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New Mission Partner: The Sunshine Stop
The Sunshine Stop is a nonprofit based in Excelsior dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through meaningful employment. They provide their employees hands-on job training- — fostering independence, building self esteem, and encouraging opportunity. The program enriches the lives of their “Sunshine Squad” as well as our community as a whole.
The 2025 Summer Season All-Call Employee Session is Thursday, June 12 from 1:00-3:30 p.m. The session will include registration of existing employees, application for new employees, and training for all. This summer, the Squad will be operating at The Polkadot House, 468 Third Street, Excelsior. In addition, The Sunshine Stop needs volunteers this summer! They will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00-4:00 p.m., from June 17-August 14. Please email Thesunshinestop50@gmail.com if you are interested or with any questions. Learn more about employment or volunteer opportunities at www.thesunshinestop.org.
OUR MISSION PARTNERS
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.
Gigi’s Playhouse – supporting individuals with Down Syndrome and their families. Our grant is supporting 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.
Daystar University – Daystar University is a school in Kenya that educates students for the workforce. WCC sponsors students through a scholarship program and a Hope Fund that focuses on students with financial burdens that may prevent them from graduating.
Refugee Support – A group from WCC actively supports new immigrants to the U.S. in partnership with the International Institute of Minnesota. We are helping families in our community as they navigate the challenges of adjusting to life in a new country.
Cranberry Ridge
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. WCC serves 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.
DOUGH
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.
Edith’s House— Helping to House the Homeless
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. Contact: Jeff Johnson, 612-310-5209 or jjjohnson55@msn.com to get on the email list for updates.
Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners
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.
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
Sale dates: July 16 & 17, 2025
Collection and sorting dates: June 1 through July 15
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.
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.
DOUGH 2024 MISSION PARTNERS
INCONTROL – InControl addresses a significant gap in wellness services that emerge as people with disabilities ransition into adulthood. The organization provides in-home, one-on-one services to adults with disabilities who are disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions, allowing them to lead healthy, more independent lives. Contact incontrolmn.com for more information.
DON’T SHOOT GUNS SHOOT HOOPS – Founded in 2021 by a survivor of gun violence, Don’t Shoot Guns Shoot Hoops uses basketball to engage teens and young adults. The goal is to heal both individual and community trauma caused by gun violence, with the ultimate goal of ending gun violence. DSGSH provides educational programming at schools throughout the Twin Cities, offers a Boys to Men Camp experience, organizes three-on-three basketball tournaments and all-night basketball events. Find out how to get involved at dontshootgunsshoothoops.org.
BLACK BUTTERFLY – Black Butterfly serves as a beacon of hope for recently incarcerated women trying to get back on their feet. The organization provides transitional housing and support services, offering the love and stability that individuals need to turn their lives around. Visit blackbutterfly-ts.com for more information about volunteer opportunities.
AUNTIE BEC’S BOUTIQUE – Auntie Bec’s Boutique partners with communities to provide new and gently used on-trend clothing for free to youth in need. Auntie Bec’s partners with schools and social workers to identify teens that need clothes – clothes they can feel good in and are proud to wear. Check out auntiebecsboutique.com for more information.
HIGHLAND POPCORN – Highland Popcorn is a friendly, local business that makes delicious popcorn and employs a uniquely qualified workforce. This organization trains people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to successfully produce, sell, and deliver high-quality retail and wholesale popcorn. Visit the store in Highland Park or buy some at a nearby Lunds & Byerlys. Find out more at www.highlandpopcorn.com