YouthLink » Volunteer Stories

Important update on clothing donations!

YouthLink — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:14:17 +0000

Thank you to all our fabulous donors who have brought in clothing over the past few weeks. Because of your generosity our clothing closet is a bit over stuffed at the moment! We ask that if you have donations of clothing to bring in, that you please put them on hold for the time being.

We love your donations, but we also want them to go to good use! We’ll update the website again once we’re ready for more and in the meantime, please feel free to contact Kathleen Smith, Communications and Volunteer Coordinator, with any questions at 612-252-1211 or smith4@youthlinkmn.org.

Thank You!

YouthLink — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:59:40 +0000

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers over the holidays. Whether you were stuffing gift bags, serving a holiday meal or running festive activities, we appreciate each and every one of you!

The Difference a List Can Make

YouthLink — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:57:53 +0000

With the holidays fast approaching, many of you probably have a large number of lists accumulating in your lives; lists of to-dos to get the house ready for guests, mailing lists for holiday letters or cards, lists of gifts to get for friends and family, grocery lists for your holiday meal, and lists of social engagements.

Youthink would like you to consider adding one more list to your thoughts this holiday season.

Every year, YouthLink hosts a holiday party for the youth we serve. Over 300 youth gather at YouthLink to enjoy a hot meal, sit with people who care about them, and take a break from the challenges that face them every day.

In conjuntion with our holiday party, YouthLink provides youth with a Santa Shop, an opportunity to pick out new items to give to their families, children, or loved one. For many of our youth, this is the only opportunity they may have to give a gift to someone they care about; an opportunity to experience the joy of giving back.

You can help us provide this experience for them. To help fill the shelves of our Santa Shop, we’ve created a wish list though Target where you can select an item you’d like to donate, and help us give our youth the opportunity to give a gift to someone they care about.

If you’d like to help us fill out our wish list, please click here.

You can help YouthLink provide the youth we serve with the resources and opportunity to create a positive memory over the holidays, and the opportunity for futures of empowerment, connectedness, and self-reliance.

Get a Jumpstart on Your Holiday Giving! Host a Donation Drive for YouthLink

YouthLink — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:08:03 +0000

As the chill in the air reminds us, Winter is approaching fast!

As the weather gets colder, we see more youth daily. You can help us serve them all by hosting a donation drive for YouthLink. From teen parents to our annual Thanksgiving meal, we have opportunities for anyone looking to volunteer.

Items we have critical need of:

Baby Supplies

Baby blankets
Diapers
Bottles
Formula
Baby wipes
Infant-safe toys

Hygiene Supplies

Deodorant (unscented if possible)
Shampoo/conditioner

Food for our Thanksgiving Party

Boneless hams (8-10 lbs. each)
Fresh fruit (pinapple, strawberries, apples, etc.)

For more ways to get involved check out our Host a Donation Drive page, or contact Kathleen Smith, Communications and Volunteer Coordinator at 612-252-1211 or smith4@youthlinkmn.org.

The Hotel Minneapolis

YouthLink — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:22:08 +0000

The Hotel Minneapolis is a luxurious hotel located in Downtown Minneapolis. Full of posh amenities like a concierge, high set ceilings, and a superb selection of business-type amenities. Not only is The Hotel a high-class place to stay, but it also employs some very high-class people. General Manager, Don Cook, and a few of his coworkers headed over to YouthLink during the annual Back To School BBQ that was held on August 23 to volunteer their time and donate some items. The Hotel volunteers donated and served food, helped stuff backpacks with school supplies, donated raffle items and also donated 50 feather comforters! Not only that, but they also took the time to get to know the young people at the YouthLink event and talk to them about their future plans.

Volunteer Profile: Cindy Smith

YouthLink — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:20:28 +0000

At YouthLink, our volunteers are a key part of our work. They inject enthusiasm and add different perspectives to our teams. And, they always make a difference.

That sums up Cindy Smith’s involvement with YouthLink perfectly. In the eight months since she started, Cindy has played a special role at the Drop-In Center caring for babies and toddlers while youth get their needs met and work with staff.

Find our more about why Cindy volunteers at YouthLink and her role by watching this short two-minute interview.

Volunteer Profile:

Name: Cindy Smith

Day Job: Executive Administrative Assistant

Employer: Meritain Health

Residence: Eden Prairie

Personal: Married, 2 kids (27, 23)

Age: 53 years old

YouthLink Details: Started volunteering at YouthLink in September 2009; volunteers Thursdays and special occasions.

Personal interests/hobbies: Facebook, exercising with friends, reading, shopping.