Minneapolis Still Seeks Tornado-Cleanup Volunteers

(June 15 update)

The City of Minneapolis is asking for 200 volunteers on each of the next two Saturdays, June 18 and 25, in two shifts, 8 a.m.-noon and noon-4 p.m.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old; be able to lift 40 pounds; commit to a full four-hour shift; and wear thick-soled shoes (work boots best—no tennis shoes).

The work will be loading storm-related debris onto trucks. On June 18, volunteers will be in an area from 44th to 29th avenues and from Lyndale to Newton avenues North. On June 25, the work area will be 29th to 12th avenues north and from Humboldt to Xerxes avenues North.

To sign up, call 612-673-2243.

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Twin Cities residents who were spared the worst of Sunday's storms are mobilizing to help their fellow citizens in North Minneapolis.

How to help locally

The Lakeville and Eagan Resource Center, on Wednesday, June 1, will be collecting food and personal hygiene items for the victims of Sunday's devastating tornado in North Minneapolis, in an effort dubbed "Load the Trailer."

According to Roy Richards, chief operations officer of the food shelf at the North Point Health & Wellness Center, located in North Monneapolis, people are most in need of foods that doesn't need preparation or refrigeration, such as peanut butter, bread, juice boxes, granola bars, fruit cups, bagged apples or oranges and bottled water. Personal hygiene items needed are toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, deoderant, disposable razors and wash cloths or towels.

If you would like to volunteer to help load the trailer on June 1, contact Barb at barbd@eaganrc.org or call 651-688-3189.

Information

• Minneapolis has created an exclusion zone (see map at right) in North Minneapolis Monday as they fix gas leaks and clean up electric lines. Check here for updates on whether you'll be able to get through.
• Check this Facebook page for frequent updates, as well as resources for tornado victims. 
• See the PDF at right for information from the city on all aspects of the disaster.

Donations Needed

• Donations to the Red Cross: www.redcrosstc.org
• Minneapolis urges people to "donate funds, not goods." The Minneapolis Foundation established the Minnesota Helps - North Minneapolis Recovery Fund to assist with Northside housing and recover. To make a donation by credit card, visit www.GiveMN.org or send checks for the recovery effort to: The Minneapolis Foundation, 80 S. 8th St., Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN, 55402.
• KMOJ Radio, The Ackerberg Group and Catlyst Community Partners, will open the lower level of their studios in the Five Points Building at the Intersection of West Broadway Avenue and Penn Avenue North for donations of non-perishable food items, clothing, bottled water, etc. Call 612-377-3456 for more info.
• Wilsons Image Barbers, 1109 W. Broadway Minneapolis. Special relief drop-off of non-perishable food, water and clothing on Tuesday, May 24 at 6pm. Facebook event page here.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Minneapolis warned Monday that conditions in North Minneapolis are still too dangerous to volunteer.
• Urban Homeworks said not to come out to volunteer on Tuesday unless they've already spoken directly to you, although they're organizing more volunteers for Wednesday and after. Groups of 20-plus can email UHWTornadoRelief@gmail.com with "contact info (phone/email), size of group, any special skills & day/time (morning/afternoon shifts)." Individuals who want to volunteer should check the Urban Homeworks website (they're also taking donations now). Parking has been tight Monday, so volunteers are urged to carpool, bus or bike to the Cross Connections Center at 1823 Emerson Avenue North, Minneapolis.