Philanthropy in Practice: Olmsted County

The Warming Center and Day Center is a multi-sectoral community collaborative COVID-19 effort to serve people experiencing homelessness. The City of Rochester and Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) have “rented” the Mayo Civic Center to provide 24-hour shelter, in the form of a Warming Center from 8 pm to 8 am and a Day Center from 8 am to 8 pm. Catholic Charities, which operated the Warming Center in winter months, extended and shifted their operations to the Civic Center to allow for the necessary physical distancing. The Day Center has opened temporarily to provide services in one location. Rochester Public Library and other City staff on reassignment operate the Day Center. The Salvation Army, Channel One Food Bank, and local churches and businesses help provide meals. The LandingMn assists with clothing and other essentials. Meanwhile, HRA staff and local social workers work onsite with Center residents to address long term health and housing needs. And, because we do not know what unexpected circumstances might affect our vulnerable community members, we will direct a portion of the funds to the COVID-19 Together Fund, housed at the Rochester Area Foundation.

All gifts given to this campaign will be distributed among the key nonprofits and The Together Fund.

Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota

Channel One Food Bank

Rochester Public Library Foundation

Rochester Salvation Army

The Landing MN

Together Fund, housed at the Rochester Area Foundation