TO REGISTER AND DONATE ONLINE:

http://kschmidt.zumba.com/northfield-zumbathon

or
REGISTER AND DONATE IN PERSON:
Community Services office in the Community Resource Center, 1651 Jefferson Parkway.

Call 507-664-3650 if you have questions.

Applications are available in the “About” – “Board of Directors” section of this website. Completed applications should be sent to Matthew Rich, Grundhoefer and Ludescher, at 515 Water Street South, Northfield.

Community Action Center Executive Director Jim Blaha said, “The time is right, and we are very, very excited about this project. The Clothes Closet continues to serve a growing number of people – both clients of the CAC and the community as a whole – and has an extensive history in downtown Northfield. We’re pleased to be able to return with a space that will accommodate more merchandise and provide better accessibility to our clients and the entire community.”

The Clothes Closet outfits more than 400 families free of charge each year and offers discounted and value-priced goods to hundreds more. It began in 1968 by Church Women United and has been housed in a number of different locations – often co-located with the CAC’s Food Shelf. In 1980, the program was officially gifted to the Community Action Center. Throughout its history, the Clothes Closet has always relied exclusively on donations from the Northfield-area community to supply merchandise for its store.

Blaha cited the number of people shopping at thrift stores – about 20% according to a recent article in USA Today – as one of the reasons that the Clothes Closet has been so successful in recent years. He continued, “The Clothes Closet is truly a win-win for the entire community. Over the years, we have greatly benefited from the quality of the goods donated to the Clothes Closet. Our clients are having their basic needs met and all of our customers – no matter their walks of life – receive a good deal. Furthermore, our community benefits when residents shop at the Clothes Closet. One-hundred percent of all sale proceeds are used to support the life-giving programs of the Community Action Center.”

The Clothes Closet remodel currently underway is being spearheaded by CAC Program Director Judy Bickel and Clothes Closet Manager Jane Greenwood. The project will benefit from direction by longtime Northfield resident and construction professional Don Pavek. He, along with other Habitat for Humanity volunteers, will build out a space that will include an expanded sales area and a larger warehouse for accepting and storing donations.

Blaha concluded, “We are very grateful for the tremendous support we’ve received from the Northfield community. Judy and Jane have been fantastic – going above and beyond their daily duties to pull everything together. The Clothes Closet is truly a store with a heart. Everything we do – from our food and housing programs to opportunities that assist our youth and provide client advocacy and referrals – benefits when the Clothes Closet thrives. This is a wonderful extension of our mission to facilitate neighbors helping neighbors.”

The Clothes Closet, which will remain open in its current space inside the Northfield Community Resource Center (1650 Jefferson Parkway) until Friday, May 17, is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. It is anticipated that it will begin accepting donations in its new space – including those items that don’t sell at garage sales – beginning Monday, May 20. Residents are encouraged to consider donating clean, gently used clothing and household goods, especially linens, shoes and jewelry, which are always in high demand.

For more information about the Community Action Center, visit www.communityactioncenter.org or call 507-664-3550.

Popular summer camps fill early, so contact us to find out more!

We are also seeking new or gently used supplies for campers.  We need sleeping bags, beach towels, sunscreen, and non-aerosol insect repellent.  If you or your group would like to help our campers by donating these items, please call us.

In addition to the income level mentioned above, participation in one of the following programs is accepted as proof of income eligibility: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food support, Medicaid, Section 8 and other public housing, free lunch and Low Income Home Energy Assistance. To receive a phone, one member of the household must bring a government-issued photo ID, proof of participation in one of the above assistance programs, and the last four digits of your social security number. If the ID provided does not display a current address, please bring proof of a new address.

Sharon Vangsness, client services coordinator at the Community Action Center, said, “For many of our clients, a program like this is of tremendous value. From scheduling medical appointments and following up on job leads, to contacting a teacher and being able to call for emergency services, in our ever-connected world, many people don’t realize just how difficult it can be to live without a phone connection.”

Appointments to receive a phone can be scheduled by calling 507-664-3550.

The meetings will be held on November 27, one from 1:00 – 2:30 and a second from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Both meetings will offer light refreshments, child care, Spanish translation, and a small gift. The meetings will be held in Room 103 of the Community Resource Center. Please join us!

Last year the CAC received over $6,500 in donations on Give to the Max Day. This year GiveMN has made donating even easier. Minnesotans may use their smartphones and tablets to access GiveMN Mobile and donate by simply visinting GiveMN.org on their mobile browser. Donors may also give on-line at GiveMN.org.

Please support the CAC on Give to the Max Day!