When the schools closed in March and we shut down our Philanthropic programs, we
had $30,000 of unspent funds. At the urging of National Assistance League ® to “get
creative,” we contacted our partners in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Richfield schools to
ask how we could help meet their greatest needs from afar. We are happy to share the
recap of how ALSMP has continued to make a difference in our community… from a safe distance!

Minneapolis Public Schools – $8,950:

• $300 Target gift cards to purchase art supplies, books, and enrichment items
  were given to each of the lead teachers of the 9 Essential Kids Care sites
  providing care for first responders’ and essential workers’ children.
•  250 $25 Target gift cards were distributed. Each MPS Essential Kids Care
  teacher and food distribution worker received a gift card to with a thank you
  message. Social workers used remaining cards to purchase and drop ship
  needed items to their homeless and highly mobile families.

St. Paul Public Schools – $7,000:

•  Project Reach, which serves homeless and highly mobile students and families,
  received 100 $10 bus passes and $1,000 in diapers.
•  Two $2,500 Amazon gift cards were sent to the directors of the Essential Kid
  Care sites to purchase wish list items requested by teachers for school supplies
  and enrichment items.

Richfield Public Schools – $5,000:

• Nine school social workers each received a $500 Amazon gift card to purchase
  essential items for their neediest families.
•  $500 was used to purchase needed art supplies, books, enrichment items for
  their Essential Kids Care location serving essential workers’ and first responders’
  children.
• One or two lunches will be funded for the workers to say thank you for their hard
  work in very trying circumstances.

Our partners have cried in joy when we asked how we could help them and have
thanked us for our flexibility during this challenging time. We should all be proud to be
Assistance League Minneapolis/St. Paul members as we all have made this possible by
being a part of this organization.