A Call for Action, Community, and Solidarity
Our hearts are breaking at the destruction of our communities, both here at home and abroad. The demonstrations in Twin Cities and around the world have amplified the damage that a long history of racial inequities and injustice has inflicted on our communities. We are devastated by the murder of George Floyd and our hearts go out to his family, the countless others who have suffered because of the color of their skin, and those whose livelihoods have been impacted by the violence.
With this current tragedy taking place in our COVID-19-defined world, we are being reminded that we are interconnected and interdependent in so many ways. Particularly, we are reminded that community development must be about building more than infrastructure. To truly build our communities, everyone needs a voice, a sense of self-determination, and the ability to effect change in their own lives.
That is why when we work in Sierra Leone we don’t just distribute food; we distribute decision-making power. We don’t just build latrines; we build a community’s ability to come together to meet their own sanitation needs. And we empower women to use their voices in their families and communities for equal financial participation.
Here at home we are wondering how to move forward and what we can do to support our own communities. To achieve our mission, we must address both global and local inequities. We know that those who are impoverished are less able to economically cope with crises, and we know that there is a tremendous burden placed on immigrant and refugee communities to support their families both at home and abroad. For these reasons, OneVillage Partners is partnering with the Sierra Leonean Community of Minnesota to provide critical food security support in the Twin Cities area. We know that to achieve our mission, we must continue to strengthen the bond between our communities, both here and in Sierra Leone.
If you would like to support our OneVillage Partners & Sierra Leone Community of Minnesota donation drive, please view the list of needed items and drop-off instructions below. We will be accepting donations at our OneVillage Partners office from Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11 and Monday, June 15 through Thursday, June 18th.
This donation drive is a small step toward strengthening the bonds between our global and local communities and creating real change. By helping local Sierra Leoneans get through the crises of 2020, we are extending help across the world to their families in Sierra Leone. We remain committed to our vision of long-term, systemic change.
OneVillage Partners & Sierra Leone Community of Minnesota Donation Drive
Requested Items
• Non-perishable food items (rice and palm oil are especially appreciated)
• Toilet Paper & Other Paper Products
• Hygiene Items (deodorant, soap, shaving cream, toothpaste, etc.)
• Masks
• Gloves
• Sanitizer
• Household cleaning supplies
• Baby Items (Diapers, Wipes, Formula and Baby Food)
Drop-Off Instructions
You can deliver your donations to the OneVillage Partners office between 9:00-12:00 Monday, June 8 – Thursday, June 11 and Monday, June 15 – Thursday, June 18th. Our address is:
715 Florida Ave S, Suite 101
Golden Valley, MN 55426
Please wear a mask and respect 6 feet of space when you are in the building – we will do the same!
If you would like to donate but are unable to make the scheduled delivery times, please contact Alex at alex@onevillagepartners.org.