First, we are excited to welcome about 30 new members to the Minneapolis Market.  In June we had our first annual Minneapolis Market Application event where someone from the Market leadership team met with each potential member to the Market.  They had the chance to meet each other and have a conversation about each individual person’s needs.  Because we had 30 new sponsors sign up ,we were able to open membership to those 30 new members.  We will be having another Membership Application Event on October 3rd, so if you could encourage anyone else that you know to become a new Sponsor ,we will be able to open the Market Membership to more people.

Along with the Membership Application Event, we launched a new program at the Market called “Cakes for Kids.”  The new members were able to sign their children up to receive a free birthday cake on their birthday.  One of our volunteers, Chandler Murphy, has volunteered her time and culinary creativity to bake each child a cake on their birthday.  The members were excited to be able to know they will have a cake to celebrate their child’s birthday!

This August the Minneapolis Market is KTIS FM’s Difference Maker.  KTIS will be airing a short promo about the Minneapolis Market throughout August in hopes of spreading the word to new Sponsors and new potential Members who might be in need.  Keep your ears listening on 98.5 KTIS to hear more about the Minneapolis Market.

The Minneapolis Market is stocked each month from food that we are able to get from Second Harvest Heartland food bank. In July we were able to increase our food supply chain to include another provider, Hope in the City.

“Hope for the City is a privately funded, 501 (c)3 relief organization that was established to improve lives by distributing corporate surplus to organizations who serve those in need next door and around the world.
The Minnesota-based, non-profit organization collects overstock products from top retailers, hospitals and clinics, and food distributors nationwide and donates the items to people in need in Minnesota and around the world.
Since its inception, Hope for the City has donated over $480 million in wholesale value of goods.”

We are excited to see how our partnership with Hope for the City grows.

Just last weekend we were excited to have a team of volunteers from Oracle at the Minneapolis Market.  The Oracle volunteers threw a BBQ at the Market and fed dinner to all the members before or after they shopped for their groceries.  It is so much fun to have dedicated, enthusiastic people involved with volunteering and celebrating life at the Market. Thanks to Upper Room member and board member Allen Lemay and his team for the fun BBQ!

This summer we continue to offer fresh, local and organic produce from Big River Farms.  The Members are always excited to see what the new produce at the Market will be.

One last update.  We are looking for families to purchase school supplies for the kids at the Market for a Back to School event.  If you would be willing to purchase a backpack filled with the following items (and anything additional you think looks fun) please drop the backpack at the Upper Room on Sunday

• August 13th
• August 20th
• August 27th or
• Sepbember 3rd

We will make sure the backpacks get to kids at the Minneapolis Market just in time for a new school year.

Minneapolis School Supply List
Grades K-5

• Backpack
• Ruler
• No. 2 pencil
• Crayons
• Kleenex
• Pencil box
• Water color markers
• Glue stick
• Small rounded scissors

Grades 6-12

• Backpack (some schools require transparent)
• No. 2 pencils
• Pencil sharpener
• Ruler
• Ink pens
• Crayons/markers/gels/colored pencils
• Pocket folders (for each class)
• Spiral notebooks (for each class)
• Glue stick
• School/student handbook scheduler (to be purchased at school)
• Calculator
• Protractors (for upper grades only)
• Clear water containers (optional)
• Specific additional requirements upon request of instructor

Whew, that’s a lot to update!  Thanks again for being a sponsor, volunteer or supporter of the Minneapolis Market.

Molly Schroeder
Minneapolis Market Coordinator

In November, we were able to open the Minneapolis Market to 30 new members.  Because of a recent story on KARE 11, people outside of the Upper Room Community heard about the Minneapolis Market and were moved to join as new sponsors.  Dustin and I joined Erik Perkins (dressed in tights for Halloween) in the KARE 11 studio on October 30^th to share the story of our little Minneapolis Market.  Thirty minutes after the story aired Dustin and I were contacted by people around the metro about becoming sponsors or one time donors.  We were excited about the opportunity to share our story with greater Minneapolis.

You can view the KARE 11 segment here.

One of my favorite parts of being involved with the Minneapolis Market is getting the opportunity to hear stories from all of you about your experiences volunteering.  One of our shift managers, Dave, called me the other day after his shift and told me that as they were ending their Saturday shift and cleaning up one of our members showed up at the door.  The volunteer team welcomed him in to shop even though they were closing soon.  In pretty fragmented English the man said he was not there to shop but he had cooked homemade chicken enchiladas for the volunteers for their lunch.  The generosity of the members is humbling.

The Upper Room Kids have also had fun putting together “goodie bags” for the kids the visit the Minneapolis Market with their families.  Here are a few pictures of some of the kids who received the goodie bags.

As I enter this Holiday season with lists of gifts to buy, meals to cook and parties to attend I am reminded of how thankful I am to also be involved with the Minneapolis Market.  I’m grateful to be surrounded by people like you who will give of their time and money to create a brighter Holiday season for the members of the Minneapolis Market.

Molly Schroeder

Minneapolis Market Sponsor Coordinator