2021 A Year in Review

Unprecedented! If we had to choose one word that described 2021, that’s what it would be.

Despite some huge adversities that the shelter faced with the pandemic, we had some amazing things happen this past year.

Highlights of 2021:

1. We appreciate and extend our gratitude to our volunteers. Even though we were not able to have volunteers in the shelter for parts of the year, our volunteers still amassed over 700 hours!

2. We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity of donors, individuals, and corporations. We had three individuals and six businesses donate at our Keystone level! This generosity led to a successful fundraising year:

  • In-Person and Live Real Stories|One Stage
  • ParTee Fore A Purpose had more golfers and sponsors than ever before
  • The Impact of COVID-19 Crisis online fundraiser helped us navigate October
  • Waddle Off Your Gobble was the first-ever community-led fundraiser
  • Santa Shoppe was brimming with donations that our residents loved
  • 12 Days of Giving Thanks helped us pause with acts of kindness to our friends, family, and community
  • Coon Rapids Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM held a Thanksgiving fundraiser for holiday meals

3. The Homeless Memorial March was always extremely powerful. We honored the memory of and mourned the loss of 3 residents that we lost this year, along with the many others that passed away while homeless.

Some of the struggles we had in 2021 include:

1. Staffing shortages.

2. The COVID outbreak in the fall that required our residents to move into a hotel. It was stressful navigating through this health crisis and the funding needed.

3. The limit of space. Even though we did everything right and followed CDC guidelines, when we tried to bring back 66 people into the shelter, COVID came like a tsunami.

Throughout all these challenges, we couldn’t have done it without everyone’s support. From individuals, to businesses, to hotel partners, and our community. Thank you to our entire family of supporters!

#togetherwemoveforward  #hopeforthehomeless  #endhomelessness