Blessing Bags for the Homeless

DECEMBER SERVICE PROJECT Blessing bags will be assembled at the December social on 12/12/22 at Dottie's house. Food, beverages, games and prizes! If you are unable to attend the social but wish to donate, please contact Dottie  for pick up or drop off and also to R.S.V.P. We are also collecting new and gently used men's, women’s, and children's cold weather gear: coats, hats, scarves, mittens, gloves and boots for one good deed. They will hold their annual "scarf bombing" in Loring Park and Kellogg Park on 01/08/2023. Volunteers will be needed for the event. More information to follow. All items have been collected! Heavy socks, first aid kits, gloves, masks, healthy snacks, gallon zip lock bags, hand warmers, ChapStick, foot powder, Kleenex.

= Dottie Voigt 

Message from the President, December

Happy Holidays I hope that everyone is finding the way to celebrate with family and friends. I look at this time of year as when many spread joy and goodwill. For me in MN Women of Today we are able to spread joy all year with all the community projects, socials and friendships. I am thankful for all of you and everything you do to make the world a better place because you’ve lived and served within it. Keep up the great work! Mary

Cooper Craft Fair GOES GREEN!

On September 19th, Bonnie approached me at the coloring night at Frankie’s, asking if there is something that could be done about all the waste created at the Cooper Craft Fair each year. I was so grateful to her, for bringing this to my attention. 

It was a big opportunity to make a big difference. Luckily, Theresa and Rita were also at coloring night, that night and we were able to put our heads together right away. 

The first concern mentioned was about all the single-use plastic bags that were given out by crafters, so Bonnie and I set a date to make signs for the parking lots. We figured most people probably have reusable bags in their cars, and they probably just need prompting to bring them in. All together, 234 people brought reusable bags this year to the Cooper craft fair. THAT’S something to be proud of! 

The second concern was about waste being created by the coffee bar. Theresa put in a request at her work for funding, for compostable serving ware, and we waited and waited anxiously day after day, for their answer. As soon as they approved the request, Theresa ordered them from Amazon, but then they weren’t going to get here until the day of the fair! Theresa ended up actually purchasing new compostable options the day of. What a trooper! 

Bonnie and I weighed the compost after the fair, and it came to 17 lbs. 

Rita was the one who sent out the email offering crafters the opportunity to contribute to our GO GREEN efforts. In all, 17 vendors chose to contribute a total of $262.95 for the prize basket. The winner-takes-all winner was Linda Lubansky. Congratulations to her! 

Rita was also the one who contacted WCC to promote the Cooper Craft Fair and our GO GREEN initiative. Theresa and I teamed up to do the interview. We were both SO nervous! Theresa spoke about the Cooper Craft Fair and New Hope Women of Today in general, and I spoke about our GO GREEN initiative for people to bring reusable bags.

- Rachel Braaten