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March Volunteer Activity

Fifteen Emerging Leaders dressed up in lab coats and hairnets tojoin the fight against hunger on March 21st.  Volunteers packed and sorted chicken sticks and pork patties in the clean room at Channel One Food Bank.  Our task master, Nabil, kept us motivated and moving like a well-oiled machine.  By the end of the night we loaded up 4 pallets of protein.  Thanks to everyone who participated!

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February Volunteer Activity

Twenty Emerging Leaders warmed hearts and stomachs on Valentine’s Day at Sandra J. Schulze American Cancer Society Hope Lodge. Volunteers prepared and served tacos and sides to 60-80 residents of Hope Lodge.  Hope Lodge provides a temporary home-like residence without charge to cancer patients. It facilitates the cancer treatment process by providing an emotional supportive environment, while reducing the financial burden of necessary multiple nights stays. Afterward we went to Dooley’s for a happy hour and networking. 

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January Volunteer Activity

Eleven Emerging Leaders helped to shrink the technology divide on January 19th by participating in Ability Building Center’s Ability Built Computers. We cleaned monitors, keyboards, sorted power and connector cords, and did some computer imaging. All in all we refurbished a bunch of computers and peripherals that will benefit individuals and families who could not otherwise afford the technology.  Afterward we went to Paradise Pete’s for some happy hour specials and networking.

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December Volunteer Activity

Twenty-six Emerging Leaders and Fuel members spread some holiday cheer on December 8th by participating in The Salvation Army's Children's Shopping Trip. We each paired up with an 8 or 9 year old child and went shopping at Shopko for gifts for their family members. All in all 165 kids participated in this year's event.

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November Thank You Event

We gathered at the Elks Lodge on Nov 16 to celebrate & thank our outstanding Emerging Leaders. Approx. 55 young professionals have participated in one or more ELIG volunteer activities in 2010!

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October Volunteer Activity

Eighteen Emerging Leaders helped sort and distribute winter coats Oct 11 & 21. The total number of coats given away this year through Community Winter OuterWear was 2,582! Thanks everyone for helping keep families and individuals in Olmsted County warm this winter.

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September Volunteer Activity

Friday Sept 10, nine Emerging Leaders joined other volunteers to put on an event that raised money for three youth mentoring organizations - Bolder Options, Boys & Girls Club, and Y Mentors. We served the signature drink, guarded the silent auction table and interacted with guests.

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August Volunteer Activity

Twenty-four Emerging Leaders helped to assemble and hand out grade-specific school supply kits and backpacks on August 16 & 24 as a part of United Way's Running Start for School initiative. Thanks for helping give 2,535 Olmsted County students the tools they need to succeed in school.

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July Volunteer Activity

Camp Victory

Due to the heavy rains earlier in the week we were unable to work on the trails so we ended up heading out to the BB gun range to install a split rail fence and repair target backdrops. Despite a small group, we got a lot accomplished and enjoyed the beautiful scenery at Camp Victory. Thanks to everyone who helped out!

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June Volunteer Activity

Packaging pasta at Channel One

Seventeen Emerging Leaders joined in the fight against hunger by being part of the solution on June 21st.  Volunteers packaged lots and lots of pasta in the clean room at Channel One Food Bank.  Our task master, Nabil, kept us motivated and moving like a well-oiled machine in our three pasta packaging assembly lines.  By the end of the night we loaded up 2 pallets of approximately 1200 lbs of pasta.  Afterward we headed over to Whistle Binkies on the Lake to enjoy some mystery beers, dinner and networking.  Thanks to everyone who participated!

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May Volunteer Activity

Set-up for NAMI Walk

Nine emerging leaders met at the UCR Regional Sports Center on Friday, May 14^th to help set up for the NAMI Walk for Research and Education. NAMI Southeast Minnesota is a grassroots non-profit organization comprised of mental health consumers, family members and professionals in our community who are dedicated to helping improve the lives of those affected by mental illness. 360 walkers and 26 teams came to support NAMI.

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April Volunteer Activity

Litter Bit Better

On Thursday, April 22, a group of Emerging Leaders participated in a community-wide effort to keep Rochester clean and pristine. Our young professionals group joined 229 groups made up of 3,500 volunteers to help with this year’s Litter Bit Better pick-up.  Thanks to everyone that helped out!  Below are some quotes from a few of our Design Team members:

"Picking up a park on a gorgeous spring day was not only fun but very rewarding.  Many people in the group were stopped and thanked by complete strangers.  It was a fantastic way to meet new people and feel good about making one of Rochester's most used parks better!" – Nick Campion

 “The opportunity to work with ‘A Litter Bit Better’ was a positive one.  It was fun to see old and new faces come together to take care of something that we all care about, the City of Rochester.  As members of this community it is important to give back and preserve it; if that means rolling up our sleeves and picking up trash we’ll find a way to make it a fun and positive experience.  I will definitely be back next year!!” – Jessica Reinke

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March Volunteer Activity

Taco Party at Hope Lodge

Twenty Emerging Leaders prepared and served a tasty meal for 70-80 Hope Lodge residents on Monday, March 29th. The Sandra J. Schulze American Cancer Society Hope Lodge provides a temporary home-like residence without charge to cancer patients. Hope Lodge facilitates the cancer treatment process by providing an emotional supportive environment, while reducing the financial burden of necessary multiple night stays. Thanks to all the Emerging Leaders who participated! Special thanks to Becky Paape of the Emerging Leaders Design Team, who coordinated the food.

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February Volunteer Activity

Set up for 'A Chair Affair'

Eleven Emerging Leaders had a sneak peek into one of Rochester’s largest fundraising event – ‘A Chair Affair’ on Friday, February 26.  Oh and they also helped to set up too!  We had a great time completing a variety of tasks including: adding auction labels to programs, organizing silent auction stations, placing table markers, and organizing the entry way.  Over 450 people attended the event on February 27^th, which helped to raise funds for programs that serve over 2300 youth in our community, who are members of the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester. The Boys and Girls Club gives safe and affordable access to quality programs that not only shape lives, but save lives. Thanks to all the Emerging Leaders who participated!

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December Volunteer Activity

Children's Christmas Shopping Trip at The Salvation Army

Despite this event being postponed one week due to wintery weather, our Emerging Leaders and FUEL members persevered - all 15 of us. We had a fantastic time shopping one-on-one with the 8 and 9-year old kids we were matched with; helping them select Christmas gifts for each of their family members. This was also a great opportunity for Emerging Leaders in Giving and FUEL Rochester to join together to offer young professionals a chance to make a difference in the lives of others and bring a sense of holiday cheer to families that are less fortunate in our community.  Thanks to all that participated! This continues to be one of the most popular Emerging Leaders Volunteer Activities each year.

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November Thank You Event

We wanted to thank all our Emerging Leaders for not just wearing the t-shirt but LIVING IT! On November 10th we hosted our first Dirty T-Shirt Thank You event at the Elks Lodge from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Seventeen new and existing Emerging Leaders enjoyed appetizers, beverages, and each other. We look forward to making this an annual event!

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October Volunteer Activity

Community Winter OuterWear

Twenty-one Emerging Leaders helped to sort and distribute winter coats and outerwear accessories to over 2,300 individuals in need in Olmsted County. We had lots of fun organizing boots, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, snow pants, and coats into various sizes/categories on October 13th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. On October 15th we welcomed, checked in, and escorted individuals and families as they shopped for their perfect winter coat and accessories.  

This was a great opportunity for us to be involved with a community-wide effort to keep Olmsted County children and adults in need warm this winter. Thanks to all who participated!

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September Volunteer Activity

At the Rochester Education Summit

Six Emerging Leaders handed out food and beverages to attendees of the Rochester Education Summit on Saturday, September 26^th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.  We picked up donated chips and salsa from Chipotle, and handed out hot dogs and poured beverages for approximately 300 Summit attendees. We also helped to clean up the food/beverage area. 

This was a great opportunity to be a part of a community-wide effort to help students be successful in school and our community. Thanks to Lisett Comai, Jenny Hegland, Jess Irhke, Ray Legrand, Alex Nahvi and Becky Nahvi that came out on Saturday to help!

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August Volunteer Activity

Running Start for School

Twenty-four Emerging Leaders volunteered across two evenings, helping to assemble school supply kits and distribute them.

On August 20th from 6:30-8:30 p.m., 14 Emerging Leaders assembled grade-specific school kits at United Way of Olmsted County.

On August 26th from 5:30-8 p.m., 13 Emerging Leaders escorted families of students as they selected their backpacks and school supplies.

Thanks to all that helped with this community-wide effort to provide 2,237 Olmsted County students the tools to succeed in school this year!

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July Volunteer Activity

At the Channel One Clean Room

Thirteen Emerging Leaders worked in the clean room at Channel One Food Bank & Food Shelf on Monday, July 20^th from 6-8 p.m.  We labeled 2 pallets of canned peas, carrots and beets that will be distributed to local food shelves.  We also sorted donated food items that will be made available to clients at the Channel One Food Shelf. 

Afterwards we headed to Whistle Binkies on the Lake for some libations, food and networking. 

This was a great opportunity to learn about the hunger needs in our community, meet other young professionals, and feel good by giving time to a worthy cause

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May Volunteer Activity

Born Learning Trail Installed at Silver Lake Park

Weather had delayed the April/May ELIG Volunteer Project two weeks and at times it looked like it might again on Saturday morning, May 9. But the weather stayed dry - cloudy and cold, but dry.

Thanks to Nick Campion, Matt Fiscus, Becky Nahvi, Becky Pinero, David Strauss, and Ryan Tye for digging holes and filling them back in, and painting shapes and letters and hopscotch.

A special thanks to our crew chief, Ryan Hegland!