National Assistance League

Food for kids - distributes weekend food to students and young adults experiencing food insecurity. In 2024-2025 9,579 weekend food packs were delivered to over 300 recipients at 4 minneapolis schools. In partnership with every meal, 2,005 weekend food packs were provided to 80 students at bethune and emerson elementary schools and 1,236 additional summer meal bags were provided through libraries in north minneapolis. In partnership with oasis for youth, we provided easy to access, heat, and carry food items to be distributed by oasis for youth staff to homeless and highly mobile youth ages 16-24 in bloomington, edina, and richfield. In 2024-2025, 491 youth received food items through this partnership.

Links to learning - awards grants to teachers and staff for enrichment projects that improve student achievement, build community and enhance curriculum. In 2024-2025, we awarded 141 grants that positively affected 18,516 students in minneapolis, richfield, st. Paul, and south st. Paul.

Academic all stars - recognizes students for achievements as determined by school staff, because every child can achieve something. In 2024-2025, a total of 7 recognition events were held at the four participating schools. A total of 308 minneapolis and st. Paul students were honored in grades prek-5. They each received an aas shirt, wristband, framed photo and certificate. Literacy plus - provides one on one literacy mentoring, author visits, special events and books to take home at bethune elementary school. In 2024-2025, 40 second grade students each received 17 books throughout the year, for a total of 680 books. Students at bethune also received access to two web-based interactive reading programs (reading a-z & raz kids). All of bethune's 16 classrooms/teachers and their 288 students benefited from these interactive programs. Our school reads - encourages a love of reading and builds community by providing books to an entire school or community of students. In 2024-2025, 1,989 books were distributed to students in the minneapolis, richfield, south st. Paul and st. Paul public school districts. Start smart - provides essential items to promote academic success and to support students and young adults. During 2024-2025 approximately 8,883 students in minneapolis, richfield, st. Paul, and so. St. Paul schools received needed items including winter wear, clothing, hygiene products, earphones, books, games, bus passes, gas cards and gift cards to support learning. Assault survivor kits - provides new clothing and hygiene items to hospital emergency rooms statewide for survivors of sexual assault. In 2024-2025, 330 assault survivor kits with clothing and hygiene items were mailed to hospital emergency rooms statewide. Through a special trust bequest, the ask program was able to provide needed furniture and comfort items to both the sojourners shelter and passageway shelter. We also provided 131 welcome packs for women and children at sojourners shelter and 45 additional welcome packs for teens at passageways shelter. Blankets and sheets were provided to the minneapolis police sex crimes unit for survivors of sexual assault. In total 515 individuals were served through the ask program. Gifting - ensures that all thrift shop donations make their way into the community through partner organizations. Scholarships - post-secondary scholarships were awarded to students at minneapolis college and to graduates of richfield high school. In 2024- 2025, 14 individuals benefitted from our scholarship program.