Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul is a local nonprofit whose mission is to “mobilize diverse faith and spiritual communities to engage in work that supports our neighbors’ stability and economic mobility.” We have been honored to partner with them for a number of years now, especially through their programs Project Home (support and emergency shelter for unhoused families) and School Tools (a school-supplies drive for low-income families).
They recently sent out an update about the work that they do, which we are passing along to the readers of the E-vangelist so you can share in the joy and gratitude for what we are helping them achieve in our area!
Now that another school year is underway, we can reflect on a beautiful summer filled with activities and learning, organized by Project Home staff Debbie Barr and Kathy Jo Campbell.
Throughout the summer, Project Home staff introduced children, many for the first time, to the Rondo Community Library, Highland Park Library, and Merriam Park Library. We particularly enjoyed participating in the library’s STEAM drop-in program, FunLab! Kids made crafts, science experiments, engineering projects, and more. At Rondo, our friends at Elpis Enterprises helped us create birdhouses from recycled wood. The children got to use real hammers and small nails, and learned about local birds and their habitats.
In July, the children enjoyed visits to the Science Museum of Minnesota, Union Depot, Woodbridge Park, and Historic Eidem Farm.
Our friends at Saint Paul Public Schools’ Project REACH, who provide onsite tutoring year-round, treated all of the families staying at the Project Home and Faithful Hospitality with a day at the Minnesota Zoo! Other field trips included the Bell Museum, the Caponi Art Park, and a trip to Sun Ray Lanes for pizza and bowling. And what’s a summer in Minnesota without some water fun?! We visited the Highland Pool and the Harmon Park Splashpad in West St. Paul.
Finally, we capped off our summer with a Back-to-School Bash! Children were able to pick out their backpacks (supplied from the fabulous School Tools Drive) and families enjoyed yard games, a bouncy house, and a picnic lunch.
