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What does the Local Impact team do?

CHAIN OF LAKES LOCAL IMPACT TEAM organizes volunteer service opportunities serving the community around Chain of Lakes Church through  local partners such as Hope for Youth, Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, River Trail Learning Center, Feed My Starving Children, and other organizations and service projects. There are 2-4 events every week that you can get involved with and help impact the world. Whether it’s packing groceries, organizing supplies, serving a meal, or just talking with people, we are called to serve.

The featured events will be kept updated in this space. The ongoing opportunities are shown after the featured events. 
 

FEATURED 
Serving is foundational to our faith life. Many of the service opportunities can be done as a family. Children are welcome to participate.

Fill a bag with groceries for Calvary Food Shelf

The Chain of Lakes Local Impact Team encourages everyone to bring bags of groceries that will be taken to Calvary Food Shelf in south Minneapolis. This food shelf delivers food to people who are afraid to leave their home because of the presence of ICE. 
The biggest needs are for:

  • masa (corn flour)
  • vegetable oil
  • canned hominy
  • rice
  • infant formula
  • sanitary hygiene products
  • dry beans (any kind but especially kidney beans)
  • canned protein items like tuna or chicken
  • soup
  • oats

The deadline for bringing groceries to Chain of Lakes is Sunday, February 22. It’s a way to love our neighbors.

Volunteer at Hope 4 Youth in Anoka

Every second Saturday of the month Chain of Lakes volunteers help at Hope 4 Youth in Anoka, starting at 9am. Help sort and stock items. The next date is February 14,  2026.

Clothing Drive

The Local Impact Team is once again partnering with RS Eden and collecting hats, gloves, boots, jackets, and warm clothes for those in need in all sizes. 

 The drive ended Dec. 21, with overflowing donations. Thank you!

Ongoing Local opportunities

HOPE 4 Youth supports young people, ages 16 to 24, who are experiencing homelessness. They provide assistance with basic-needs case management, stable housing, education and employment. You are welcome to serve by cooking meals, sorting supplies, mentoring and more at the Drop-in Center

HOPE Place is a 12-unit Coon Rapids transitional housing facility that offers supportive services to young people who are experiencing homelessness. You can serve by becoming a Volunteer Greeter. They are stationed at the front desk to create a welcoming environment for residents and guests.

For more information about all HOPE 4 Youth programs, go to https://www.hope4youthmn.org

Hope for the Community is a humanitarian organization in Blaine that feeds hundreds of families each week. To accomplish this, individuals are needed to serve Wednesday 12-2:30pm or Thursday from 9am- 5pm.

You will receive a warm welcome whenever you are able to serve. For more information go to hopeforthecommunity.com

IF YOU NEED FOOD –

Hope Church, Hope for the Community
1264 109th Ave NE
Blaine, MN 55434

Food Pick up Times:
Thursday ~ 10am – 5pm

If you are in line before the end time, you will receive food, while supplies last

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing
3300 4TH AVENUE NORTH,  ANOKA, MN 55303 
PHONE: 763-323-7006 
https://steppingstoneeh.org

A shelter for adults for a few nights or a few months. Stepping Stone residents are treated with dignity and respect while having their basic needs met – a bed and linens, three meals per day, showers, laundry facilities, clothing, toiletries when needed.  Personalized plans are developed with each resident to move toward self-sufficiency. Stepping Stone provides residents a “home,” while helping them establish a home of their own.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Front Desk  3-hour shifts, Monday-Friday, 10am-1pm or 2pm-5pm

Answering phones, answering the door, assisting Shelter Advocates with resident intakes, retrieving mail, checking off chores for residents, and assisting Shelter Advocates with daily tasks.

Kitchen

2-hour shifts, Monday-Friday, 10:30am-12:30pm or 5pm-7pm

Help kitchen manager with meal prep, serve meals to residents, assist clean-up

Food Pick Up – Donations

Pick up food donations from a local business and drop off at the shelter.

2-hour shift, FRIDAYS ONLY, 1:30pm-3pm

Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds, pick up food donations from two separate locations within the Anoka area, bring donations back to Stepping Stone, and assist Cafeteria Manager with unloading.

30-minute shift, TUESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS 10:15am-10:45am

DONATIONS NEEDED

Lunch or dinner, Sunday-Saturday

Drop off a cooked meal (must be prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen) or retail-purchased meals .You can stay and serve the donated meal if you are interested. 

Hygiene Products/Toiletries for Men and Women (full size only)

Shelter needs vary, so contact Stepping Stone

Gift Cards

Gift cards of any amount are always appreciated, especially to Walmart, Target, Costco, and Cub Foods

LINENS & BEDDING

Twin ex-long twin blankets (no tied around the perimeter) new pillows, bath towels, wash cloth

FOOD ITEMS

Instant grit packets, individual fruit snack packets, individual packaged snacks: granola bars, bottled water (16.9 oz preferred), fresh fruit: apples, cuties/mandarins, navel oranges, bananas, peaches, pears, bulk canisters of lemonade/pink lemonade and other powdered drink mix, individual packets of instant hot cocoa (made with hot water), tea bags, 10-oz disposable bowls

CLOTHING FOR MEN & WOMEN

Coats, Jackets, Hoodies, Slippers, Hats, Gloves, Mittens, Scarves (new or gently used)

Threshold to New Life Ministry
Serving Breakfast Downtown Minneapolis

They are looking for 2-3 individuals to serve with regular volunteers setting up and serving breakfast daily to individuals experiencing homelessness. The location is the Salvation Army-Harbor Lights building at 1010 Currie Ave Minneapolis. Arrival time is 5am. You will be done by 7am.

For more information go to www.richardbahr.com

Ending Homelessness Through Partnerships

The Local Impact team wants  to be part of a movement that ends homelessness among youth and adults in Anoka County. The team does this through partnerships with groups who directly help serve homeless youth and homeless adults.
 
Since its existence Chain of Lakes has established partnerships with the following schools:
  • Blaine High School
  • Anoka Regional High School
  • Anoka Technical High School
  • Spring Lake Park School District
  • River Trail Learning Center at L.O. Jacob
The Local Impact Team has organized many events to help serve at: