October 16-25, 2020
Mayor Norton declares
October 16 – 25 Spirit Days in Rochester
“NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Kim Norton, Mayor of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, do hereby proclaim October 16th-25th, 2020 be designated as
Rochester Community Spirit Days
and calls upon all residents and businesses to join the effort to show love and care and compassion in special ways during this week in particular, and broaden the spirit of caring in daily actions every week throughout the year so that Rochester, Minnesota can remain a welcoming, caring, and compassionate community even in these difficult times.” – Kim Norton, Mayor of the City of Rochester, Minnesota
What is Spirit Days?
Ten Days of Service in Rochester with events and
encouragement to promote unity in our community
Why Spirit Days?
We need a positive experience to renew our spirits, and
begin forming strong bonds of unity and community
Pillar Projects
Hunger and Homelessness
Partner with Channel One
and the Salvation Army
Food Drive
Coat and Clothing Drive
Community Service
Partner with local churches
and neighborhoods
Service Projects
Fellowship & Companionship
Partner with schools
and senior living centers
Pen Pals
Events
Details: Drop off food donations for local food shelves to the Spirit Days Warehouse at 214 N Broadway Ave (warehouse space next to Hollandberry Pannekeoken)
Contact: Spirit Day
rochesterspiritdays@gmail.com
Details: Donate financially to Channel One to help stock the food shelves this winter
Contact: Channel One Food Bank
www.helpingfeedpeople.org/donate/donate-paypal/
Put “Spirit Days” in the tribute box
Details: Drop off winter coat and clothing donations for the Salvation Army to distribute to the Spirit Days warehouse at 214 N Broadway Ave (warehouse space next to Hollandberry Pannekeoken)
Contact: Spirit Day
rochesterspiritdays@gmail.com
Details: Volunteers needed for service projects on the Salvation Army campus and to help with the distribution of collected coats and clothes
Contact: Salvation Army
Visit RochesterSA.org to sign up or contact Rebecca Snapp
Rebecca.Snapp@usc.
507-288-3663 ext. 700104
Details: Looking for groups, businesses, or organizations that can host a collection box
Contact: Salvation Army
Rebecca Snapp
Rebecca.Snapp@usc.
507-288-3663 ext. 700104
Details: Volunteers are needed to pack boxes and perform clean room activities at the food bank. 12-20 volunteers for several shifts during the week.
Contact: Channel One Food Bank
David Steenhoek
davidsteenhoek@channel-one.org
507-424-1705
Details: You can write a one-time letter of encouragement to a senior or you can write a letter initiating a longer term pen pal relationship. Letters will be distributed by the Elder Network. Please make sure your letter indicates your preference for recipient (male, female, or either) and indicate that you would like to have the recipient reply back
Mail letters to: Elder Network
Attn: Becca Herbstritt
1130 1/2 7th ST NW Suite 205
Rochester, MN 55901
Details: Volunteers are needed to help with transportation needs of our seniors. Volunteers with technical skills are especially needed to help offer telephone support to seniors trouble-shooting technology.
Contact: Elder Network
Becca Herbstritt
BeccaH@elder-network.org
507-251-0867
Details: Volunteers are needed to help with fall raking and general yard clean-up. Friendly visiting (in person or over the phone), food distribution on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Meals on Wheels delivery 7 days a week. grocery shopping and more.
Contact: Family Service Rochester
Jessica Thornton
jthornton@
507-287-2010
Details: Berean Community Church will be collecting coats and winter clothing for Salvation Army.
Contact: Berean Community Church
Details: True Life Church will be collecting new or gently used jeans, jackets and more for The Landing as they seek to be a blessing for those in need.
Contact: True Life Church
office@trueliferochester.org
Details: The Landing MN assists those in Rochester that are experiencing homelessness to reach a point of security and stability. You can help as winter approaches by donating stocking caps, waterproof gloves, & warm socks. Come see the Mobile Outreach Unit truck used to aid those experiencing homelessness and learn other ways to help. On Thursday afternoon, we even offer a drive-thru donation drop off if you prefer to stay in your car! For more information, please go to www.thelandingmn.org.
Contact: Christ Community Church
4400 55th Street in Northwest Rochester
Joel LaCroix
joeljlacroix@gmail.com
Details: We would love to have you join our Zoom call to grow in your communication and confidence! Faithfully Speaking Toastmasters mission is to provide a supportive experience to empower your communication and leadership skills. We do this with respectful dialogue, an openness to learning about other faiths, and evaluating based on delivery and organization not content. Visitors can enjoy the speeches or take part in short discussions.
Contact: Faithfully Speaking Toastmasters
faithfullyspeaking.toastmost.org
Joel LaCroix
joeljlacroix@gmail.com
Details: We are asking BYU Alumni and Friends of BYU and their families to create cards and drawings that the BYU Alumni Association Rochester MN Chapter will distribute to senior citizens in the Rochester area. This is a great opportunity for a family home evening activity or a homeschool art activity.
Contact: Please mail cards to Ellen Jepson by 10/23/2020, or text Ellen at 920-202-4149 to arrange for drop-off.
Details: Enjoy a night of entertainment on October 23 in your living room for a good cause! Entertainers including musicians and a comedian will be presenting for you live while we share about different organizations in Rochester that are crucial to our community and opportunities to serve them. We are also partnering with St. James Coffee in Rochester to host an item drive one week following the event for The Landing MN, an organization helping the homeless (details will be shared Oct. 23). We hope you will join us in the comfort of your own home and take advantage of this fun opportunity to support our community.
Contact: Rochester Group team and Thrivent Community Strategy Board members.
Please RSVP by October 21, 2020 to rochestergroup@thrivent.com. A link to the event will be emailed to you on October 22.
Details: We will be raking up leaves on Saturday, October 24. If you are in need of help with leaf clean-up, or know of someone who is, please forward information to the event organizer for consideration. We also welcome anyone able to help with raking leaves to join us. Please bring your own rake.
Contact: Anna Bartoo
gabeandannabartoo@hotmail.com
Details: The men of Next Chapter and local churches are building several cabinets to be used as Free Pantries outside of Rochester churches and home. The pantries will allow neighbors to share food and hygiene items with their neighbors in need.
Contact: Next Chapter Ministries
Courtney Dugstad
Courtney.Dugstad@NextChapterRochester.org
507-529-5799
Details: An event for children to come and trick or treat in a safe setting. Hot dogs and chips with drinks will be provided along with a chance to have children take pictures in a photo booth. Families can bring any gently used or new coats to donate to The Landing event truck.
Contact: Katherine Coleman
odessa5th@gmail.com
507-254-2851
Details: Our church will be picking up trash along the stretch of road near our church building that we have adopted on 10/17, and will also be doing a rake and run in one of the area neighborhoods in the afternoon of 10/25.
Contact: Marion Road Christian Church
Monte French
seniorminister@marionchurch.
Details: This year Rochester assembly is hosting a community-wide event on Oct 31st from 4-7pm. At several locations evenly distributed throughout our city there will be homes that will have a fun activity and free gifts for all who visit them. Each location will have a special “fall” themed display with a family-friendly activity. It is our hope that each one of these locations will represent our love for our community and provide a connection point for neighbors to come together and build relationships with each other and Christ. More information and neighborhood locations can be found at rochesterassebly.com
Contact: Rochester Assembly
rochesterassembly.com
Details: Free wellness class for the community. Topics covered include: discovering individual strengths, values, vision, purpose, and how to make an impact.
Contact: Whole and Happy Living
Whitney Prude
wprude@mywholeandhappylife.com
801-547-7462
Goals of Spirit Week
- Foods shelves were impacted and the poor were helped and the city benefited
- It was a first step and a positive experience in which people came together with RENEWED spirit to form stronger bonds
of unity in our community for ongoing good
Spirit Days Meeting Sept 30 2020
If you want to learn more, watch this recording on the latest information meeting that helps explain Spirit Days and why it is so important
Get Involved
Ways to
Get Involved
Individually
- Sign up to get alerts on events taking place
- Volunteer to help serve
- Become a pen pal with a senior
As a Group
- Organize and lead an event that contributes to one of the pillar projects
- Host a food or clothing drive
- Organize a team to perform a service project
- Sponsor a fundraiser at your place of business (10% of proceeds go to the Salvation Army)
How to Develop an Excellent Spirit
Start with a Splash of Gratitude
- Focus on and Give Thanks for what you have – not what you do not have.
- Give Thanks IN all things, FOR all things, and AT all times.
Speak a Word of Encouragement
- Encourage THREE people today (Try a hand-written note, a Hug, or a spoken word of Compliment or a word of Praise)
Do an Act of Kindness
- Decide to DO something tangible or unexpected to bless another.
Promote Spirit Days
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Contact Us
Spirit Days is not endorsed by any particular political party or religious denomination.