This is a guest blog post by Ann Macgregor from Minnesota Valley Action Council.

You have driven by our offices on Victory Dr. so you have seen the name. You may have even heard from us when we contacted you to sponsor our fundraiser Warm Your Heart and yet you still have no idea who or what we are.

Did you know that MVAC has been around for over 50 years? No? You’re not alone.  Most likely because our greatest strength is our greatest weakness. Our mission is not focused on alleviating poverty, which means focusing on housing issues, educating children, and employment and training. We are focused on what services our community needs. Housing – rentals, home improvement loans, homeless prevention, heating assistance and weatherization. Children – Head Start education for birth to 5 years old. Employment and training – educating youth and seniors so that they can become gainfully employed community members. MVAC is a Community Action Agency that was created by President Lyndon B. Johnson. We are a part of a National Organization that makes sure our communities thrive by making sure the people in those communities thrive.

So here we are in the midst of a crisis that none of us in our wildest dreams could imagine. But now it is our time to show all of you who MVAC is, who Community Action is, and just what the heck it is that we do. Community Action was singled out for funding in the stimulus package for extra funding to the 1100 of Community Action agencies across the US. For starters, many employers had to layoff many of your staff in the past two weeks. Many of you self-employed people have had to shut your doors per the “Stay at Home” mandate. This means a loss of income at a magnitude that none of you thought possible. With-in days MVAC was readied to handle the crisis; adapting to new program changes and new forms. People that didn’t think that they would need help to pay their bills and for some this is the first time and don’t know what to do should know that we are here and we want to help!

How can we help? What is it that we can do?

We may be able to help with heat / electricity utility bills. Households that previously wouldn’t qualify, might now be eligible.  This could, free up some of their budget so that they can pay for something else. No one should have to choose between being warm or buying food or medicine.

We may be able to help with rent or mortgage assistance. Many families are facing this challenge for the first time. As the crisis evolves, so will we. Additional Assistance and funding will be available, and we will keep GMG updated.

To Reach MVAC now, call…….

Toll free: 1-800-767-7139
Brown County – 508-4041
Blue Earth County – 345-6822
Faribault County – 526-2591
Le Sueur County – 357-4246
Martin County – 238-1663
Nicollet County – 934-5224
Sibley County – 237-2981
Waseca County – 835-8240
Watonwan County – 375-5748

www.mnvac.org Like us on Facebook