Nokomis East Neighborhood Association September 2020

Becky Timm, NENA Executive Director

By BECKY TIMM,

Executive Director

becky.timm@nokomiseast.org

Food resources

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were swift and continue to unfold for our Nokomis East residents and businesses. The Civil Uprising and the destruction of local stores utilized by many of our transit-dependent community members make food insecurity even more challenging. Our community is served by two nonprofit projects helping local families put food on the table. The resources are available to all:

• Minnehaha Food Shelf – Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located in the Minnehaha Methodist Church at 3701 E 50th Street. Phone: (612) 721-6231. Website: minnehaha.org/foodshelf.html

• Nokomis East Pop-Up Food Distribution – 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Located at 5734 Sander Drive. Outdoor event, dress for the weather. Phone: (612) 293-9683. Email: nena@nokomiseast.org

Monarch Festival re-imagined

For the past 12 years, NENA and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board have hosted the Minneapolis Monarch Festival. This year the festival looks a little different as we move online. The festival is organizing cultural, artistic, and educational virtual activities to keep the spirit of the festival alive and promote our core message of protecting the Monarch Butterfly.

We are hosting a pop-up pollinator plant sale on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lake Nokomis Community Center. Pollinator plant kits are available for online pre-order and payment. Order ahead, pick up, and plant in your yard!

Visit our festival website at www.monarchfestival.org and on Facebook at @MinneapolisMonarchFestival to see what is new!

Housing resources

Housing concerns are also on the rise as the COVID-19 pandemic continues into its sixth month. NENA works with government agencies and nonprofits to keep you informed of available resources:

• Hennepin County Community Resources – Food, rental assistance, business assistance, health and mental health resources. and more at 612-348-5139 or www.hennepin.us/residents/emergencies/community-resources

• Foreclosure Prevention Nonprofit Organization – Minnesota Homeownership Center at www.hocmn.org

• Renters Rights Nonprofit Organizations – Tenant Resource Center at www.trc2020.com. HomeLine Legal Hotline at 612-728-5767

• NENA Programs – Low-interest home improvement loans; Staying In Place Grants for seniors, veterans, residents living with disabilities, and low-income households; home security matching grants (October); and renters rights support at www.nokomiseast.org under “Projects”

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