Girls lacrosse page 15
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BENTON AG Section B
Plus
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Saturday, MAY 4, 2019
Same Local Coverage Since 1 8 5 4 .
Vol. 165, No. 4
Stopping the spin cycle of homelessness Dyson, others working to aid those in need with Neighbors to Friends efforts BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – By 10 a.m. Tuesday, all but one washer at Kipp’s Laundry in St. Cloud were full. The lone machine sat empty with an out of order sign taped over the coin slots. Six people sat in patio chairs watching “The Price Is Right” while others conversed in small groups around bags of clothing. Volunteers prepared a spread of food on a folding station – dollar bun sandwiches, bananas, potato chips, homemade oatmeal cookies and more. This was the scene April 30 at Laundry Love – one of three initiatives of the soon-to-be nonprofit Neighbors to Friends which aims to help the St. Cloud homeless and near homeless populations. Sauk Rapids resident Nancy Dyson said the movement started over a cup of coffee. “About five or six years ago, I met some folks who were living down at Lake George,” Dyson said. “I was bringing some coffee around on a Sunday morning before church and it was well received, so we did it again the next week. We kept doing it week after week that whole summer.” The acts of kindness spread by word of mouth from Dyson as well as homeless people. Soon, coffee turned to full breakfasts, more and more people were involved and relationships formed. “Because we had gotten to know each other well enough, the people were willing to be vulnerable and share some of
their needs,” Dyson said. “Laundry was definitely one of them.” After learning about Laundry Love – a nationwide drive to help low income people wash their clothes – Dyson partnered with the owner of Kipp’s Laundry and has been organizing the effort for nearly five years. Prior to Neighbors of Friends filing for its 501c3 status, St. John’s Episcopal Church has been the fiscal agent for all donations. Laundry Love offers up to $20 per family, $8 per individual for washing and drying of personal items. The concept started by Dyson collecting quarters from her couch cushions. It expanded with donations from individuals and organizations.
Dyson page 2
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Nancy Dyson, of Sauk Rapids, stands at Kipp’s Laundry April 30 in St. Cloud. Dyson has helped homeless and near-homeless populations in St. Cloud for over five years.
Setting Rice Elementary apart
Postal Customer
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Staff at Rice Elementary – Kathy Traut (front, from left) and Jen Maier; (second row, from left) Ginger Zabinski, Kelsey Bean, Cami Huss, Melissa Johnson, Sara Christensen, Sue Paasch, Nancy Davis and Crystal Davidson; (third row, from left) Annemarie Loehning, Emily Schiffler, Tina Douvier, Donna Buckner, Krista Hein, Megan Dingmann, Tara Vadnais and Stacy Konsor; (back, from left) Ryan Butkowski, Mike Olson, Alison Evenson, Ryan Koenigs, Shawn Hackett, Carrie Zack, Katie Maas, Lisa Yoerg, Brandon Sawyer, Meghan Wiebe, Cassie Bakke, Matt Grams and Mark Hauck – celebrate the school’s International Baccalaureate authorization April 23 in Rice. The school has been working towards the authorization for three years and will need to undergo reauthorization in five years.
Baccalaureate page 3
PUBLIC NOTICES
• Benton County Board of Adjustment Notice of Public Hearings, May 16, 2019 - pg. 11 • Benton County Board of Commissioners Notice of Public Hearings, May 21, 2019 - pg. 11 • Benton County Cemetery Association Annual Meeting - pg. 11
OBITUARIES • Mary “Sis” Monnier Morfitt