Recent content from Kelly Smith
More Minnesota students vape marijuana despite increasing campaigns against e-cigarettes
Minnesota has launched a new free program to help teens quit smoking.
'Tiny house' indoor village for the homeless opens March 8 in Minneapolis
The two-year pilot program, called Avivo Village, could become a post-pandemic template for private emergency shelters in place of the usual congregate sleeping spaces.
Rural food shelves see unexpected dip even as food stamp use rises
Hunger isn't fading in rural regions. Many may be relying on pop-up food distributions as well as federal aid in stimulus checks, bolstered unemployment assistance and extra money in food stamps.
In an unprecedented step, Minnesota returns 114 acres to Lower Sioux Indian Community
The Native community sought to reclaim the land for decades.
Minnesota organizations boost aid for Texans in aftermath of winter storm
Some Best Buy employees in Texas will get grants.
Clara Slayhi, globe-trotter who worked for U.S. embassies, dies of COVID-19 at age 91
In a tiny town tucked in the farm fields of North Dakota, Clara Slayhi dreamed as a little girl of trekking to the far-flung countries…
Minnesota food shelves ended 2020 with record visitors, and more of them are older adults
The state's food shelves saw a nearly 7% increase in visitors in 2020, almost double the usual rise.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota adopts North Dakota program that helps older adults
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is taking on North Dakota's Senior Companion Program.
Twin Cities food drives find new ways to reach needy families
Health clinics, churches, rec centers step in to fill empty stomachs in hard times
St. Paul Chamber adopts diversity program eliminated by Wilder
Wilder Foundation eliminated nine programs in 2020 budget cuts.
![Volunteer Sheila Dingels of Minneapolis sanitized her workspace after her volunteer shift back in May at Second Harvest Heartland in Brooklyn Park. ]](https://chorus.stimg.co/22252381/ows_4f47bf48_8e4d_449b_8af7_c5a5c7024407.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
In-person volunteering slowly returns in Minnesota after COVID surge
State's largest food banks resume volunteer shifts.
Golden Valley nonprofit offers hope and sweet potato pie for MLK Day
Rose McGee and her nonprofit, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie, will hand out 92 pies for the holiday.
![A teddy bear sat along with art supplies against a defaced window in one of the bedrooms at St. Joseph’s Home for Children. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • an](https://chorus.stimg.co/22239315/ows_ac1551e3_f8c4_4493_a35b_695445d1f9fa.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Former Minneapolis orphanage becomes homeless women's shelter
Catholic Charities closed St. Joseph's Home for Children last year. The Salvation Army is temporarily leasing it.
Roseville nonprofit expands free food pick-up sites for Minnesotans in need
As hunger crisis grows, Every Meal gets creative with its meal distribution across the state.
New nonprofit runs fund for survivors of Children's Theatre abuse
The theatre company agreed to start the fund with a $500,000 payment.
New nonprofit runs fund for survivors of Children's Theatre abuse
The Children's Theatre Company agreed to start the fund with $500,000.
Nancy Dillon, Minneapolis VA nurse and mental health advocate, dies at 74
Nancy Dillon was a fierce advocate for Minnesotans experiencing mental illness, bolstering the often overlooked psychiatric nursing field in Minnesota's health care system. As a…
Every police-involved death in Minnesota since 2000
The Star Tribune collected the names and stories of everyone who died after a physical confrontation with law enforcement in Minnesota since January 2000, and continues to update this database as new incidents occur.
Group pushes to diversify volunteering at Minnesota nonprofits
Nonprofits want to recruit more people of color, but many already help in church, school, sports.
Minnesota nonprofits boost programs to combat senior isolation during COVID-19 pandemic
Nonprofits strive to keep older adults active amid pandemic
![Cathy Burns, an employee with the City of Minneapolis, handed out food items while volunteering in north Minneapolis Saturday. ] aaron.lavinsky@start](https://chorus.stimg.co/22196963/ows_3d21c90f_e997_43ed_822c_85f611798908.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
2020 draws unprecedented generosity in Minnesota, but what about 2021?
While Minnesota dropped in some year-end rankings of most-generous states, the lists are only one measure of the giving spirit in a year unlike any other.
'Godfather' of Minnesota's nonprofit movement steps down
Jon Pratt, who has led the state Council of Nonprofits for three decades, will stay on as a research fellow.
Grassroots efforts spring up to help Twin Cities families in need
Impulse to help is leading to longer-term efforts for lasting change.
More Minnesotans visited food shelves in 2020 than in any year
Some food shelves are seeing double or triple the number of people in need. And the need is expected through 2021.
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos' ex, gives $25 million to Minnesota nonprofits
Mackenzie Scott, former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, said she gave $4 billion in four months.
McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis names new leader
Tonya Allen will start March 1, heading the foundation that gives more than $100 million a year.
Former state leader tapped to run the Loppet Foundation in Minneapolis
Claire Wilson, a former state leader at the Department of Human Services, starts Dec. 14.
Minnesota foundations boosted giving in 2020 to respond to COVID-19, racial injustice
A new report released Tuesday also shows the latest trends in philanthropy in the state.
Anonymous donor drops $1,600 in Salvation Army's Twin Cities red kettles again this year
The donor known as St. Grand has given nearly $140,000 to the Salvation Army since 2011.
Twin Cities toy drives face volunteer, toy shortages due to COVID-19
While some volunteer events went virtual, toy drives still need in-person help.
Annual Walk to End Hunger goes virtual, falls short of $250K goal
In all, $208,000 was donated to support nine organizations.
Minnesota families retool Thanksgiving traditions amid pandemic
They streamed to Plymouth from across the Twin Cities, on their way to pick up plastic containers of carrots, foil-wrapped platters of turkey and homemade…
Annual holiday toy drives shift to virtual efforts
Pandemic pushing many nonprofit activities online.
Historic Oliver Kelley Farm in Elk River grows 9,000 pounds of produce to donate to food shelf
The Oliver Kelley Farm transformed its educational gardens into victory gardens benefiting people in need.
Nonprofits push for more government help as COVID aid expires
With CARES funding set to expire, state groups say the need for aid is dire.
Give to the Max Day draws record $30.5 million
Minnesotans' outpouring of generosity in the midst of a pandemic catapulted the final tally for the annual Give to the Max Day to…
Minnesotans set a Give to the Max Day record, giving $30 million
Despite the pandemic, Give to the Max donations soared past last year's tally.
Minnesota nonprofits brace for a worse 2021
A new report shows 40% of nonprofit employees filed for unemployment in 2020; volunteer shortage looms.
Give to the Max Day aims to boost donations for Minn. nonprofits as COVID-19 strains budgets
Nonprofits are depending on Give to the Max Day to make up for lost fundraisers
National fund started in Minnesota for families of health care workers who died of COVID
Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm says the goal is to raise millions to pay for funerals, other expenses.
From free Thanksgiving meals to Christmas toy drives, nonprofits retool traditions
Meals and toys will mostly be prepackaged, distributed using drive-throughs.
Dakota County program gives homeless youth a safe place
Dakota County, like other places in Minnesota, is seeing a rise in homelessness.
Twin Cities United Way revenue dropped $7M in 2019
The nonprofit has increased services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Catholic Charities names former Minneapolis schools leader Michael Goar as new CEO
Former Big Brothers chief comes to job at critical era.
Nonprofits face volunteer shortage as virus cases rise and holidays near
Holidays are a critical time for outreach, and nonprofits are asking for help.
Hennepin County backs Minnesota Central Kitchen as COVID-19 hunger crisis grows
Nonprofit agency on pace to top 1 million free meals served to Minnesotans.
Minnesota foundations are boosting racial justice work after George Floyd's death
Charitable organizations are now bolstering their racial justice work — from diversifying leadership to retooling grants.
COVID-cation options in Minnesota include new tiny cabins and grain silos
Surprising lodging offerings in central Minnesota are perfect for social-distancing vacations.
Some Minnesota nonprofits give employees time off to cope with 2020 fatigue
Long workdays, endless juggling lead some nonprofit bosses to boost paid time off.
Salvation Army outbreak sickens a third of those at conference
Twenty Salvation Army staff from Minnesota and North Dakota tested positive for COVID-19 after 62 people attended a recent conference in northern Minnesota, underscoring how easily the virus can spread.
Minnesota's National Black Police Association chapter boosts outreach in wake of George Floyd's death
The state group, one of 23 in the U.S., has also focused on mentoring and diversifying hiring as well as increasing mental health help for officers.
Gloria Kiester, longtime St. Olaf music instructor and global traveler, dies at 87
"Music was the heartbeat of her life," a niece said.
New report shows Minnesota LGBTQ teens and adults overrepresented in homeless population
Advocates say the foundation's work shows a gap in state resources.
Philando Castile's mom honored for anti-racism work by St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation
She was one of four to receive the foundation's 14th annual Facing Race Awards.
Trump appointee visits Twin Cities homeless encampments, shelters
Top federal official Robert Marbut Jr. lauded the state's efforts to protect the vulnerable.
Minnesota nonprofits boost voter outreach for 2020 election
From Zoom workshops to phone banking, fresh strategies are aimed at groups who are often left out.
Minnesota nonprofits worry about 'donor fatigue' during COVID-19 as they kick off year-end fundraising
Nonprofits hope donors rally after a record year.
Salvation Army launches red kettle campaign early, pivots to focus on online giving during COVID-19 pandemic
The nonprofit is even hoping to push online giving through its annual red kettles with QR codes directing people online.
Minnesota Red Cross seeks volunteers as crises escalate across U.S.
Julie Buerkle boarded a plane Saturday bound for Florida, but not for the beach. With travel plans nixed during the pandemic, the Roseville 54-year-old found…
Trump's praise of Robert E. Lee gets pushback from Minnesotans proud of state's role at Gettysburg
Minnesota soldiers played a pivotal role at Gettysburg, a major Confederate loss.
Sanneh Foundation adds new athletic fields, dome for year-round sports in St. Paul
Sanneh Foundation's first-class facility gives St. Paul kids a leg up with sports.
Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul aims to raise $40M in largest fundraiser ever
Twin Cities nonprofit seeks more visitors to nature center and trails.
Minnesota AG Keith Ellison bans group from seeking donations in state
The state of Minnesota is banning an organization from soliciting donations that scammed residents into thinking they were donating to support people in need. A…
More than 70 Minnesotans deployed to assist Western wildfires
Firefighters, support crew members and Red Cross volunteers are working in several areas devastated by raging wildfires.
George Floyd's family launches foundation on social change
The family of George Floyd has launched a nonprofit foundation and will make the formal announcement Sunday during the annual National Homeless Day event in Minneapolis.
Mpls. Park Board plans $1M rehab of Cedar, Lake of the Isles channel
The project will replace crumbling retaining walls, add flowers, shrubs.
Retooled Kelley farm becomes pandemic victory garden
Since spring, the farm has grown nearly 7,000 pounds of food that has all gone to a local food shelf.
Minnesota nonprofits plead for more help as hunger crisis surges
More are needing help, especially after the extra unemployment aid ended.
Loppet Foundation leader elevated Nordic skiing in Minn., revitalized Wirth Park
For 18 years, the Loppet leader elevated Nordic skiing and access to the outdoors.
Revenue declines have Minnesota nonprofits looking for a boost amid 'Zoom fatigue'
Some organizations worry they may not survive the economic crisis.
United Way's largest volunteer event — filling school backpacks for needy kids — shifts to home
About 3,000 volunteers filled backpacks at home.
Nonprofit auto shop looks to expand to meet growing need after unrest in Minneapolis
The Lift Garage survived violence on East Lake Street with help from volunteers, customers and even strangers.
Twin Cities YMCA announces name change to YMCA of the North
The Y has buildings, programs and camps in the metro, southeastern and northern Minnesota, and western Wisconsin.
After loss of newspaper, Eden Prairie residents look to launch nonprofit news website
In response to the closing of the suburb's weekly newspaper, a group has launched the Eden Prairie Local News Group.
Minnesota museums reopening as they struggle to survive during COVID-19
Some museums won't outlast the crisis, a new national study predicts.
