Volunteer Opportunities for Groups

Adopt-a-Garden

Beginning in April and finishing up in October, people are in their gardens creating painted landscapes of flowers, bushes, trees and ornamental grasses. Several of our homes have gardens, ranging in size from accessible garden beds to sweeping landscapes of annuals and perennials. We have both scheduled and impromptu garden dates where family, friends, volunteers and the people we support get their hands into the soil to keep our gardens looking beautiful all summer long. If you are a Master Gardener, an experienced gardener or a novice and you would like to spend some time outdoors then this is the opportunity for you. Choose an established date or e-mail Toni Boelter at tonib@dakcom.org to create your own garden day with your group.

Adopt-a-Highway

Twice a year our self-advocates with their support staff venture out to Hwy 110 in Mendota Heights between Dodd Road and Marie Avenue and clean up the roadway. Dakota Communities is proud to be an active participant in this program and the people we support report that they feel a sense of pride in giving back to a community that has been home to many people who have received services through the Dakota Communities. We get together once in the Spring and once in the Fall, with a picnic in the parking lot of our corporate office following each event. Dates are listed below.

 Support our STARS!

Dakota Communities' self advocacy group, STARS, meets monthly at our training center in South St. Paul, MN. Volunteers are needed to sponsor and support these meetings which meet the second Monday of each month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

 Set up and clean up, refreshments and friendship are the activities that volunteers can assist with, along with the chance to participate in a very exciting movement towards independence and the ability to have everyone's voice heard, regardless of ability. Meeting dates are listed below.

 Adopt-a-Home

Groups looking for the chance to connect with individuals in one location can achieve that by choosing one of our homes to connect with on a weekly, monthly, yearly or one - time basis. We pride ourselves on being parts of our communities, and our homes and their locations reflect that part of our mission. But we are always looking for opportunities to invite our communities into our homes. Whether it's a day of yard work, an outdoor barbeque, throwing a birthday party or "kitchen shower" for the home, the chance to get to know people and develop friendships in one location over time is an amazing opportunity.

 

Volunteer Opportunities for Individuals

Support a Person

There are several opportunities within our homes to meet and support a person at Dakota Communities. Just as your interests are broad, so are those of the people who live in our homes. After completing an inventory of your own personal interests, we will match you with someone whose interests are similar. These may include meeting someone in their home and working on a scrap-booking project or a puzzle, or picking someone up and taking them to a religious service or the local gym to work out. The possibilities are endless. 

Support a Volunteer

Ongoing volunteer opportunities have been created for the people at Dakota Communities at nursing homes, hospitals, local garden centers, Meals-On-Wheels, the Minnesota Aids Project and the Metris Uptown Art Fair. During these opportunities, the people we serve not only can give back to the local parks in the communities in which they live, but they are assured of a valued role in society, increasing self assurance, independence and quality of life.

Support a Project

Share your unique skills and event planning flair as a volunteer for exciting fundraising events like these:

Family Fun Day at Como Park - June 15, 2010

GALA Celebration - Fall 2010

 

 

 If you are handy with a hammer, or great at light office duties, this is the opportunity for you. We provide 24 hour maintenance support to the organization both on a preventative level as well as special projects. Our administrative office always welcomes assistance with large mailing, copying or shredding projects.

Volunteer Orientation!

Our volunteer orientation is held twice per month on the first Saturday morning of each month and the third Tuesday evening of each month. Special orientation can be rescheduled for large groups or special events, both in our Training Department in South St. Paul or at your location.

For these and other volunteer opportunities at Dakota Communities, contact Toni Boelter, Director of Community Life, tonib@dakcom.org or click volunteer now to begin the volunteer process.

 

  

Dakota Communities Benefits from Deloitte's Ninth Annual Impact Day

On June 6, 2008 over 30 of Deloitte's Twin Cities employees set aside their regular work and contributed their time to volunteering with people at Dakota Communities as they did Adopt-A-Highway clean-up and prepared Dakota Communities' gardens for planting. We are proud to have been selected to be a part of the organization's ninth annual IMPACT Day, a one-day celebration of its year-round commitment to workplace volunteerism.

 

 

                                    

 

 

 

Maintenance or Clerical Support