Each year, STEP provides hundreds of St. Louis Park students with much-needed school supplies. Although there is much uncertainty concerning the upcoming school year, STEP is committed to providing students with the tools needed to learn no matter the learning environment for the 2020/2021 school year. To ensure the safety of STEP clients, staff, and volunteers, the school supplies will be distributed on-site and on an ongoing basis rather than in one day.

Critically needed school supplies are:

-Mead Wide lined composition notebook-Black
-Mead college-ruled composition notebook-Black, variety
-College ruled spiral notebook
-Two-pocket plastic dividers with 5 tabs
-3 ring pencil pouch
-Crayola watercolor paints (8 primary colors)
-Crayola washable markers (10 count and 8 count)
-Chisel tip highlighters
-1” 3-ring binder
-2” 3-ring binder
-18″ backpack-any color

Monetary donations are always welcome and allow us to purchase items on an as-needed basis.

Visit www.stepslp.org for a complete list of our needed items or follow the links to our  Amazon and Target wish lists to purchase online and have donations sent directly to us!

Donations can be dropped off at STEP during our regular office hours through August 14. For more information contact Mari at 952-925-4899 ext.1800 or Mari@stepslp.org. Thank you!

The city has started Phase 2 of the Historic Walker Lake street construction project. Lake Street will be closed from Walker Street to approximately 200 feet northwest of Library Lane, including the intersections of Brownlow and Lake Street and Library Lane and Lake Street both ways. STEP remains accessible during construction. STEP’s alley will need to be accessed via Brownlow Ave or Library Lane.

CDBG emergency rental assistance is available to qualifying households residing in St. Louis Park.

You may qualify if:

• Your household income is below 50% of area median income ($46,500 for household of 3) before COVID-19
• Lost income due to COVID-19 that has not been replaced through unemployment benefits
• Cannot afford your housing costs this month or owe back rent
• Do not receive HUD rental subsidies

STEP does have other funds available.  If your situation does not meet these qualifications, please inquire.

Please call STEP’s emergency assistance line at 952-234-4323 or email ea@stepslp.org.  Applications are available below in English, Spanish, and Somali.  Interpreter services can be accessed.

To get a copy of STEP’s Rent Assistance Application click here.  Somali emergency assistance application.    Para obtener una copia de la Aplicación de Asistencia de Renta haga clic aquí

Here at STEP, we continue to honor our mission by providing food to our St. Louis Park neighbors. If you are in need of assistance please call us at 952.925.4899. The Clothes Closet is closed indefinitely.

The best way to assist STEP at this time is through a financial donation directly through STEP’s website by clicking here .

Thank you for your support!

Recently, STEP’s Board of Directors recognized the 2019 STEP Outstanding Community Partner, Richard and Meta Webb of the Webb Group.

Richard and Meta Webb have long been involved in multiple facets of the St. Louis Park community. They have contributed to and supported STEP’s mission to empower lives and restore hope in multiple ways. The Webb Group has been the lead host sponsors of the Holiday Train stop in St. Louis Park all four years.

Whenever their company sells or purchases a house in St. Louis Park, they donate $500 to the clients’ choice of a  St. Louis Park charity or school. Often clients have chosen STEP. Meta has volunteered on the committee organizing the annual STEP Up Breakfast. Both Richard and Meta volunteer together at STEP on a regular basis, usually sorting incoming clothing or food donations.

What a wonderful example on how two busy small business owners can still make a big impact on the community they care about!

STEP is so fortunate to have incredibly supportive volunteers. Over the years, our organization has moved from building to building and staff have come and gone. Many of our long-term volunteers have witnessed these transformations and have continued to volunteer.

Cindy Jurgenson, a STEP supporter and transportation volunteer, has witnessed our growth and change over her 23 years of volunteering. Cindy went out on her last ride with us in December and we are so sad to see her go!

Cindy was attracted to the flexible volunteer schedule that our transportation program offered and the ability to create meaningful connections through conversations over each trip. She mentions that our transportation program provides an invaluable service to this community.

Last fiscal year, STEP’s transportation volunteers provided clients with just short of 1300 medical or food shelf rides. Cindy appreciates STEP’s commitment to easing the transportation burden of our neighbors. Cindy and her husband, Curt (pictured above) are incredible STEP supporters and urge you to become involved with STEP’s transportation program! If interested, please reach out to Mari, our Volunteer Coordinator.

Thank you to the many donors who helped make this year’s Toy Program a success! We were able to serve over 550 kids in total with toys or gift certs this year!

Thank you to Peace Presbyterian Church for hosting and for our volunteers who worked so hard to make this happen. Special thanks to Eileen Unze, Camille Schroeder & Carita Dahlberg for your leadership and dedication!

The Clothes Closet is ready for winter! We may not want the cold weather to come yet, but we are ready for it! We have coats, snow pants, boots and mittens to make sure everyone in SLP is able to stay warm!

• During the month of October STEP provides winter coats and other winter clothing items to residents in need living in St. Louis Park. Residents may access this program as they would the clothing closet.

• This program is in partnership with the Coats for Kids Program sponsored by Pilgrim’s Cleaners. Donations from the community are also welcomed.