About East Side Neighborhood Services
East Side Neighborhood Services has been a centerpiece of the Northeast Minneapolis community for over a century. Today, it has expanded its services to reach throughout Hennepin County with multicultural and intergenerational constituents.
Our Vision
Every person thrives, every voice matters.
Our Mission
To build pathways toward equity by disrupting social and economic barriers.
In 2019, we served 7,493 people across our 14 programs.
Children and Youth programs
Camp Bovey
Northeast Child Development Center
Menlo Park Academy
Employment and Training
Family Healing
Metro Food Programs
Older Adult Programs
Board of Directors
Laura Bereiter
Frederick Bryan
Robert J. Foster, President
Michael Giefer
Randy Hertog
Amal Karim
Jai Kissoon
Brad Losee, Treasurer
Kathy Marker
Andrew Martin
Brian Recker
Susan O’Reilly, Ex-Officio
Robert Smithsburg
Dennis Spalla
Heather Stein
Dawn Svenkeson
Henry Torres, Vice-Chair
Jill Vowels
Tina Wallman
Staff
Kristine Martin, President
Margie Rask, Vice President of Programs
Felicia Ring, CFO
Michelle Kornowski, Human Resources Director
Lance Witzig, Director of Advancement
Note from the President and Board Chair
Looking back on 2019, the most prominent theme that stands out is how much East Side Neighborhood Services was a nexus for community connections. In our 2018-2020 strategic plan, we established five values: community, innovation, effectiveness, inclusion, and mutual understanding. At their core, all of these values speak to the kinds of connections we want to make. These community connections provide the conditions for healing – support, stress relief, and stability.
In 2019, our community provided so many brand new connections for healing: We established new community-led programs and projects. The Parent to Parent group provides support for parents of students in our out-of-school time programs. We helped alleviate stress for caregivers with the new Northeast Day Spot program. We partnered with participants and artists to raise awareness of our food programs.
We also celebrated brand new and longtime community connections: In February, we opened our completely remodeled childcare center. In the summer, we celebrated the 70th year of Camp Bovey. At the end of the year, we were able to stabilize funds for the programs thanks to the support of our community and county commissioners.
We knew that 2019 left us well prepared to move into the future. Of course, in 2020 we have seen so much change that we could never have guessed at in 2019. But thanks to our successes in 2019, we were able to thrive in 2020!
Kristine Martin, President
Bob Foster, Board Chair
2019 Highlights
Northeast Day Spot
Caregiving, whether for a partner, a parent, or a relative, can be an extremely stressful job with no respite. To alleviate stress for caregivers, in 2019 we piloted the Northeast Day Spot (NEDS). The purpose of the NEDS was twofold: We provided the caregiver with needed time to themselves and a place for the person receiving care to socialize with other people and enjoy activities that support health and wellness.
The NEDS was heavily supported by volunteers. Some volunteers were paired one-on-one with participants, working closely with them twice a month. Volunteers were “assigned” a NEDS participant and when the participant arrived, they would welcome them and spend the next four hours sharing activities and conversation. Twice a month, the caregiver was invited to spend 90 minutes in a support group during the four hour respite.
Another volunteer opportunity during the Northeast Day Spot was as a Mid Day Music Maker. After lunch, a volunteer musician would arrive at the NEDS and the preschool children would join the NEDS participants for 30 minutes of music.
One of the volunteers, Larry, played numerous instruments and led singalongs. “It was very rewarding. East Side staff were great supervisors and I stayed with it. I think the clients enjoy the music on mandolin, violin and guitar. I hope to continue my volunteer work with East Side services. It is a very good social service agency that I am proud to be affiliated with.”
Our Vital Living caregiving support programs connect caregivers with a community other caregivers and volunteers to heal together.
195
people participated in a Vital Living class.
383
people used our transportation services.
605
older adults participated in multiple programs at ESNS.
Parent to Parent
Our Parent to Parent group was pioneered in 2019 as a focused collaboration between our youth department staff and parents of students in our out-of-school time programs. These focus groups led to the creation of the Parent to Parent program. The parent facilitators put out community surveys before and after meetings, to best understand what people got out of the meetings and what topics could be covered in the future. These surveys gave the facilitators insight about what people actually needed and what topics would be helpful for parents to talk about together.
Anisa described the process as “community led and intimate. People shared things we didn’t expect them to open up about so quickly.” For her, Parent to Parent feels like “a safe place where families are expressing themselves about what is happening in their lives.”
The meetings were immediately popular. “We would sometimes run out of places to sit,” Anisa said.
Sarah and Anisa have lead discussions on topics like self-care, summer activities, understanding IEPs, understanding Minneapolis Public Schools discipline policy, and more. They say the families are engaged and really take part in the conversation, which Anisa attributes to the community-led process for developing the program: “The idea was to help families feel empowered, informed, and confident to advocate for themselves with school districts.”
Sarah is a long time participant and volunteer supporter of East Side. “I would never have been able to facilitate or talk in front of a large group, if not for Eastside. I made the keynote speech two years ago at Night at the Nic and it helped me find me voice. After that I found my passion for being more involved with advocacy & outreach. I am now on committees & councils for MPS as a parent voice.”
With the Parent to Parent group, she hopes to pass that passion on to others: “I hope that with Parent to Parent, we can continue to learn from each other and that we can help other parents find their voices. “
Anisa agreed: “You can’t really measure the outcome of what we have started until you give it a shot for a couple more years. This is something that we should continue; community-led meetings, trainings, and support groups are the backbone of the community.”
14,000+
kids have attended Camp Bovey over our 70 year history.
555
youth participated in an Out of School Time (OST) program.
81%
of youth said coming to program helps them find out what they’re good at and what they like to do.
91%
of youth said there is an adult who they will listen to and respect at their OST program.
96%
of parents said that the program supported their child’s academic development.
High Rise Mobile Food Shelf
Our food shelves serve over 1,000,000 pounds of food every year to people across Hennepin County. We bring food to people and provide a grocery store experience where people can shop for fresh produce, dairy, and meat for free in their own apartment buildings with our Mobile Food Shelf program. For aging adults with limited mobility and low-income families, food is a major concern.
One of our volunteer coordinators, Ronnie, explained why the mobile food shelf model is popular: “Well, I think they like it mostly because it's delivered. You don't have to go up to Salvation Army or go to another food bank everything is delivered for them. And if you had to go someplace else you wouldn't have someone deliver the food like I do - I will deliver homebound people their food. So they find it very convenient. They look forward to it, sitting down there before I even start. They be down at eight o'clock in the morning looking for the night birds. But they really enjoy it because it is brought into us and which makes a big difference especially on their time.”
Our High Rise Mobile Food Shelves are participant-run by volunteer coordinators like Ronnie. The volunteer coordinators organize residents to visit the food shelf, run the “shopping” experience, bring food to homebound people in their buildings, and even organize community meals with any leftover produce.
Nancy, who coordinates a food shelf at a different apartment building, sees how valuable healthy food is for the people she lives with: “So when they come, they can get all the produce and milk, eggs, bread, meat - they can get everything they need and sustain them. I mean it.”
“That's why I do it,” she says. “To know that they're getting what they need.”
When our funding was threatened in 2019, we knew that encouraging more community investment in the form of individual giving would be essential to preserve this important program. We worked hard to tell stories of our food shelves, partnering with participants and artists to raise awareness. Thanks to the support of our community and county commissioners, we were able to stabilize funding.
One of our most consistent donors is St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral. They choose to support us because “since [East Side’s] beginning, it has played a very important and positive role in the life of the Slavic immigrant families who founded our church. Even though the neighborhood demographic profile has changed, and our parishioners are already several generations down the way, and not so many in Nordeast, we realize that the opportunities and welcome that were given to our relatives by the Neighborhood House are still essential for immigrants and their families and the building of community and a sense of citizenship.”
Every family deserves access to nutritious and healthy food, and the support of our community helps make that happen.
1,158,059
total pounds of food served.
5,942
participants received food.
Financial Highlights
Revenue
Total revenue: $8,818,315 for year ended December 31, 2019
A pie chart with the following sections: Government Support ($4,170,341 / 48%), Service Fees and Contracts ($2,297,551 / 26%), Charitable Giving ($1,167,593 / 13%), Other ($623,461/ 7%), In kind support ($559,359 / 6%)
Expenses
Total expenses: $8,751,108 for year ended December 31, 2019
A pie chart with the following sections: Adult and Senior Employment ($2,065,711 / 24%), Youth Programs ($1,383,530 / 16%), Core Support ($1,841,418 / 21%), NECDC ($1,059,495 / 12%), Food Programs ($1,090,182 / 12%), Menlo Park Academy ($685,475 / 8%), Vital Living ($481,422 / 5%), Family Healing ($143,875 / 2%)
Balance Sheet
Assets
| Current Assets: | |
| Cash | $119,531 |
| Restricted Cash | $20,807 |
| Accounts and Grants Receivable, Net of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts of $20,000 for 2019 and 2018 |
$926,552 |
| Prepaid Expenses | $62,494 |
| Investments | $354,822 |
| Total Current Assets | $1,484,206 |
| Property and Equipment, Net | $6,053,511 |
| Total Assets | $7,537,717 |
Liabilities and Net Assets
| Current Liabilities: | |
| Current Portion of Long Term Debt | $62,666 |
| Accounts Payable | $131,456 |
| Accrued Compensations and Benefits | $234,720 |
| Other Current Liabilities | $5,299 |
| Total Current Liabilities | $434,141 |
| Long Term Liabilities: | |
| Long Term Debt, Net of Current Portion | $547,400 |
| Net Assets: | |
| Without Donor Restrictions | |
| Undesignated | $829,613 |
| Board Designated - Property and Equipment | $5,443,445 |
| Total Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions | $6,273,058 |
| With Donor Restrictions | $283,118 |
| Total Net Assets | $6,556,176 |
| Total Liabilities and Net Assets | $7,537,717 |
Thank you to our donors!
Business
56 Brewing Adam
L. Mohr Agency, Inc
Ameriprise Financial, Inc
Associated Bank
Bell Bank
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of MN
Bluetree Network, Inc.
Canadian Pacific Railway
Cargill Incorporated
CommScope, Inc.
Country Financial
Create Catering & Consulting
Disciplined Growth Investors Inc.
Dreamland Culinary Heritage LLC
Elsie's Restaurant, Bar & Bowling
Estate of Steve Brinda
Fair State Brewing Cooperative
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
Gastro Truck Events
Heightsnext
HGA Architects and Engineers
Hunger Solutions Minnesota
Hyde Development
Innovative Office Solutions LLC
Insta Cart
Itasca Consulting Group
Land O'Lakes Inc Foundation
Land O'Lakes, Inc.
LE Trading Inc.
Polished Nails & Spa
Leader One Financial Angie Sherer Team
Liberty Diversified International
Lunds & Byerly's
Media Loft
Medtronic Fdn. Volunteer Grant Program
Meritex
Mutual of America
NFP Corporate Benefits
Northeast Bank
Northeast Fitness LLC
Old National Bank
Paycom
PayPal Charitable Giving Fund
Press-Sure Printing, Inc
Riverland Bank
RJM Construction LLC
RSP Architects, Ltd
Sarah Jane's Bakery
St. Cyril and Methodius
Success Computer Consulting
Tennant Foundation
Thrifty Hipster
Trane-Great Northern Plains
Trustone Financial
UCare
Union Bank & Trust
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
UnitedHealth Group
Wells Fargo Bank
Civic and Religious
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005
Audobon Chapter of Minneapolis
Church of God of Prophecy
Church of St. Frances Cabrini
Church of The Holy Cross
Community Driven
Community Shares of Minnesota
East Side Old-Timers
Exchange Club of East Minneapolis
Goldbricks Club Inc
Holy Cross Rosary Guild
Kiwanis Club of St Anthony MN Foundation
Lions Club of NE Minneapolis
Menagerie Rugby Club
National Football League Referees Association
Nativity Lutheran Church
NE Hoops Group
Northeast Hoops Group, Inc.
Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association
Polish National Alliance
Prospect Park United Methodist Church
St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral
United Transportation Union Local #1000
Foundations
Archie D. and Bertha H. Walker Foundation
Bergerson Family Foundation
Best Buy Foundation
Camp Nebagamon Scholarship Fund
Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County
Dunphy Family Charitable Fund
ECMC Foundation
The Graco Foundation
Greater Twin Cities United Way
The Grotto Foundation
Kopp Family Foundation
The Lions Foundation of Northeast Mpls
Medica Foundation
Michael Zumwinkle
Mike & Linda Fiterman Family Foundation
The Minneapolis Foundation
Minnesota FoodShare
Network for Good
Northeast Kiwanis Foundation
Otto Bremer Trust
Prospect Park Co-op Legacy Fund
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation
The Ron & Kathy Colby Family Foundation
Stevens Square Foundation
Tankenoff Families Foundation
Individuals
Aaron Kapphahn
Adam A. Langner
Adam Mohr
Alan Shilepsky
Alexander Fernandez
Allison Ross
Amal Karim
Amy and Marko Fields
Amy Wellik
Andrew Gross
Andrew J. Martin
Andy Lunzer
Anonymous
Ashley Croon
Ashley Ochiagha
Ashley Schweitzer
Athena Kan
Barbara Brown
Barbara Koch
Barry Schaub
Becky Greeley
Beth U. Dawson
Betty J. Claussen
Bill E. Karkula
Bob Gagner
Bob Marget
Bonnie L. Conroy
Bonnie Reiland
Brad Losee
Bradley T. Langlais
Brian and Mindy Kelly
Brian Horrigan
Brian Ledin
Brian Tifft
Brittany Beckmann
Brooks Walbon
Carmen J. Haug
Carol Allin
Carol Frank
Caroline and Arthur Arnold
Carolyn Belle
Carrie & Mickey Eder
Caryn M. Olsen
Catherine Liska
Catherine Lundoff
Cathleen Pennaz
Cathy Smalley
Chad Anderson
Charlie Weber
Cheryl A. Davis
Chris Allman
Chris and Becky Gams
Chris McCollom
Chris Meehan
Christian Bubser
Christina Jasper
Christine A. Kaehler
Christopher Yard
Christopher Young
Christy Wood Murphy
Cindy & Jon Stoewer
Cinnamon Whaley
Clayton Martin
Connie L. Volcke
Connor Patty
Cory Hertog
Craig E. Samitt
Craig Warren
Criste Cossi
Curt Holewa
Dale and Susan McCauley
Dale Herron
Dan Kondziolka
Daniel Bembenek
Dave and Joyce Fleck
Dave Rudolph
David Fulton
David Hogan
David Kullman
David Maddux
Dawn Nuss
Dawn Svenkeson
Dean DeGroot
Deb Walsingham
Deborah and Robert Hildenbrandt
Deborah Dapkus
Deborah DuBois
Deborah J. Weinstock
Debra L. Krause
Dennis Haarsager
Dennis P. Gallagher
Dennis Spalla
Dennis Winslow
Diane and Anthony Hofstede
Diane D. Langer
Dick Rask
Dixie Purdom
Donald Pavelka
Doreen McIntyre
Doug Helm
Duane Arens
Dusten Johnson
Edward L. Stern
Elizabeth Boehlert
Elizabeth Frakie
Elizabeth Funari
Ellen J. Stein
Eric Foster-Johnson
Eric Jundt
Erica Anderson
Erica Torkelson
Estelle J. Walstead
Eva B. Rasmussen
Frances K. Cox
Frederick Bryan
Gabby Maalouf
Gavin Schuster
George L. Carlson
George Libera
George Wintz Jr.
Gerald Duncan
Gladys V. Mikkola
Gloria Weiss
Gregory D. Holewa
Gregory Wilson
Hamdy El-Sawaf
Harvey Johnson
Heidi Tonsager
Helen Henly
Hiedy F. Broten
Holly Beto
Holly Hofmann
Individuals
Jackie Woller
Jaclyn Bechtold
Jake Koller
James and Tomie Conaway
James Barrett
James Brandt
James Drake
James Horns
James Olsen
James Taborda-Whitt
James Varian
Jamie Kubicek
Janice Frakie
Jared Mahler
Jason Vaughn
Jay and Page Cowles
Jay Fetyko
Jay Ross
Jean M. Garbarini
Jean M. Kummerow, PhD
Jeff Rugel
Jenai Sele
Jennefer L. James
Jennifer Arnold
Jennifer Hieb
Jennifer McQuown
Jim Libera
Jodie Wing
Jody Downing
JoeLynn Mulari
Joetta Michels Gordon
John and Danielle Jurichko
John and Rebecca Mortellaro
John D. Thompson
John J. Feigal
John J. Kostishack
John Rask
John Richard
John Shockley
John Tofte
John Vandermyde
John W. Coleman
John Ziegler
Jon Anderson
Jon Butler
Jonathan Larson
Joseph Gallick
Joseph Mollen
Joseph P. Macko
Judith and Robert Steller
Judy M. Bratt
Judy Murphy
Julie Margarit
Julie Miller
Kaci O'Connell
Kali Suchy
Karen A. Moorman
Karen Gabler
Karen Kaczor
Karen M. Dziedzic
Karen Peterson
Kasang Nobu
Kate A. Stolpman
Kate Meador
Kate Sophia Hayden
Katey Wade
Katherine Hubbard
Katherine Perry
Kathrine Venhuizen
Kathryn Behrens
Kathryn E. Keefer
Kathy Jurichko
Kathy Marker
Katie Lawrence
Katy E. Schultz
Kay Quayle
Kayla Melius
Keith Johnson
Kelly A. Kita
Kelly J. Dziedzic
Ken Koch
Kendall Johnson
Kennon Rumuly
Kim Olson
Kimberly Hoelke
Kristi or Patrick M. Tierney
Kristine Martin
Kwame E Owusu and Alyssa J O A Ericksson Acheampong
Lance Witzig
Lani and Barb Gabatino
Larry Williams
Laura Tofte
Lauren Fichtel
Lee Ann Craig
Lee Daniels
Lee J. Smiertelny
Leslie Stangler
Lila Moe
Linda L. Wilson
Linnea S. Olesen
Linnea Tweed
Lisa and Ronald Tucci
Lisa Ledin
Lisa Wickner
Lloyd VanHale
Lois C. Willand
Lori Helman
Lorna Vandestreek
Lucille B. Miller
Lynn Barnes
M. Joan Froh
Madeline Betsch
Madeline Fitzgerald
Marc R. Kowalski
Mardell Moffett
Margaret A. Osborne
Margaret Kelaart
Margaret Stein
Margarette A. Weller
Margie Rask
Maria I. Bakken
Marilyn Johnson
Marion Fitzgerald
Mark Anderson
Mark Anderson
Mark Christiansen
Mark O. Lynch
Mark Vonderharr
Marty Schirber
Mary and John Hoven
Mary Britton
Mary E. McDowall
Mary Horton
Mary J. Boler
Mary O. Anstett
Mary Solz
Matt and Maggie Smith
Megan Hartman
Individuals
Michael Beauchane
Michael Bird
Michael Colling
Michael D. Giefer
Michael Miller
Michael Ostrem
Michael Pickett-Leonard
Michael Russinik
Michael Sammler-Jones
Michelle Kornowski
Michelle M. Mercer
Michola Foley
Mick Conlan
Mike and Julia Costello
Mike sackman
Mike Severson
Mike Vennewitz
Missy C. Foxman
Monica Kruger
Nan Upin
Nancy Borgstrom
Nancy J. Tennessen
Nancy K. Przymus
Nathan Aalderks
Nathan Leland
Nichlous Sovick
Nickolas Priadka
Noelle Gronroos
Pam T. Rosch
Pamela Giefer
Pamela Lohse
Patricia Frasher
Patricia M. Schaffer
Patrick Hyland
Patsy A. Ramberg
Paul DesMarais
Paul Kramer
Paul Langlais
Paul Moses
Paul Norby
Paula R. Nancarrow
Pauline Walker
Philip Wilkie
Phyllis and Donald Kahn
Rachel Kuehl
Ralph Matthes
Ralph W. Winkelmeyer
Randy P. Hertog
Raymond M. Newman, Jr.
Reatha Clark-KIng
Rebecca Marchand
Rebecca Martin
Rena M. Gillman
Richard and Natalie Sitarz
Richard Clem
Richard Fournier
Richard Higgins
Richard Poppele
Richard Verdoorn, II
Rick Purple
Rob Haarsager
Rob Hill
Robert and Linda Foster
Robert Beugen
Robert Brophey
Robert C. Callahan
Robert Cyza
Robert D. Lindberg
Robert J. Miller
Robert W. Hatch, Sr.
Robert W. Smithburg
Robert Weeks
Roberta Jaffe
Robin Getman
Robin Theilmann
Robin Thomas
Robyn Kemp
Rodney H. Kosloski
Roger Allen
Ron & Sheila Johnson
Ronald Uglow, Jr.
Rosanne L. Sierzant
Russ Rubin
Ruth & David Olkon
Ruth Hafoka
Sabine Shea
Sam Spencer
Samantha Greer
Sandra Leuthner
Sandra M. Dekker
Sandy Casey
Sarah Rowe
Sarah Sharer-Curley
Sean Hart
Sharon Anstett
Sharon L. Ellis
Sharron Kujawa
Shelly Hughes
Sigrid Stensvold
Skye Thomas
Sonya E. Heglund
Stephan Grygar
Stephen Fautsch
Stephen Rose
Stephen Szeremeta
Steve Mittelstaedt
Steve Osthus
Steven Bailey
Steven Miller
Summer Lorenzsonn
Susan Luke
Susan O'Reilly
Susie and Steve Bodurtha
Suzanne L. Jaeger
Talia Smigielski
Tamara A. Cowan
Tamara Blaschko
Tammy and Duke Zurek
Tanya Schmitt
Teresa A. Sikora
Teresa Olson
Theresa Katner
Thomas Arnold
Thomas P. Scheaffer
Timothy Mezzenga
Tina Wallman
Todd Loining
Tom and Sandra Glodek
Tonia Shupien
Tony Brown
Tracy Thoraldson
Violet M. Johnson
Virginia M. Sutton
Wallace Carr
Walter Hodynsky
William Rusinak
Yulonda Blackmon