Last I week I once again had the blessing of attending Sheltering Arms’ Grantee Lunch. It was an incredible opportunity to hear stories from a number of the 40 organizations who received grants, as well as to hear from recipients from Episcopal faith communities.
The Sheltering Arms Foundation, an affiliate of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota (ECMN), supports programs and advocacy for programs serving Minnesota’s most vulnerable children. Its deep roots began when Deaconess Annette Relf, Minnesota’s first Episcopal sister, founded Sheltering Arms Orphanage in 1883 and set forth on a mission to create a safe haven for abandoned or homeless children be loved and cared for. The foundation has since evolved to invest in the lives of Minnesota’s children and help them reach their full potential by funding non-profit organizations and supporting policies that benefit children and their families who have the least access to resources.
The foundation’s trustees are made up of women from faith communities across ECMN. Sheltering Arms is a member of the Start Early Funders coalition, a group of foundations that support early childhood programs. As a part of this group, Sheltering Arms is supporting an effort this year called MinneMinds. This research-grounded consortium of organizations and leaders from across the state has the common commitment of prioritizing Minnesota’s youngest in-need children as the most important investment that our state can make.
Sheltering Arm’s is not only a shining star in ECMN but across Minnesota. Its work in advocacy and collaboration with other organizations is a model for all of our faith communities. I would encourage you to visit their website and explore ways that you may be able to support, or collaborate with, their work of investing in a strong future for all children.