People Reaching Out To Other People Inc Prop

TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN THE CITIES OF EDEN PRAIRIE AND CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA.

FOOD PROGRAMS: OUR HUNGER PREVENTION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND SUPPLEMENT THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF CLIENTS WHETHER FOR SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY NEEDS OR AS PART OF A LONG-TERM STABILITY PLAN. FOOD SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH FOUR KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDING IN-PERSON SELECTION IN OUR CLIENT CHOICE FOOD MART, CURB-SIDE PICK UP, HOME DELIVERY AND SUMMER FOOD FOR KIDS PROGRAM. ALL FOOD VISITS ARE BY APPOINTMENT, AUGMENTED WITH BASIC NEEDS BOXES FOR EMERGENCY FOOD REQUESTS. OUR FOOD SUPPORT PROGRAMS ARE EXPERIENCING SKYROCKETING GROWTH, WHICH REFLECT THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS OF SUBURBAN POVERTY AND FOOD INSECURITY, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF HIGH RATES OF INFLATION IN THE COST OF FOOD AND HOUSING ON LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. THE NUMBER OF FOOD VISITS PROVIDED IN 2022 INCREASED BY 35% COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. PROP ASSISTED 480 NEW FAMILIES, REPRESENTING 1,637 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS, WHO HAD NOT UTILIZED OUR SERVICES PREVIOUSLY. PROP PROVIDED NUTRITIOUS, FRESH AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE FOODS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO 1,124 HOUSEHOLDS TOTALLING 4,035 INDIVIDUALS IN THE PAST YEAR. PROP UNDERSTANDS THAT GOOD NUTRITION IS KEY TO HEALTHY MINDS AND BODIES. WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY, MEAT, BAKERY GOODS, AMONG OTHER ITEMS FROM LOCAL GROCERS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS. PROP CONTINUES TO HARVEST ITS OWN GARDEN TO SUPPORT THE GROWING REQUEST FOR FRESH PRODUCE.OUR FOOD DELIVERY MODEL SHIFTED DURING THE PANDEMIC, SEEKING TO PROTECT CLIENTS AND FOOD SHELF VOLUNTEERS FROM COVID-19 INFECTION. CURB-SIDE PICK UP AND HOME DELIVERY WERE UTILIZED EXCLUSIVELY UNTIL INFECTION RATES DROPPED. SINCE FEBRUARY 2022, OUR FOOD MART HAS REMAINED OPEN CONTINUOUSLY, ALLOWING CLIENTS INTO THE FOOD SHELF TO "SHOP AND PERSONALLY SELECT MUCH OF THEIR FOOD ORDERS. FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN HAD THEIR FOOD ORDERS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL FOOD AND CHILD FRIENDLY NUTRITIOUS SNACKS, HEAVILY FOCUSED ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, DURING THE SUMMER WHEN SCHOOL IN NOT IN SESSION AND SCHOOL MEALS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICED BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. PROP IS CONTINUING THE EXPANDED FOOD DELIVERY SERVICE BEGUN DURING THE PANDEMIC THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHWEST TRANSIT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND PERSONS WHO LACK TRANSPORTATION AND HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES. PROP IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AND IS OPEN DURING DAYTIME AND EVENING HOURS TO ACCOMMODATE ALL WHO NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE.

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL SERVICES: PROP PROVIDES SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO KEEP FAMILIES STABLY HOUSED, EITHER DIRECTLY BY PAYING RENT OR INDIRECTLY BY COVERING OTHER ESSENTIAL EXPENSES SUCH AS UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, PRESCRIPTIONS, OR CHILD CARE. WITH ASSISTANCE FROM OUR CASE MANAGERS AND CLIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR, PROP WORKS WITH CLIENTS HOLISTICALLY AND CREATIVELY TO BEST MEET THEIR NEEDS. PROP PREVENTED HOMELESSNESS FOR 76 FAMILIES (302 INDIVIDUALS) BY PROVIDING 130 MONTHS OF RENT AND/OR SECURITY DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE, AND PROVIDED EMERGENCY SHORT-STAY HOUSING FOR 6 FAMILIES. PROP ASSISTED 382 FAMILIES WITH OTHER DIRECT FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR CAR REPAIRS, UTILITY EXPENSES, CHILD CARE, TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES AND OTHER NEEDS TO KEEP FAMILIES STABLE DURING A YEAR MARKED BY POST-PANDEMIC HARDSHIPS AS WELL AS RECORD-BREAKING RATES OF INFLATION FOR BASIC LIVING NECESSITIES.

YOUTH PROGRAMS AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES: PROP CONTINUES TO PROVIDE YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENABLE UNDERSERVED CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS, MUSIC, DRIVERS' EDUCATION, CAMPS, TUTORING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. PROP PROVIDED 31 YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS LAST FISCAL YEAR, AS FAMILIES ARE GRADUALLY SEEKING THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN AFTER A SIGNIFICANT PARTICIPATION DIP DUE TO COVID-19 CANCELLATIONS OF MANY PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. OUR EMPLOYMENT COUNSELOR ASSISTED 85 INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR JOB SEARCH, INCLUDING CREATING OR UPDATING THEIR RESUME, PREPARING FOR INTERVIEWS, AND CONNECTING WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE OPEN POSITIONS, PROVIDING 372 SESSIONS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS. PROP ADDED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO OUR WRAP AROUND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO CLIENTS THIS YEAR THROUGH A LOCAL PARTNERSHIP, AND 29 VISITS OCCURRED THIS YEAR. PROP ALSO PROVIDED ADULT ENRICHMENT SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS. OUR HOLIDAY GIFT CARD PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS GIFT CARDS TO QUALIFYING FAMILIES FOR EACH CHILD AGE 18 AND UNDER, AND TO SENIOR CITIZENS, PROVIDES EXTRA ASSISTANCE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHILE PRESERVING CLIENT DIGNITY AND MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN THE USE OF THESE FUNDS FOR A SPECIAL MEAL OR CELEBRATION.