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Putting our faith into action by loving and serving our neighbors
The Mission and Outreach Board has voted to fund three new organizations:
Playworks MN – supporting recess in elementary schools of need to support group play, leadership development, and conflict resolution, We made a 3 year commitment and have been assigned the Lucy Laney elementary school in North Minneapolis. With Autumn Toussaint’s help, we have already had one congregational service opportunity at Lucy Laney School with guidance from Playworks MN staff to clean up and paint their playground to provide a better environment for recess. This event was communicated to the congregation in several ways and was well attended.
Gigi’s Playhouse – supporting individuals with Down Syndrome and their families. Our grant will be used for their GiGi U and Prep program – providing training and skills to young adults post high school to achieve their highest potential.
Mental Health MN – provides several resources to those with mental health issues. Our grant will help fund their Warmline — a call in, text in line open 365 days a year, providing peer support and connections to help people in need avoid crisis and use of crisis or emergency services.
OUR MISSION PARTNERS
Cranberry Ridge
Mission: WCC worked with Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative to construct the 45 unit affordable housing unit — Cranberry Ridge, in Plymouth. In Fall 2022 new families began moving in to a place they could call home. WCC was invited to help build community, starting with monthly Community Meals and activities, and continuing with guidance from IOCP Neighborhood Coordinator, Renale Giles, who has offices on site, two days a week.
Where and When: Monthly Community Meals at Cranberry Ridge, serving about 60 people, including adults, infants and older children. We provide and organize a special craft or activity for children after the meal. We also coordinated a children’s book drive to help build a library. We will introduce the Cranberry Ridge Children’s Library and have books for the kids to take home at the next Community Meal on Thursday, March 23, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Future dates and details will be determined with our Neighborhood Coordinator.
Volunteer Needs: Volunteers are needed to supply items needed at each event, donate or prepare foods for the menu, help prep and serve the meal (buffet style in a galley kitchen with small dining area), help people navigate the food line and access seating, clean-up, help with crafts where we supply the items needed. Menu and craft ideas welcome. Where and when possible, we involve residents who express an interest to assist in various ways that evening.
Contact: Contact for information, with questions, and to be added to the WCC CR Team of volunteers:
Judy Reed, reeddj2@comcast.net and Mary Coleman, colemanmary211@gmail.com.
DOUGH
Mission: Identify, empower, and prioritize the use of the financial and human resources knowledge of Wayzata Community Church members. Dough strives to accelerate the successful launch of creative and faithful ideas that address major challenges in our city and world. For the idea makers, Dough will enable faithful entrepreneurs in breaking new ground with funding from WCC as well as mentoring and strategizing assistance from WCC volunteers.
Where and When: The next screening process of Dough applications will begin in Fall of 2023.
Volunteer Needs: Many volunteers are needed!
• Screeners – screen and rate applications
• Navigators – a Navigator is assigned to all semi-finalists to guide the applicant in the next steps of the Dough process
• Subject matter experts – Finance, Legal, Marketing, IT, HR, Business Development, Leadership
• Judges – Determine who will get the Dough grant
Contact: Bill Brann, willbrannmn@gmail.com, 952-210-6167
Edith’s House— Helping to House the Homeless
Mission: Working with Edith Perlin of Edith’s House, we pack and deliver snacks to the Listening House, a day shelter for people in need, once a month. Our main goal is to use what we give as an opening to talk with clients and find out how we can help them get off the street and into a better place. Edith is trained and certified to supply or find housing and help for them.
Where, What and When: We meet the last Wednesday of the month in the McCutcheon Room from 4-5:00 p.m. to organize and pack our goodies for delivery the next day. On the last Thursday of the month, we meet in the West Parking Lot of WCC around 12:15 p.m. and drive to Listening House in St. Paul. We spend 60-90 minutes handing out snacks and visiting with the clients there that day. We’re typically back to WCC by 3:30 p.m. All are welcome!
Contact: Jeff Johnson, 612-310-5209 or jjjohnson55@msn.com to get on the email list for updates.
Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners
Mission: Interfaith Outreach exists to strengthen our community by meeting basic needs and equipping individuals and families for ongoing stability. On average we serve about 2,000 households (6,000 individuals) in the west metro each year.
Where: Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners is located near the intersection of Highway 6 & 101, at 1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth
Volunteer Needs: About 200 volunteers are needed to help support our Resale Select store and Food Shelf every week! Volunteers help stock shelves, assist food shelf shoppers, cashier, accept and sort through donations, organize food drives, and much more.
Contact: Learn more about volunteering by signing up for a New Volunteer Meeting online at iocp.volunteerhub.com or contact Ashley Wyatt at 763-489-7505 or awyatt@iocp.org.
Thimble Bees
Mission: To further the caring and outreach ministry of Wayzata Community Church by using our hands and hearts to create gifts that help people in need of encouragement, love and support in their everyday lives.
Where and When: Many members work on projects at home between meetings. Meetings are held twice monthly from 9:00 a.m.—12 Noon in Mithun Hall.
Volunteer Needs: All WCC members and friends are welcome! The group is always in need of more hands to craft lovely, hand-made items for charity. No experience necessary! Whether you sew, knit, crochet, or have no craft skills at all, you can enjoy the fellowship of working together to help others of all ages.
Contact: Kathy Smith at ksmith3600@aol.com
WCC Rummage Sale
2024 Sale dates: to be announced
Collection and sorting dates: June 1 through July 15
Mission: Service, Fellowship, Outreach
Volunteer needs: Set up infrastructure ; Sorting; Work the Sale; Set up tents and prep for Sale; Cleanup. Volunteer when you are able to help.
Contact: Bill Boulware (612 804 0486; bboulware@wayzatacommunitychurch.org), Barb Boulware (612 242 3155; (rummagesale@wayzatacommunitychurch.org)
Wildflyer Coffee
Mission: To create employment opportunities for youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability through the cultivation of life skills and personal empowerment. We provide a 4 month work experience program for youth to develop hard (coffee!) and soft (employability!) skills in a supportive environment that understands the complex challenges that homelessness can create.
Where and When: We currently operate one shop in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis (opened in December 2020) and our second location in St. Paul on W. 7th!
Volunteer Needs: Right now, our volunteer opportunities include (potential) opportunities on our Board of Directors, operational help around the shop including moving furniture, painting, cleaning out spaces, etc. or coordinating food for programming nights; this could include gift cards for DoorDash/Uber Eats/local restaurants or creating a meal kit for us to serve to participants. A future opportunity could be participating in career panels, mock interviews, or other events for the program.
Contact: Carley Kammerer – Co-founder and Executive Director, carley@wildflyercoffee.com, 262 271-5576 or Kenzie Diessner – Program Manager, kenzie@wildflyercoffee.com, 612 444-2892 **Subject to change as we hire someone to coordinate volunteer opportunities with community members.