Cinder Boutique's Alone Together Movement
Our Mission For 2023: We are committed to the women and youth of our community and their wellbeing. Bringing awareness about all the amazing non-profit organizations in Central MN by spotlighting one each quarter, sharing what their mission is, and donating a percentage of Cinder Boutique sales to them.
"Together, I know we can help restore the joy of our local women and youth who need us most." -Lori Ruhland, CEO Cinder Boutique
January 2022 Spotlight: Rocori Action Packs
Rocori Action Packs began in September 2014 to provide easy, quick and nutritious food to ROCORI students over the weekend. The purpose of the Packs is to provide food for individual students over the weekend (although more than one student within a family may receive a Pack each weekend).
Cinder helped bag up packs in November (see some photos below) and filled 117 bags per week. This is over 3,500 Packs each School year! While I were honored to help, my heart was heavy knowing that right here in my community there were 117 kids that without this program wouldn’t have food on the weekends.
Each Pack includes 12 items: 4 breakfast foods, 2 meal foods, 3 snacks and 3 fruit products. Each pack is under $5 per student.
If you know of a child/ren that could benefit from this program have them tell their ROCORI school teacher. For families assistance have them contact the ROCORI Area Food Shelf. 320-685-8785
February 2022 Spotlight: Pockets of Hope
Everyday children are rescued from abuse, neglect, and abandonment. These children are confused, scared, and desperate for security, comfort after being separated from family, home and possessions. Children frequently enter foster care with nothing.
Pockets of Hope provides these children with new backpacks filled with personal care items they need, and comfort items they can call their own.
It was started by 3 Mom’s, Lisa, Jennifer and Briana, in 2014. They were part of a similar type of fundraiser for their childcare facility when they realized how much this was needed. {Bless their hearts!}
Go directly to their website to make a monetary donation or donate items in need.
March 2022 Spotlight: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN
Since 1969, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota has believed that in every child is the potential to succeed and thrive. They make meaningful, professionally supported matches between Volunteers and youth. BBBS of Central MN serves youth between the ages of 5 and 21 across a five county service area: Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Morrison, and northern Wright County.
Each year BBBS surveys the youth in their programs and the youth surveyed report:
43% of youth improved or maintained their grades
90% of youth improved or maintained their attitudes toward risky behaviors
83% of youth improved or maintained their parental trust
At BBBS of Central MN there are currently 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟭𝟱 Littles waiting in the 5 county service area.
April 2022 Spotlight: Central MN Child Advocacy Center
CAC is for children who have experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse, they relive their trauma every time they have to tell their story. CentraCare sought to improve this process so that children didn’t have to repeat their story to multiple agencies, multiple times. By establishing the Central Minnesota Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and bringing together a multidisciplinary team, CentraCare and community partners successfully created a “one-stop” approach that’s better for the children.
The mission of the CAC is to provide protection, advocacy, justice and healing to all child abuse victims and their families in Central Minnesota. It works to preserve the dignity and spirit of the child by supporting, advocating for and educating families.
May 2022 Spotlight: Jacob Wetterling Resource Center (JWRC)
Jacob Wetterling Resource Center was founded to educate and assist families and communities to address and prevent the exploitation of children. They continue to work to end all forms of child maltreatment through education, training and prevention while advocating for and serving children, adult survivors and communities.
JWRC’s Vision – End all forms of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation through training, education, advocacy, prevention and awareness, providing care and treatment for children, families, and adult survivors.
JWRC’s Mission – We work to end all forms of child maltreatment through education, training and prevention while advocating for and serving children, adult survivors and communities. The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center has a proven history of helping kids and families.
JWRC’s Values – We value children, we advocate for the missing, and we believe in the power of prevention.
Here you can listen to Jerry & Patty Wetterling speak about their son Jacob: https://youtu.be/-9lfyCY7cFA
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽?
Go directly to their website to make a monetary donation or learn more. ➡️ https://www.zeroabuseproject.org/donate/
June + July 2022 Spotlight: Volunteering for our youth during summer break! Lori & Tami Face Painting at our very own music festival, Rock The River, here in Cold Spring, Mn. This is a free event with tons of fun kid activities, including the beautiful splash pad.
August 2022 Spotlight: INDY Foundation Bowties & Arrows. This amazing non-profit organization directly helps Minnesota Cancer Warriors and their families. The Bowties & Arrows Gala focuses just on Children Cancer Warriors. I can’t say enough positive things about Kayla and all she does with INDY (I’m Not Done Yet). Visit their website to learn more. https://www.im-not-done-yet.com
September 2022 Spotlight:
Ok friends! If you know CB then you know we have a soft spot for helping local children in need. Impacks had teamed up with United Way of Central Minnesota to help collect monetary donations for school supplies. For every 5 Full Box Donations, Impacks will donate a full box! We accepted the challenge Clare Richards and donated 5 Full Boxes. We love what Clare is doing for the community! ❤️ Please consider helping our local kids get the supplies they need to be successful in
October 2022 Spotlight:
Rocori Action Packs began in September 2014 to provide easy, quick and nutritious food to ROCORI students over the weekend. The purpose of the Packs is to provide food for individual students over the weekend (although more than one student within a family may receive a Pack each weekend).
Cinder helped bag up packs last fall and filled 117 bags per week. This is over 3,500 Packs each School year! While I were honored to help, my heart was heavy knowing that right here in my community there were 117 kids that without this program wouldn’t have food on the weekends.
Each Pack includes 12 items: 4 breakfast foods, 2 meal foods, 3 snacks and 3 fruit products. Each pack is under $5 per student.
If you know of a child/ren that could benefit from this program have them tell their ROCORI school teacher. For families assistance have them contact the ROCORI Area Food Shelf. 320-685-8785
How can you help?
November + December 2022-Holiday Angels
During the months of November and December we asked local community members to nominate a Holiday Angel that maybe doesn't get the recognition they deserve. Many of the nominations brought us to tears and all of them left us feeling grateful to spread a little cheer on them during the holiday season with a $40 gift card to Cinder Boutique! All the Angels had a special personalized Angle placed on our store tree.
