CEAP’s annual Back to School program will again help local children, grades K-8, get the packpacks and school supplies they need for the 2009-10 school year. Come to the charity’s tables from August 7th - 16th at Northtown Mall, and from August 15th, 16th, 22nd, and 23rd at Brookdale Center, to inquire about the program and adopt a child. Shoppers who visit can choose a tag identifying the name, age, gender and grade of a child in need. Then shoppers gather appropriate supplies and bring them back to the table for distribution.

Last year CEAP was able to prepare and distribute nearly 3,000 backpacks to local families! And if food shelf usage is any indicator, the number of families in need of school support this year will be even higher. CEAP has seen a 25% increase in food shelf usage this year when compared to 2008. They’ve given nearly 88,500 more pounds of food this year than at this time last year. That’s an extraordinary difference.

In addition to visiting the malls, people are welcome to host school supply drives or give monetary donations. Supplies need to be dropped off at either CEAP office by August 21, 2009.

CEAP also needs volunteers to help with collection and distribution of Back to School donations. If you are interested please call Tammy at 763-450-3679.

If you or someone you know is in need of school supplies for their children this fall, or if you have questions about the program please call Annetta at CEAP’s Brooklyn Park office, 763-566-9600, Tom at CEAP’s Blaine office, 763-783-4930.

Chef Sam’s Catering donated lunch, while the Champlin High School Band provided the music. A raffle, Clothing Closet fashion show, and award ceremony were part of the festivities. Six volunteers were presented with CEAP’s coveted Carol Dale award. The award commemorates CEAP volunteer Coordinator, Carol Dale, who passed away of cancer in 1997 at the early age of 52. The award is given to those volunteers who embody her generosity and dedication to the community. This year’s winners were Winn Bilodeau, Ed Breitbach, Emily Nelson, Fran Simon, Harry Spoden, and Emmerick Thibodeau.

In addition, Community Partner awards were given to individuals, organizations, and businesses for their contributions of food, time, and money to CEAP’s cause. This year’s Community Partner award winners included Charles Fischbach, Christ Lutheran Church, the Church of St. Gerard, and Target.

Volunteers are an integral part of CEAP. They assist staff in nearly every program and department. They make up CEAP’s car loan committee; sort, pack, and distribute food for CEAP’s two food shelves; and monitor, sort, and stock clothing in CEAP’s Clothing Closet. They do data entry in CEAP’s Administrative Department; deliver meals to seniors through CEAP’s Meals On Wheels program; rake yards and clean homes for the elderly and disabled through CEAP’s Senior Chores program; and work CEAP’s special events, including their Holiday Distribution and Back to School program.

CEAP’s volunteers have even created their own groups to help CEAP, like the Cross of Glory Quilters. They are a group of more than 30 volunteers that gather on their own during the winter months to make quilts for CEAP’s clients. They make over 300 quilts a year, which are used for CEAP’s layette distributions and to keep clients warm in the winter.

Volunteers donated over 27,800 hours of their time to CEAP’s Blaine and Brooklyn Park offices in 2008. This is what allowed CEAP to sort, pack, and serve over 741,000 pounds of food to families across Hennepin and Anoka County last year. And it’s what is helping CEAP cope with the huge increases in family visits to their offices this year. Visits are up 26% compared to last year and it’s projected to grow even highter as the year progresses.

CEAP would like to thank all of its volunteers for the work they’ve provided over the years, and hopes that they will continue to help make our community a better place to live. If you’d like to volunteer please call CEAP’s Volunteer Coordinator at 763-450-3679

The tournament entry fee of $125 includes 18 holes, golf cart, tee prizes, free driving range, lunch, dinner, and door prizes. All proceeds benefit Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP).

NAIFA has long supported CEAP’s Back to School Program, which provides children in grades K-8 with backpacks and school supplies for the coming school year. Last year CEAP was able to help nearly 3,000 children start the school year off right. This year’s tournament will help children beginning the 2009 school year.

To register, or for more information on the 13th Annual Gene Becker Memorial Charity Golf Tournament, please contact Bruce Wagner at 763-572-0700.

NAIFA comprises nearly 800 state and local assiciations representing the business interests of 60,000 members nationwide. NAIFA’s mission is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of their members. To learn more about NAIFA visit www.naifa.org.

The party will be held on the Elim Baptist Church parking lot, at 503 Polk Steet in Anoka. Festivities include a BBQ cookout, inflatable rides, carnival games, and a performance from locally known Christian singer, Stacy Hanson. Wristbands are $5 each, and provide admission to the concert, all rides, activities, and food. Wristbands can be purchased the night of the event, and all proceeds benefit Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP).

CEAP is a charity dedicated to stablizing individuals and families in financial distress and helping them to live independently and with dignity. CEAP has provided food, clothing, financial assistance, and other emergency services to the Twin Cities community for 39 years.

For more details on the block party please call Elim Baptist Church at 763-421-8124 or visit www.elimanoka.org.

The event will feature a runway show highlighting the artistry of taj’s beauty experts, a live raffle with over $1,500 in prizes, demonstrations booths for sampling the salon’s latest products and trends, and live entertainment from local band 36sunrise. Food and beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, will be provided by Sammy Perrella’s. Raffle prizes include products from Aveda and Jane Iredale, Timberwolves tickets, and gift certificates to area businesses. In addition, all regularly priced retail items will be 20% off during the event!

Tickets are $20 each. All ticket proceeds and corporate donations benefit Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP), a charity that has provided food, clothing, financial assistance, and other emergency support to Northwest Hennepin and Anoka Counties for nearly 40 years. Visit www.tajsalonspa.com, or their facility at 9744 Schreiber Terrace, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 to order tickerts. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event.

Taj Salon & Spa is an environmentally responsible, leading-edge salon and spa. They are committed to staying current on all spa techniques and salon styles. Taj Salon & Spa strives to set the standard, not only for outer beauty, but for inner as well.

Target kicked off the state-wide Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign by donating over 60,000 pounds of food. The gift was then given to St. Paul’s Second Harvest food bank for distribution to its member food shelves, including CEAP.

With donations like this CEAP can feed the increasing number of families it’s seeing this year. In the first two months in 2009, CEAP saw an average of 140 additional visits to it’s two food shelves in Brooklyn Park and Blaine. In addition, CEAP has given over 86,000 pounds of food to needy families this year, number that has increased each month since the beginning of 2008. Target’s donation will help CEAP keep up with this deafening demand.

CEAP would like to thank Perfect 10, as well as the many people who came out and got their car washed in support of its mission.

CEAP is a non-profit organization dedicated to stablizing individuals and families in financial distress and helping them to live independently and with dignity. CEAP has provided food, clothing, financial assistance, and other emergency services to the Twin Cities community for 39 years.

Taste of the Northwest brings together 25 local restaurants and over 500 people to sample cuisine from around the area. In addition to the exposure it gives our local businesses, the event also doubles as a fundraiser, with all proceeds benefiting CEAP’s food shelves in Brooklyn Park and Blaine. While guests nibble on chicken wings and tiramisu, local families in need are provided with enough food to feed their families for 3-5 days.

CEAP has seen a huge increase in food shelf usage over the past year. In 2008, there were an additional 1,656 family visits to our food shelves compared to 2007. This increase has continued into 2009. So far CEAP has been able to keep up with demand, but only with the support of local organizations, business, and community members like those participating in this event.

The Taste of the Northwest will be held on May 14th, 2009 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, at the new Embassy Suites Minneapolis-Brooklyn Center hotel on 6300 Earle Brown Drive in Brooklyn Center. Tickets are $20 each, groups of ten or more are $15 each.

Tickets include all food served at the event. The Embassy Suites’ bar will also be available to purchase drinks. Restaurants participating in the event include Noodles & Company, Girvan Grille, Lookout Bar & Grill, California Pizza Kitchen, Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza, Buca Di Beppo, Mad Jack’s Sports Cafe, Mountain Mudd Espresso, and Premium Waters and many more.

This is a chance to show your support for local businesses and families in need, eat some great food, and get a sneak peak at the new, 200th Embassy Suites hotel. Ticket reservation forms are available online at www.ceap.com, click on “Taste of the Northest.” Ticket forms can also be found in person at both CEAP offices. If you have any questions about the event, please call CEAP at 763-450-3664.

To do this, Minnesota FoodShare produces and distributes free promotional materials to participating food shelves like CEAP, and community food drive organizers like you! In addition, all donations given to participating food shelves during the month are matched by national grants and foundations.

The Alan Shawn Feinstein Foundation is one of these contributors. During the March Campaign, The Feinstein Foundation divides $1 million among non-profit agencies throughout the country to help fight hunger. The money is divided proportionally among participating food shelves like CEAP. The more donations given to CEAP during the campaign, the larger CEAP’s Feinstein match will be at the end of the month.

For 39 years CEAP has provided food, clothing, financial assistance, and other emergency services to Northwest Hennepin and Anoka County. And the need for assistance continues to grow. Consider the following facts from 2008:

There were more than 2 million food shelf visits statewide. CEAP saw an additional 1,656 family visits to their food shelves when compared to 2007.

50,000,000 pounds of food were distributed to Minnesota families by food shelves. CEAP gave over 650,000 pounds of food to local families. That’s over 90,000 pounds more than in 2007.

56% of Minnesota food shelf visitors are families with children, and 20% are seniors. 50% of CEAP’s food shelf users are children, 6% are seniors.

More than 50% of adults using a food shelf are employed. The working poor make up 60% of CEAP’s food shelf clientelle.

Patrons can come to Perfect 10 on Saturday, February 14th, get their cars washed and drive away knowing they’ve just helped a local family in need. Half of Perfect 10’s proceeds from the day will be donated to CEAP and its programs, which help families in Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, East Champlin, the Camden area, parts of Ramsey County, and all of Anoka County advert crisis.

Perfect 10 Car Wash will be open from 8:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday, February 14th. It is located at 999 Highway 10, three blocks east of Northtown Mall. This Valentine’s Day give your sweetheart a clean car and the comfort that comes with helping others. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Perfect 10 at 651-227-9274 or CEAP’s Administrative Assistant at 763-450-3664.