FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Anoka, Minnesota – October 15, 2024 – At a time when individuals and households throughout Minnesota are experiencing hardships in numbers never seen before, the Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless Foundation is working hard to ensure its funding reaches those in need in every corner of the state.

In its most recent Fall funding cycle, Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless has granted Stepping Stone Emergency Housing with $5000 funding toward the replacement of 66 resident mattresses in the emergency shelter.  By improving comfort, health, and engagement, this funding will have a significant impact on Stepping Stone’s ability to deliver effective programs and support residents in their journey towards stability and self-sufficiency. This investment will help Stepping Stone uphold its mission, vision, and values, ultimately leading to a more supportive and effective shelter environment.

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing was founded in 2005 in Anoka, Minnesota with the mission of providing immediate and compassionate support to individuals experiencing homelessness. Its organization began as a response to a critical need for emergency shelter services in its community. Over the years, it have expanded its services to address not only the immediate needs of its residents but also the underlying challenges that contribute to homelessness. Since its inception, Stepping Stone has evolved into a 24/7 emergency shelter, dedicated to supporting individuals 18 and older.

Since 1986, the Open Your Heart Foundation has ensured that emergency shelters, food shelves and domestic violence shelters throughout Minnesota have the tools, equipment, and infrastructure necessary to best serve those in need.

Open Your Heart awards funds every three months and provides emergency support within days during a crisis. It supports programs in communities where many traditional funders do not reach – food shelves, domestic violence shelters, and homeless programs in small communities and sparsely served remote corners of the state. Through this direct support, Open Your Heart helps these organizations provide safe and dignified environments for people experiencing food and housing insecurity across Minnesota.

For more information about Open Your Heart, grantees or the grant application process visit www.oyh.org.