Mission

Together we inspire our employees and volunteers to build a strong presence and reputation for social responsibility within our community.

Vision

We envision employees and volunteers coming together to identify needs and engage with services that make a difference in our resilient and diverse community.

Our value and what we do

Hennepin County

• Leads our community in mobilizing residents of all ages and backgrounds to volunteer
• Uses skill-based recruitment to help volunteers make a difference in their own lives, and those they serve
• Collaborates with the community and responds to needs by creating, developing, and supporting volunteer opportunities
• Inspires the community to volunteer their time and talent to support staff in our mission
• Promotes the value of volunteering and creates ways to make lasting, impactful change to strengthen communities
• Connects people and resources with the needs and services in our community
• Serves as a leader and advocate to promote healing and unity in the community through volunteering.

Impact on community from volunteering (2019)

2019 volunteer by the numbers (PDF)

Education

• 421 library volunteers tutored over 1600 youth.
• 155 residents passed their citizenship test with support from Franklin Learning Center volunteers.
• 501 youth volunteers developed work readiness skills at the library.

Health

• Our volunteer therapy dog Lux, provided 42 calming sessions for youth.
• A volunteer assisted with the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program focusing improvement effects for clients through community engagement, service provision, and other public health interventions.
• Volunteers gave over 250 hours to support the National Adoption Day and Foster Care Picnic programs.
• 364 employees contributed 709 hours cooking for the homeless, vulnerable and sick in our community. We celebrated 2 years of service with People Serving People and the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery.
• 11 volunteers helped increase awareness and outreach of the Child and Teen program by participating in parades and community events.
• 2,205 employees volunteered in over 270 volunteer opportunities.

Justice

• 230 families were assisted by Family Court Services volunteers who explained processes, completed paperwork and scheduled clients for mediation.
• Over 3500 Adult Correctional Facility residents participated in faith services and studies provided by volunteer chaplains and community lay leaders.

Look for opportunities

Find opportunities to volunteer with Hennepin County on our volunteer sign-up tool.

Volunteer with a specific area

• Adopt-a-Highway
• Environment and gardening
• Public safety and sheriff's office

Donations

In-kind donations to Hennepin County, Health and Human Services provide vulnerable community members with basic need items. Donations directly benefit youth and adults experiencing homelessness, people with mental health and addiction challenges, and Native American youth in the child services system.

Donations provide basic needs to individuals who would otherwise not have access to items, including:

• Hygiene products
• Toiletries
• Socks
• Shoes
• Clothing
• Blankets
• Other fundamental items

Providing some of these basic need items helps individuals focus on their goals and move forward in life to take care of other important needs. Extra and special items are also much appreciated especially for the Hennepin County children clients. Things like birthday boxes or care bags are often a special added bonus.

For more information on how to donate, contact volunteering@hennepin.us.

Special Gift Fund

The mission is to provide a limited amount of money to current Hennepin County clients who are facing an emergency or special need and for whom there is no other funding source available to meet that need.

• Donations can be any amount and can come from any source.
• All donations are 100% tax deductible (donation receipts available upon request).
• All donations go to benefit clients — there are no management fees or overhead costs.
• No tax dollars are used for the Special Gift Fund — it is 100% supported by tax deductible donations.

The fund accepts cash and checks payable to: Hennepin County Special Gift Fund. There is no online giving option.

Mail donations to:

Hennepin County Special Gift Fund
Attn: Noemi Alcocer, MC 140
300 S. 6th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55487

For questions regarding the Special Gift Fund, please email noemi.alcocer@hennepin.us or hsph.specialgiftfund@hennepin.us.

Food shelves in need

• Community Emergency Assistance Programs
• Community Emergency Service
• Emergency Foodshelf Network
• Groveland Emergency Food Shelf
• ICA Food Shelf
• Joyce Uptown Foodshelf
• Pastor Paul's Mission
• People & Pets Together
• Rescue Now Service
• Second Harvest Heartland
• Senior Food Shelf
• Veap