Get Involved! Stay Informed.

Help Your Community

There are a number of ways to contribute to your community. Here’s how:

Give Dollars

Just about every organization needs dollars to fund programs and provide services to meet needs in our community. To find out more about an organization you are interested in, visit their website or give them a call.

Network for Good, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people get more involved in their communities, has good tips about giving safely online and giving wisely, such as asking questions about how your gift will be used. Visit www.networkforgood.org for these and other tips about giving. Be sure to check with your tax adviser regarding tax deductions for your charitable donations.

Give Time

Volunteering your time makes you feel good and is a wonderful way to give back to your community. Everyone has skills to share with those in need.

The Twin Cities metro area has thousands of volunteer opportunities available for adults, youth, groups and families. Hands On Twin Cities has a large database of volunteer positions. The database is available online at www.volunteertwincities.org or you can get information by calling (612) 379-4900 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays. They also have tips about finding the right volunteer opportunity and questions to ask before volunteering.

The Greater Twin Cities United Way has volunteer opportunities. United Way Caring Connection offers year-round group volunteer projects available for friends, families or coworkers. You choose projects that meet your group’s interests and location needs.

Visit www.unitedwaytwincities.org and click on “Volunteer” for more information or call (612) 340-7440.

Make Donations

Donations of clothing, furniture, housewares, toys, food, medical supplies, books and even cars all are needed in our community. United Way 2-1-1™, a community information and referral line, has a comprehensive list of organizations in need of donations, including some that will pick up items at your home.

Go to www.211unitedway.org (keywords “donations” and “donation pick ups”) for more details or dial 2-1-1 or (651) 291-0211. Also visit the Charity Review Council at http://www.crcmn.org/donorinfo/donategoods.htm.

Donated books and videotapes are needed by the Minneapolis Public Library (www.mplib.org/wishlist.asp). The St. Paul Public Library Store (www.stpaul.lib.mn.us) accepts donations of recent and bestselling fiction and nonfiction, compact discs, VHS videos and DVDs. Contact your local library for more information.

Community schools also appreciate donations of dollars, time, books, office supplies and musical instruments. Contact your local school for more information about acceptable items and drop-off procedures.

Finally, don’t forget about donating the greatest gift of all. In mid-July, the American Red Cross issued an urgent call for blood donations. Many regions have less than a day’s supply of blood. The Red Cross particularly needs Type O negative blood, the universal blood donor type. Anyone who is at least 17 years of age, weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good health is urged to donate. Contact the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or www.givelife.org. The Memorial Blood Center also needs blood donors. Call 612-871-3300 (Twin Cities); 888-448-3253 (Greater Minnesota); or visit www.memorialbloodcenters.org.

Charitable Giving Guide

Click here to review the Star Tribune Charitable Giving Guide, that was published in October 2006.

Web Links

For more information about the Twin Cities community and its quality of life visit, the Greater Twin Cities United Way News and Trends at www.unitedwaytwincities.org/news.

Metro Trend Watch, a website dedicated to tracking the health and well being of the metro area, is at www.metrotrendwatch.org.

The Search Institute, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge and resources to promote healthy children, youth and communities is at www.search-institute.org.

The Minnesota Keystone Program recognizes corporations that contribute at least 2 percent of their pre-tax earnings to the community. To learn more, visit www.minnesotakeystone.org.

To help you determine your community giving preferences, visit www.guidestar.org. Also visit www.minnesotagiving.org for information about various giving options.

The Charities Review Council of Minnesota (www.crcmn.org) has donor tips and a wealth of information about charities.

For a searchable charities database, go to the State Attorney General’s website at www.ag.state.mn.us/charities.

Information about nonprofit organizations that solicit nationally can be found at the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org.

To find a volunteer opportunity, go to www.volunteertwincities.org or www.unitedwaytwincities.org.

Want to make your donation online? Visit the Network for Good (www.networkforgood.org) for tips about giving safely and wisely.

Go to the United Way’s www.211unitedway.org or the Charity Review Council’s www.crcmn.org/donorinfo/donategoods.htm for a list of organizations that need donations.

Have donations suitable for a library? Visit the Minneapolis Public Library website at www.mplib.org/wishlist.asp or the St. Paul Public Library at www.stpaul.lib.mn.us to learn more.

If you want more information about donating blood, visit the Red Cross website at www.givelife.org or the Memorial Blood Center website at www.memorialbloodcenters.org.