Steve's 2011 Birthday Fundraiser for Dakota Woodlands

My birthday wish is that the "cycle of poverty" that mires so many children in poverty ends soon.

The “cycle of poverty” is a set of factors or events by which poverty, once started, is likely to continue unless there is outside intervention. According to the 2010 census, almost one in four American children live in poverty. And homelessness makes it worse.

When the Wilder Foundation conducted their most recent study on homelessness in Minnesota, children and their parents were the fastest-growing segment of the homeless since the study began in 1991. On October 22, 2009, the study counted 1,675 homeless families with 3,251 children age 17 and younger.

Those are scary numbers! Luckily, there are organizations working to intervene to end the cycle.

Dakota Woodlands is the only shelter specifically for families who are homeless in our community. Families stay as long as necessary to move from homelessness to homes of their own. During that time, families are provided with a variety of educational and supportive services which address the issues related to homelessness and help them to successfully obtain and maintain permanent housing.

The confirmation group I led took special interest in homelessness and as a service project put together a “move out basket” for a family at Dakota Woodlands. It was a fun and meaningful experience for us. For my birthday I would like to increase the contribution beyond a “move out basket” and provide some financial support to Dakota Woodlands in this time when nonprofits are struggling to get donations.

I think it is really important for all of us to work to make our community better, to love our neighbors, and to be examples in our community of how we can make a difference. I hope you will make a difference and help me celebrate my birthday by making a donation to Dakota Woodlands or your favorite charity. Thank you.