training materials

 

CCA Organizing: Planning and organizing

• Board and committee meetings (recording, agendas, bylaws, special projects, strategy plans and other administrative activities)
• new member recruitment and promoting CCA
• financial (Treasurer)
• membership involvement
• recognition
• new project evaluation

ANNUAL CCA ESTIMATED VOLUNTEER HOURS:

In 2021, CCA support hours totaled over 900.

 

PROJECT LEAD/CONTACT INFORMATION:

email: cargillcaresalumni11@gmail.com or contact a Board member (click on link)

ACTIVITY:   Independent Volunteer Activity  (IVA)                     Back to Top

INDEPENDENT VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY:      

CCA members independently contribute much time and talent to worthy organizations. The diversity of organizations and number of hours reflect the wide-ranging interests and goals of our members.

 

CCA-scheduled events are geared to the mission to nourish our communities in activities that enhance nutrition, food security and the environment; or have had a long tradition in CCA. Project Leaders for these events will record time on behalf of the participants.

 

Independent Volunteer Activity (IVA) can take many forms, however, and is recognized as integral to our organization. CCA encourages members to report their own independent volunteer time – it helps promote CCA’s image within Cargill and the community, gives us pride in our organization and enhances the communities in which we live.

 

ORGANIZATION:     

Generally, organizations will be a 501c3 organization - a United States nonprofit organization that has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service to be tax-exempt under the terms of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

REPORTING HOURS:

Ideally, CCA members will report hours on a regular (monthly) basis: email your name, organization, volunteer dates and hours to cargillcaresalumni11@gmail.com or call 952/742-1688. The CCA support group (also volunteers) will input the time on your behalf.

 

ANNUAL IVA ESTIMATED VOLUNTEER HOURS:

IVA activity represents about 65 percent of the CCA hours reported annually.