Mission Statement

Moms & Neighbors provides anonymous, one-time, and unexpected gifts of kindness to nominated families and teens in the Independent School District 196 community who have suffered hardships.

We provide:

• Resources to a family or teen that is experiencing an unexpected financial
hardship and other resources are not available.
• Assistance to overcome the defined financial hardship for items that are
necessary to the function and/or health of a family.
• Anonymity. Board members do not know the identity of the recipients, only
their circumstances.
• Gifts of assistance that are in line within the financial position of the
organization. We are unable to provide assistance for a continuing need.

Our Process

• We work through Community Advocates (counselors or staff at the
schools) who identify beneficiaries in need. We are unable to fund
requests that are not nominated through the Community Advocate and
vetted through an established process to ensure validity and anonymity.
• Our Kindness Ambassadors work directly with the Community Advocates
to gather appropriate information regarding the need and make a
recommendation to the Moms & Neighbors Board to fund the need.
• The volunteer Moms & Neighbors Board reviews anonymous requests to
ensure the unexpected gift meets our mission.

About Moms & Neighbors

  • Our goal is simple – to give hope to families and teens facing hardship in District 196 through unexpected gifts of kindness.
  • Moms & Neighbors began 13 years ago by a few teachers and moms from Red Pine Elementary who saw a need to help struggling families. Over the years it has grown to what it is now.
  • Moms & Neighbors helps families and teens in District 196 (Eagan, Apple Valley, Rosemount) that find themselves facing unforeseen financial challenges.
  • M&N Kindness Ambassadors, working together with community advocates (school counselors, faith leaders and/or law enforcement), identify those that need non-emergency assistance such as help with housing payments, auto repairs, utility bills, money/gift cards for groceries or clothing.
  • Through these one-time gifts, Moms & Neighbors brings hope to the recipients and demonstrates how a community can come together through the Power of Kindness.

Volunteer Based

  • Moms & Neighbors is only possible because of volunteers.
  • 6 board members and 18 Kindness Ambassadors.
  • Kindness Ambassadors: Each school in ISD 196 is assigned a Kindness Ambassador. This is a volunteer with Moms & Neighbors. The KA acts as a liaison between the school and Board, gathering non-identifiable information about the family from the school counselor and presenting it to the Board for review and approval.

By the Numbers

  • Since Moms & Neighbors began, we’ve given out nearly $725,000.
  • 99.7% of donations goes directly to struggling teens and families.

Ways to Get Involved

      • Holiday Giving – annual event that supports nominated families and teens from each 196 school. Volunteers needed to help organize annual event from October through mid-December.
      • Casino Night – M&N largest fundraiser. Tentatively planning for a Casino Night in 2025. Will need volunteers to help plan as well as day of volunteers.
      • Fundraising volunteers – help organize smaller and/or on-going events such as Cub bagging, restaurant nights (like Jersey Mikes, Chipotle).
      • Kindness Ambassadors for schools across the district.
      • Board members.