Stepping Stone’s Response to What is Happening in our World Right Now
As Stepping Stone, we stand on our four pillars of empower, respect, collaborate, and steward. It’s not enough that they are on our web site and printed on a sign. We need to step up and prove that these words have power and purpose, providing us with a compass on how to live our lives, at work, at home, and in our communities.
In response to what’s happening right now, we are:
- Empowering staff and residents by providing a safe space to voice thoughts, feelings, and emotions without fear of saying the wrong thing, because saying nothing is worse.
- Respecting each other to intentionally improve upon our communication, actions, and responses to racial issues, tension, and confrontation.
- Collaborating with those who have lived experiences of homelessness and racial oppression, both staff and residents, to ensure that our communications, actions, and responses are productive and necessary.
- Being good stewards by looking after, managing, and ensuring that all residents receive the support, resources, and opportunities they need.
We continue to work hard for those who are experiencing homelessness, regardless of color, shade, blemish, and brokenness.
Precautions:
- Effective immediately, staff, residents, and essential workers who assist residents are the only individuals allowed into the shelter. We will be discontinuing all volunteer opportunities, group activities, and tours of Stepping Stone until further notice.
- Masks must be worn at all time while inside the shelter, both residents and staff.
- Partee Fore a Purpose on Thursday, September 10, at The Refuge, will look a little different as we follow all recommended health and safety guidelines.
- Conversations are ongoing for when (not if) the COVID-19 virus comes to Stepping Stone.
What Can you Do?
Immediate Needs for the Kitchen:
- Saltines
- Ritz crackers or generic
- Bulk bags of potato chips
- Coffee grounds – regular only
- Nacho/tortilla chips
- Fresh apples, oranges, bananas and pears
- Canned fruit
Immediate Needs for Residents:
- New or gently used:
- XL twin sheets
- Blankets/bedding
- Kitchen utensils (for residents who are moving out)
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes (individually wrapped only)
- Slippers/House Shoes (variety of men’s and women’s sizes)
For Consistent Updates:
Please check out our Facebook page. You can simply click below:
When the risk of Covid 19 has decreased, please continue to remember Stepping Stone and our year round efforts:
Everyone has a place to call home. Empower. Respect. Collaborate. Steward.
A Homeless Shelter Working To End Homelessness
Stepping Stone Emergency Housing is a one-of-a-kind shelter that’s working to break the cycle of homelessness.
We’re more than “just” a place to sleep for the night. We’re a temporary, but short-term home for 66 men and women ages 18+. That means we’re here 24/7 with a bed to call your own, three meals a day, plus laundry and showers.
But that’s not all — and here’s what really makes Stepping Stone unique.
We work with residents one-on-one to create an individualized plan to help them move from homelessness to self-sufficiency. We provide a variety of on-site supports — from classes on topics like financial literacy and job interview skills to weekly medical appointments and more — to help residents take steps toward independence with dignity and compassion.
Stepping Stone is the only homeless shelter serving youth and adults in the five-county area of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Washington counties. Learn more about how to Get Involved or How to Get Help.
2020 Real Stories | One Stage – a VIRTUAL Stepping Stone Experience
Maybe you missed this year’s powerful musical portrayal of real stories of those experiencing homelessness, or want to watch it again. Hit the button below to view.
Thank you 2020 sponsors: 21st Century Bank, Financial One Credit Union, Hoffman Weber Construction, MidWestOne Bank, Blaine-Ham Lake Rotary Club, Box Financial, and Chain of Lakes Church.
2020 ParTee Fore a Purpose Annual Fundraiser
We had a beautiful day at The Refuge on September 10 for our 2020 ParTee Fore a Purpose! The Curbside Concert by Kat Perkins was the perfect way to end our successful day. Thank you Self-Sufficiency Title Sponsor, Financial One Credit Union, and ALL our sponsors, golfers, and supporters. We depend on this annual fundraiser to keep our shelter doors open.
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Donate with confidence, knowing that Stepping Stone has met the Charities Review Council’s stringent standards for excellence in nonprofit management.
Stepping Stone Emergency Housing is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. One hundred percent of your donation is tax deductible. Upon receiving your donation, we will send you a letter which will serve as your receipt. Tax ID# 20-3226868
“We may not be able to repair what does not want to be fixed, but we can cause a breakthrough, an opening for more compassion, understanding, and change.”
Michelle, former Stepping Stone resident
Our Guiding Principles & Values
-Empower individuals to change their lives
-Treat each resident with dignity and respect
-Collaborate with partners in providing services
-Ensure strong stewardship in managing resources