Programs
NCJW CARES
NCJW MN is committed to providing Action, Resources, and Equity in Schools. To support this effort, we allocate rapid response funds* to support homeless and highly mobile youth and families. Additionally, we offer standalone programs to support the quality of life for women, children and families.
Books To Borrow
Books to Borrow is a lending library program for children. We partner with Neighborhood House and Project for Pride in Living (PPL) to promote literacy, family engagement, and community through easy, early access to quality children’s books. It is our goal to foster the value of reading and learning while honoring the culturally diverse community we live in.
The Books to Borrow program includes:
- Stocking three little libraries with quality, popular titled books for neighborhood children to borrow, read at home, and return for another. Libraries are located at Sibley Manor Apartments, Fort Road Flats and between 1372-1384 St Paul Avenue.
- Volunteer-led story time and activities for children to participate in while their parents are shopping at Neighborhood House’s monthly Fresh Produce Distribution Days at Francis Basket Food Pantry located in Sibley Manor Apartments. (July-October)
- Participating in pop-up family programs like National Night Out, holiday/seasonal potluck dinners and a community-wide baby shower for new parents; volunteers mingle with families, encourage book borrowing, and lead craft activities that support the love of reading.
Join our Books to Borrow team.
Have books to donate? Click here to learn more!
Clothing Closet
We have par
tnered with social workers at Camden (formerly Patrick Henry) High School to assist in stocking and staffing a Clothing Closet, which provides free clothes to students in need.
We are always looking for new volunteers to staff the Clothing Closet, which entails sorting and organizing donations and minding the shop when students come to pick out clothes. Shifts run from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays during the school year, and you can sign up for as many or as few as you would like once you have completed the MPS volunteer application and background check, as well as a brief training at the school. Please email judith@ncjwmn.org if you are interested in getting started!
Rapid Response Fund
In 2018, the need for financial support to families at risk of losing housing was identified* and the Rapid Response Fund was launched. Developed through a trusting partnership with Minneapolis and St Paul Public Schools, the Rapid Response Fund provides stability for families experiencing homelessness or high mobility so that students are able to stay in school.
NCJW’s ability to quickly bridge the gap when unexpected expenses arise (ex: car repairs, rent deposits, a night in a hotel), makes the difference for families and students! Five years ago, close to $4000 was distributed to 13 families to address immediate needs. During the 2023-2024 school year, we distributed $27,365 in financial support for housing and basic needs to 45 families!
Your support of the Rapid Response Fund contributes to student success! Contribute to the fund here. (Rapid response funding requests are referred to NCJW directly through our MPS liaison; we do not accept direct funding requests.)
*Families with children under 18 account for 48% of people experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. Emergency rental assistance that was provided through COVID relief programs, is no longer available. Data shows that students experiencing homelessness achieve and graduate at lower levels, and encounter more exclusionary discipline than their peers. While staying in the same school in the face of housing instability makes a positive difference, 20% are unable to do so.
Menstrual Equity
NCJW MN is committed to menstrual equity for all. Through a range of community collaborations we are able to donate and distribute menstrual products to meet the needs of our surrounding community. Additionally, our advocates successfully worked with our legislative partners to pass legislation that mandates and secures state funding for the provision of pads and tampons to Minnesota students in grades 4-12. We remain committed to ensuring that menstruating students don’t miss school due to lack of access to the products they need.