Supporting Communities - Soroptimist International of the Twin Cities

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Soroptimist of the Twin Cities launched a new Big Goal Accelerator Project (BGAP) in the Fall of 2023!

Soroptimist clubs and regions around the Americas are using BGAP Projects to decrease barriers and increase access to education for women and girls. It is part of working towards our 2021-2031 Big Goal - to invest in the dreams of half a million women and girls through access to education.

Our BGAP project is a collaboration with Sarah's an Oasis for Women, a home dedicated to the safety and dignity of a diverse community of women who have survived violence, abuse, torture, war, discrimination, and trauma. Sarah's connects its residents to social services, education opportunities, job preparedness training, and necessary medical care, so they can begin new and productive lives. Soroptimist of the Twin Cities is helping accelerate the educational journey of these women by providing free Chrome Book laptops, which they need to complete classes and coursework as they pursue higher education. Women who are interested fill out a simple, 2 page application to show that they are currently working towards advancing their education through programs including healthcare, financial and other technical degrees.

Since launching this initiative in February 2024, we have already awarded two chrome books, which will support these women as they work towards their educational goals, build confidence and advance their career.

Partnership with Sarah's Oasis

Each year Twin Cities Soroptimists serve dinner and provide career networking/guidance for the 2 dozen residents at Sarah's an Oasis for women (a home for international female refugees and asylum seekers).

We also provide welcome bags for all new residents at Sarah's throughout the year. The bags include a combination of cooking tools and other products requested by Sarah's leadership to help new resident women feel at home and start this new period of their life journey. Additionally, we send each resident a birthday card and gift card throughout the year, as many women have no family or even contacts in the community and we want to ensure that none are ever forgotten on their birthday.

Holiday Winter Gear Drives

This year during out 2022 Holiday Party, Soroptimist collected winter items specifically for St. Paul-based "Sarah's an Oasis for Women", which provides housing and support for women form different countries seeking asylum in the United States. We were able to donate 7 bags of supplies including: jackets, sweaters, heavy socks, hats, scarves, leggings, and bath towels, all items requested by the center.

At our December 2018 Holiday party Twin Cities Soroptimists collected donations for the Rosemount Family Resource Center. The Center serves often ignored communities, low income families in the suburbs, who are especially vulnerable in the cold of winter. We collected and donated a total of: 2 winter jackets, 44 winter hats, 38 pairs of mittens, 2 winter scarves, 10 t-shirts, a dozen bottles of shampoo and conditioner, 20 tubes of toothpaste, 5 bottles of baby wash and wipes, 15 bars of soap, 35 tooth brushes, and feminine hygiene products.

More Holiday Giving..... In December of 2017, Soroptimist members collected 5 dozen pairs of new mittens and hats to decorate their tree at the annual Holiday Party. These hats and mittens were later donated to local resource shelters. Similar collections of hats, mittens, scarves, gloves, and winter coats have taken place every year in December for over a decade.

Past Service Events and Community Partnerships

Days for Girls Kit Project and Partnership (2018 - 2020)

Twin Cities Soroptimist partner throughout the year with the New Hope, MN chapter of Days for Girls, an international organization that provides feminine hygiene kits for women and girls throughout the world. These kits are made with love by thousands of volunteers around the world or by local women filling the need for their own community. For more details check out Daysforgirls.org

Girl Rising Movie and Panel Discussion (2015)

SITC partnered with the Minnesota Air National Guard to host a movie and panel discussion on November 7 in 2015. We had 60+ attendees (women, men, girls and boys) participate in this inspirational event to continue efforts to raise awareness of issues facing women and girls. The movie highlighted the stories of nine girls and the obstacles they faced in order to get an education. Before the movie, Laura Jeffrey the Air National Guard gave tours of the C130-H planes, which are used to transport our troops and their equipment. Following the movie, we had a panel discussion led by Joanne Johnson. On the panel were CM Sgt Kristin Von Eschen/UniteWomen.org, Tiffini Flynn Forslund and Allison Stapley from the Laura Jeffrey Academy, as well as our own Mary Cocchiarella and her niece Eliana Renee Cocchiarella. We had a great discussion about the barriers women and girls face.

Working with the Minnesota Food Network (2016 - 2016)

The Twin Cities Soroptimist Club members came out in force to pack boxes of fruit and vegetables for The Food Group, Minnesota’s food distribution center for the state’s food shelves to feed the hungry. In 2016 alone, they packed 420 boxes that will feed 1,680 people. Amazing! Sharon packed 5 lb. bags of potatoes, Karen packed onions and carrots. Mary packed apples, Ann grapefruit. Barb crushed boxes while the guys taped boxes together.