[music] Hello and welcome back to yet another conversation in South St. Paul. I'm Jimmy Francis the mayor and with me is Andrew Hoffman from Neighbors Incorporated. Nice to have you here. Thank you for having me here today. >> And one of the things I like to do before we get started, people get to know you a little bit. What's your favorite band or what's your favorite music? If you're going to pick something or it's on your radio, what is it? >> You know, I'm a big Dean Martin fan. >> Really? >> Yes. You know, I think it has a lot to do with when I bought my first house. Actually, was in South St. Paul as well. My dad and I, we spent about three months fixing up that house. So, really listen to a lot of Dean Martin the Essentials. the that exact CD, the album, but just a great music and I really enjoy that and Christmas music. >> Yeah. Okay. And Dean had a few great Christmas tunes, too. He did. >> Dean Martin, man, that's that's classic. That's reminds me of that older generation, you know, the that just nostalgic of that. That's cool. So, if um if then you know you're going to watch a a sports team, what are you watching? What's your favorite sports team? >> The Timberwolves. So, four in a row right now. So, looking good after some close losses. So, >> were you a basketball player? >> You know, I could play up until about middle school and then given I stopped growing, it's hard to be competitive after that point. >> Where'd you grow up? >> I grew up in Egan, Minnesota. >> Egan. >> So, grew up in Egan. I lived there for over 20 years. Then from there, I kind of moved to a few cities, but then moved back to Egan a couple years ago. We have a three-year-old, so just want to be closer family. >> That's awesome. Yeah, it's nice when you're close to family for, you know, especially with kids to have some help once in a while. All right. So, if nobody else, your your child isn't calling you, your spouse isn't calling you, your family doesn't need you, Andrew, where what's your happy place? Where are you going? What are you doing with the time? If you're scheduling the time, what are you doing? >> You know, I'm a big uh board game fan, a tabletop enthusiast, I say. So, I host board games at my house fairly regularly. About once a month, I bring people in and I've been able to kind of create a community over the la about 30 people in it now over the last couple years. And it's really just inviting people and you know going out there and putting yourself out there of you know just trying to make new friends. >> Yeah. So there's people you don't know that you started this with just >> Yeah. or neighbors or people that you met along the way? >> People I met along the way and then I would say a lot of them I don't know because I'd buy board games off like Facebook Marketplace and then you realize a lot of times people sell them because they no longer have a gaming group to play with. >> Oh, okay. >> So it's just a great way to invite people to your home and get to know them. As the adage goes, it's easier to make a friend of a board gamer than a It's easier to make a board gamer a friend than a friend a board gamer. [laughter] >> That's probably true, huh? Because they're already into the games. Yeah, that's really interesting. Fun. What a what a fun little fact about Andrew that we would have never known if he hadn't come on this the podcast. You So, you've been working for Neighbors. You work for Neighbors. Tell me about your role at Neighbors Incorporated. Yeah. So, my role recently changed. I'm now the director of community partnerships. So, really part of our work over the last couple years has been around helping people with jobs and training. >> Yeah. >> So, you think about when you and I have looked for jobs in the past, you know, people. There's that old saying that's it's about who you know, not what you know at times. So, we really look at ourselves that as that bridge. So, really trying to get out there to connect with employers, really learn what opportunities they have for employment. What are some of those regular positions that open up? What are the certifications that they do value? because we are using uh funds to help send people to training. So, you know, if we're going to use funds, we want to make sure that it's in certifications that are valued by that respective field. So, really working closely with employers to understand what they're looking for. Also understand the culture of the company, right? Like, is it the right culture? Is it a hybrid? Is it in person? Is it swing shifts? And really understand all the positions. But then from there, what's neat is it's not just about the positions you might first talk about. Sometimes you find out, oh, they do in-house janitorial, they do in-house IT and can start to talk about other areas too within their business. So, it's really about connecting there. The other piece is um neighbors has a great relationships with so many faith partners here. >> So, it's really deepening those partnerships too. Trying to get more youth groups as well as just groups in general to come and do volunteer activities at Neighbors. So, really more intentionality about how do we bring people and keep them engaged uh but also build out those partnerships so they're longlasting, not just episodic. Yeah, that's really great. Uh, Neighbors has been a in existence my entire life. I've gr grown up with it around it and you know whether I've known the executive directors or I've met them throughout the time I've met them all. uh you have a new or a newer uh executive director Don who's also on the workforce board with my with me >> and um that workforce part really is something new that's been brought in the past since she's come right or maybe before before >> you know I would say the workforce part since she's been there I would say yeah about three years ago the financial empowerment center >> that's the other >> that's the part that got started >> and then you know quickly we learned you know you can talk about finance you can talk about budget but if people don't always have that regular income coming in, it's really hard to really set those goals for kind of my those longer term goals. So really, how do we get more involved with the jobs and the training? This past January, we were awarded a $450,000 grant the state of Minnesota that really was helps people send people training. It's allowed us to build and scale our capacity to really be able to make transformative change in people's lives and ultimately the community. >> That's so awesome. I mean, again, you think about what you've accomp what Neighbors has accomplished already. They got the food shelf figured out. They got the clothes closet figured out. They got the the Christmas figured out. They got, you know, they got all these great things figured out. They're working. You're there pulling more people in for volunteers to be able to keep that engine running. >> The need is never ending. And I I mean, just from what I see and participate, the giving, you know, we're a giving community. those faith communities that you talked about who started this, they continually give that new stuff, the unknown stuff. You're paying attention to that and that's what's really awesome about neighbors and you know, you've learned a lot in 50 plus years of of being in operation, but bringing people like you in to focus on those new important things. Again, that's that value that you're bringing to the dignity of that whole process because people can be found in in that process at any given time. We're all a paycheck away from needing neighbors, you know, assistance. Maybe maybe I'm wrong on that statistic, but I I truly feel like we all are as vulnerable to that in today's society of of needing the things that neighbors have. And some of us can help today and some of us might need help tomorrow. >> Yeah. You never know where you're going to land, right? So, if I mean, if you think about from a data statistic standpoint, you look at how many people have money for retirement, you know, you know, some people have money there, some don't. But if you do get laid off or something, you may have to draw from that. So then there goes that long-term savings that you built the nest egg over many years. What I really like about neighbors is we meet that emergency need right away with that food component. Um but beyond there is also again with that jobs and training, we're really getting more at that root cause. So how do we maybe help disrupt poverty? And what I mean by that is not just people currently um in poverty that trying to get out, but also again if you were, let's say, a single household um lose your job, you know, instead of really falling down, you know, we can kind of be that safety net and hopefully the balance is quicker back instead of a long-term um chronic unemployment from that side. Also, what's neat is we've been getting more and more referrals of late. So, as we are sending people trainings and when we're sending them the IT trainings, it's not just those that we serve in our food shelf who are coming to us, it's also word of mouth, different organizations we're connecting with or referring um just like anything, right? As people are seeing the results and their friends are getting jobs, they're referring to us, working closely with the community colleges, DCTC as well as Ember Hills, and then really leaning to community partners for those referrals. I know recently um one person uh got a job at a cleaning service. Uh we had another person who just got a job as a nurse. Um also a really neat story is we were working with one individual for over 4 months and um she just started at a new hospital and it was one of the hospitals that was going to take a while to get started up and she was worried like it was going to fall through or not but it came on through and uh she started she's now in an apartment and everything and just living such a better lifestyle than she did even four year four months ago and that's that transformative change that we talk about. >> Yeah, that's so cool. So take that that great example of this person. Uh where was that then? Where where was the job and then where was the apartment? >> Yes. So um you know I want to be mindful around >> No. Yeah. Of course. But I mean the the ge geographics because I think my question really is it's you don't have it's not all here. >> It's everywhere. It's the whole you can go where the jobs are. >> Yeah. This individual was actually in some transitional living themselves. So really did not have that steady uh place to live. Yeah. uh they would utilize the showers at some fitness centers to help from that side of things since they didn't have that stable housing. But you know they stayed working with us and you know they utilize the libraries resources or coffee shops to be able to resume search and things like that through some wraparound services that we are able to do also for those who are searching if they're enrolled with us. We're able to get that individual a laptop so then they can also help do their search. And you know, one one thing that stuck out that someone told me um that was one of the coaches working closely with her said that person then felt that dignity now as they rolled up to Caribou and sat down, you know, they weren't on their phone job searching. >> Yes. >> You know, a resume, they're able to have like a laptop just like, you know, kind of a business person. Right. >> Right. So, you know, I think that's what I'm really getting to the heart is really like how do we uplift that dignity in the community, too. >> Yeah. Even even you just saying that word just sparked in me that is exactly the magic that neighbors has for people might happen somewhere along the lines in different ways but they always bring the dignity to it and again there's no shame everybody's everybody's there and we help because we want to help and we want to help the people that are that are that need the help as well as I think you guys make it pretty easy for people to not feel selfconcious conscious to receive your services. I mean, the way just let's just talk about your the the food shelf. >> It looks like a grocery store. Looks like a high-end Aldi when you go in there. So, that that talk about that kind of process and how how that's helped, >> you know, make that easier for people. >> You know, it's been intentional effort and that was even before my time really having that food choice model. Yeah. >> For a couple reasons. One is we don't want people waste what food we receive. >> Yeah. >> Right. Just like you and I when we go to the store, we like to pick what we want to eat that or know our kids are going to eat. So let's or allergens or what have you. So that's that's one good thing, but also goes that dignity piece. You know, they get to choose um you know, based off of household ties, what items that they can take. And I would say over this last year, we've also really focused around creating this guest experience. So in the past, you know, sometimes talk about clients coming in, but really trying to change that verbiage around a lot more around guests because for you think about like our financial apartment services, you know, some that could be intimidating in financial apartment center. >> Sure can. >> But how do we kind of meet people where they're at? >> So if we can really wow them with that high level guest experience on the front end, you know, they not feel that comfortable, right? Comfortable coming in, you know, thanks for coming today. You know, who thanks you for coming >> to the food market? But then like they're getting that thank you there. Then you know maybe three or four times after that they say hey like I want to be part of neighbors. I know they've seen the flyers. I know they told me about financial center but you know what I'm actually going to go upstairs and learn more about it. And that's really what we're trying to get to is how do we really create that wow that guest experience on the front end. So they really want to get involved in programming beyond just that that the food. >> Yeah. >> Obviously it's a crucial piece. So I don't want to discount that but that's really the entry point for so many. >> Yeah. We're talking with Andrew Hoffman. He is uh the development director, but you changed titles. Is that a different title now? >> Yes, it's the director of community partnerships. That just happened uh >> community partners >> late last month. >> Yeah, director of community partners. I love that. And Andrew is um an important, you know, figure because you're out also, you know, connecting in the community. I see you at Rotary. You're an active community member in in those regards. Tell me about your your purpose in that, you know, in those groups and and how that, you know, brings back things to neighbors. >> Yeah, so I'm active Rotarian. I'm part of the Egan Kickstart club. I actually was member of that club even before I joined neighbors and then um we also have other Rotarians at Neighbors. So Cody is Cody Simo, he's active at the West Palm Heights Club. Don is active in the noon club now. So it's been really excuse me um just really neat to really make those connections. actually through the Newton Egan Rotary Club. We're going to be doing a renovation of our Nook area uh through a capital grant, a district matching grant. Great. >> Um that all three of the clubs I just mentioned also gave money to help towards that grant. Uh so that's pretty neat there. But we're involved in the River Heights Chamber of Commerce, also involved with the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce and then most recently the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce. Uh because like I said, especially with this new role, it's really about connecting people to us. You know, being here in South St. Paul, there's kind of that misnomer that, oh, to get food or services, you need to live in northern Dakota County or you need to live in South St. Paul. When the reality is, especially when it comes to food, you know, we can really serve serve all because we're really here for the community at the end of the day. >> Yeah. So, what would you tell people who want to get support neighbors? Um, you know, there's always been um people at the sides of roads that ask for money. There's people that, you know, go online and ask for things. um they come to you. So what what is your advice for people to you know again that want to help others what's a path and what is neighbors preferred path for people getting either involved to give donations involved to get be a volunteer or and we'll talk about the other so just maybe it's the volunteer part we'll talk about now. So, from a volunteer standpoint, um we have a pretty simple application online. You fill it out, put some basic information, and then from there, we'll reach out to you. You go through an orientation, see if it's still something you want to do, and then at that point, uh you can actually sign up for shifts and things like that. We have many areas um that you can volunteer at. Um some are our food rescue drivers. That's a big need right now. We just had two of them uh retire, I would say. >> What's a food rescue driver? >> Yeah. So for those out there watching or listening thinking, what's a food rescue driver at neighbors? >> Yeah, great question. So over 40% of our food comes from our local grocery stores. So I'm talking about your Cub Foods, Walmart, Target, Quick Trip, Oxendales, uh New Mexico down the street from here. And it it comes through, you know, as they have products that are closer to expiration date, they'll donate them to neighbors. And this is true all over the state of Minnesota. Not all the neighbors, but um that's true all over the state of Minnesota in the hunger relief space. But then from there, we have drivers who go out and pick up food and then they bring them back to neighbors and that helps us really keep the variety of food. >> Sure. >> At the food market. Um in addition to that, it just is such a um you know, big source of the food. Like I said, over 40% of the food comes from there. >> So it's um but it's a important position. >> Yeah. >> And especially as we have some snowbirds right now. Yeah. And like I said, we had two recently retire. Um, you know, that's probably one of our key positions that we are trying to find more volunteers. We're fortunate we have staff who can pick up food if we do not have um volunteers there, but you know, that takes away capacity in other areas, too, though. >> Exactly. So, you So, if a rescuer uh is, do they have to have a vehicle? Do they drive your vehicle? Do they take tests to pass all that stuff and say, "Okay, you can drive ours." Or we need you to have a pickup truck or if you have a pickup truck and a big heart, you should come and volunteer for this job. So, well, you can drive our van. Uh, you take the large van that we have, you can drive that as an option. Or if you'd rather drive your own vehicle, that's an option. Uh, we do want to make sure you can pass a screening from that side of things. But, um, >> it's it really what's nice about it is you can do it like, you know, once a month if you want, once every other month, >> five days a week, you know, it really is and that's true with all of volunteerism, but it's really responsive to like your availability. And what's nice is you can sign up for shifts, you know, even the day before, a couple days before u kind of after you go through that initial training. So food rescue drivers, that's one um that we need. Also, our thrift store, which I'll touch base on later, but um we do need people just help process through clothes, set it up. I know I've talked to some young people even helping maybe take some photos of some like some outfits that they would want to wear to help help elevate that we are open to the public. >> Sure. Um, another piece is in our financial department center, you know, have people that have these storyried careers. We do mock interviews, resume review, all those kind of pieces. So, if you want to lean in there, maybe don't like the physicalness of like the uh food market but want to help there. We have the Nook distributions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 until 3:00. Uh, that's a low barrier access for people who face food insecurity. Um, also for this month, um, next Wednesday as well as the following Wednesday, we are doing an evening food distribution from four o'clock to six o'clock. So that's new there as well. So um, just making sure that the community has opportunities to access food. So all these areas where there takes a lot of volunteers. We have over 350 active volunteers. Uh, some of them like Becky I see five days a week and there's others, you know, we see once or twice a month that might help at one of our satellite locations where we bring food to. Yeah, we don't we don't have to talk about Virginia Milbert and the dedication she has because that's there's documentaries made about about that volunteer. Um, how about financial, right? Um, I'd love to help. I'd love to volunteer. I just don't have the time. >> How is u someone's dollar go when they when they donate to neighbors? If they just want to write a check and say, "Hey, this is for whatever." Or they can earmark it to anything that they want. How does how does somebody give to >> neighbors? So there's multiple ways of giving. Uh the most common one is giving of cash, cash or check. Uh you can give online, you can give in person and then general operations is probably like the ideal situation. It just allows us to be more flexible and also more responsive to community needs. >> That being said, I mean you can give towards the financial empowerment center, you can towards the hunger program. I mean we have a new fund that we created in July that's focused around purchasing of food specifically. So if you really want to make sure that goes towards food, you can give towards that fund. Uh, one nice thing about that is we have about three times the buying power. So, we work through food banks um, food group as well as Second Harvest. That allows us to buy like what you and I would pay for cereal um, we can get a much more of a discounted rate. So, it really allows us to a be responsive because like if let's say we have boxes of like noodles, but what we really need is black beans, right? Allows us to buy those black beans that we need, but beyond there it also with our buying part, we can just buy so much more than you and I could at the store. Yeah. And it's that's always kind of been the the case that >> you know agencies like yours can their dollar goes more. So giving the dollar is you know sometimes better than giving the almost expired canned foods that many people think that you want. But then when it gets down to people that they don't want beets and they don't want, you know, old pie filling, you know, they they want like corn and carrots and all of the, you know, the good vegetables that we all want. So I think the um the idea that people can participate with dollars to buy more than they could buy if they brought it in is really attractive >> and you could ear market towards to go towards food. So then you know you really are making that change again with the three times the buying power. You know that $5, you know, that's going to allow us to buy about three boxes of food compared to you buying that one box of Cheerios on the shelf. >> Yeah. And you and I have talked about our office um adopts a family, a couple of families for the holidays. is you have those programs as well. So, you also have some cleanup stuff, I know, uh or some volunteers to help people at their homes or um you know, the the groups that have that come out and and is it chores? Do you guys do chore chore work? >> We uh we made had made some transitions. So, really when it comes to it's more bringing food to those who may be medically bound at their house or that lack um transportation for whatever reason. Yeah. >> So, we do about 20 appointments of those per week. So offices could get involved is what my point is is they can come and help and participate. They can work at the food shelf. They can >> plenty of opportunities to engage. So yeah, reach out to me more than happy to connect on that that and make sure that we can make a meaningful experience for you and your team. You know, it's a team building opportunity for some. >> Absolutely. >> U but also, you know, for younger groups as you want to learn about what philanthropy looks like because some of them may not always have the dollars to give, >> but you know, how can they give their time which we appreciate as well. >> Yeah, that's that's part of the the whole process of it is learning about it. Mh. >> Then you learn where you fit in and then you figure out if you're a a doer or a giver or just a champion and telling people about it because that's also a real need is to continually have people champion neighbors so that more philanthropic people know about it >> so that more people who are in need know about it and that circle can continue where we continually help people. Now, let's go. Let's get into you talked you want to talk a little bit more about the clothes closet. >> Yeah. >> The the the clo what are we calling it? >> You know, we've really been changing to to a thrift store. >> Thrift store. That's right. You >> know, really uh and the reason being is because you know, when it originally got started, it did operate as a closed closet. >> Yeah. >> And it was really there to serve clients and you know, price is extremely low. But as times changed and as revenue streams change, really trying to make that shift be [clears throat] more of a thrift store. >> Yeah. >> Um we still do do vouchers for families. actually twice a year we're now we do vouchers for families for everyone in the household um will get a voucher but the reason we were moving to more of a thrift store model is because we're also right now doing a feasibility study so we are looking at you know can we have a larger thrift store in the community I mean think more like goodwill kind of size uh so we're just doing our due diligence diligence right now as that would be a big investment we'd probably run a capital campaign if we go that direction >> you know inside there I see workforce opportunities ities obviously volunteer opportunities and the hope is that it's going to drive revenue to then support our other programs. >> Sure. >> You know, in the past as a closed closet that was like a program itself, but it's really changing that from being a program to driving revenue to support other programs. So, that's where we're headed with that. So, um over the next couple years, >> you still have that too. You'll still have Virginia's closet, right? Is that >> Yes. So then our plan is on site to have um some kind of still um maybe like a Virginia's closet on site for free clothes on site. >> Yeah. >> But right now our Virginia's closet is actually what we call our voucher program. Oh, okay. >> So everyone who gets a voucher, it says Virginia's closet on there and then just also opens up the opportunity to tell that story of who she was, you know, volunteering into her 100s. Um so yeah, pretty remarkable. Her daughter Marca now volunteers with us. So >> the tradition continues. And you have a lot of that. I know you do. I know the churches that started it, >> the heart is deep there here in South St. Paul as well as the family connections to neighbors. So many people hold it as their neighborhood >> clothes closet their neighbors incorporated as and I think that really is a a blessing that the neighbors gets to have and bestow on others because there is that uh the need for new members to come in that haven't been here for 50 years and need to continue it so we can continue helping neighbors for 50 plus years. >> Yeah, we're very fortunate. Over half of our funding does come from the local community. So individuals and businesses, the faith community. So you know have that strong support and obviously advocates like you who help just share the message who neighbors is because it also doesn't just help us from like a fundraising standpoint. It also makes sure that those in our community who need our help are aware of the help, right? Uh so yeah, we're so fortunate to have really that storied um history of the connections with those who have that connection. And I think with South St. It's really unique is it has that strong family ties there as well, right? Generation connection and I think neighbors just you know part of that generation too that >> you know they kind of saw it from its infancy grow up to as it's continues to mature here. >> Yeah. A lot of givers. There's a lot of givers in our community and connected with neighbors. So where there's a need they'll they'll pull through and and come through right and be there for you. Even if it's emotional support, a lot of stuff just people just want to know that they belong somewhere >> and you know feel valued and dignity you know comes back to the forefront. You know that people just have a place that values them >> and no matter what the situation is and many of them I know want to turn around and help. They just got help but now they're going to come back and help >> because they see it and they go, you know, that's man I can I see myself there. We have some volunteers actually in our thrift store and I was talking to one of them said, "Oh, how'd you you know, how did you get connected volunteering?" And he said, "Oh, my my family access food here and that's how I got connected." So, yeah, to your point, you know, there's so many people who do want to help. And um what's nice again about the thrift store, our hours of operation now are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It's open to the evening. Yeah. >> And 10 to 3 every Saturday. So it just really um again making it more public facing making sure people are aware because you know being in that social service building and not having it own dedicated entrance right into the store. People were confused, >> right? >> Was it open to public? Is it not? So really trying to get that message out there too. >> And again for the those younger generations that's the thrift. Go thrifting. Go find that cool old jean jacket and bedazzle it and find that leather piece that they don't make anymore because you know they don't make them anymore. And you can you can have that one of a kind process. We should do a fashion show. We should get over there and do a little fashion show with the Tik Toks and the the video stuff. Yeah. >> I'll just see if we blue suits then. >> You know, I bought ties there. Um there was there was a blue suit. Who got a blue suit? Somebody told me they got a blue suit and I donated my shoes there and I got a a note from the person who got my shoes that said, "I think I have your blue shoes from your your blue suit." So, thank you. So, that was pretty cool. And that's yeah again that's part of this community. We gently used stuff goes to a good place and you know it's going to go further if you bring it down to neighbors and participate in that. So I'm appreciative of of being having having that access and I'm excited to hear about where this new clothes clothing store thrift shop would be. I probably if you get into furniture and vintage stuff I probably have a few things for you to >> All right. All right, we'll give you we'll give you a call. >> Donated things to to give. I know my wife, who's probably listening, thinks I should >> donate more of those things, my treasures, if you will. So, what haven't what haven't we covered in this conversation that you you wanted to talk about? >> Well, I did want to mention on December 10th, doors open at 6:00, we have the It's a Wonderful Life play at the St. Paul Hotel. Tickets are very affordable. They're $25 per person or you can reserve a table for $200. Um, so if you are interested looking into something to do as a family or as a work group, just want people be aware of that. That's a December 10th and you can register online on our website at neighborsm.org. Um, the other thing I just wanted to really make people aware of is, you know, people ask me, well, is the need greater, Andrew? Like just more people needing help. I say, yeah, the need's greater I would say, especially what happened with the snap cuts there, but we also haven't met them. You know, I'm going to use something that uh Jason Vienna says at the open door. You think of Taylor Swift, right? She has a three-day concert here, it's sold out for three days. Well, if she had a five-day concert, it would also be sold out. You know, similar to us, like there's the need is out there is I think the difference right now is we've been doing a better job of just making sure we're reaching more people, >> right? Trying to be more responsive. Um, not just us here at Neighbors, but really the nonprofit community as a whole. I think that's a big piece is how do we continue to reach out to people um make sure people are aware of resources again things like this helps to you know elevate that and those pieces so can appreciate that. Yeah, we absolutely. And if you're listening or watching this in another time of year in July, remember that neighbors does have these Christmas events. The they do it every year. You you do those the it's a wonderful life every year. They graciously donate parts of that and it's been a tradition really for a long time to go and do that and it's super fun. It's an old it's a play that you watch take place right in front of you. And so if you're if you're listening to this or watching at any time, look on Neighbor's website. There's something there. There's either something that they've got coming up or something that they're going to do again that you can you can participate in and these, you know, podcasts and things to elevate you all as is really a the new world that we have. This is somebody. So share this, put it on your social media site and say, "Hey, I'm I support neighbors and I want to introduce you to them." And here's a a great way to do that. get the likes and the shares from those that are listening or following today because again those are our champions right these are the community champions that say man I really like them I really want them to succeed so share and like and get people to get people connected to it because once once you're connected there's hundreds of ways to participate with you >> and then the other thing I'll just mention you know in months like July it is slower the amount of items that we do receive especially around the food side of things so if you are someone who really loves loves to give of food and things, consider running that drive during the summer. That's probably when our shelves are literally the the most empty, most bare. Um so if you are looking like when's the best time to give, you know, I'd really challenge you to really think about during that those summer months. Okay. >> Um to really think about just because we just don't have as much food on the on the shelves. I think it has a lot to do with the youth groups. You know, so many youth groups give or so many church groups give and you know, they often run programs or kind of through the school year and Minnesota have cabins, right? Right. Uh so so that'd be a time that we definitely can use help, but year round. And then the other thing is we're trying to get more like teenage clothes in our thrift store. >> Yeah. >> So really um trying to be intentional about working with some of the local schools here about how to kind of get that um more teenage clothes and things like that. So you know, as you're cleaning out your closet, remember your daughter's closet or your son's closet. There might be some things to donate there, too. Well, that's a great a great reminder because especially the Christmas time >> holidays, people are getting new clothes, new wardrobes, and it's a great time to put those gently used ones into a bag and earmark them for neighbors and let the clients, the customers, >> the the users of it have this great variety and selection of modern clothes, right? I think people also have that thing that this is the thrift store is full of old clothes. It's not necessarily true. There's a lot of modern clothes that people just don't wear anymore. They grew out of, they slim down, whatever the whatever the case is that they're they're shedding their wardrobe. So, those that want to go with thrifting, that's a great new place to do it. And they could use your help. So, when you're in there, you know, take your own Tik Tok and video, make your own Tik Tok video or Facebook reel about neighbors and the clothing store, the thrift store. You've got you've got jewelry, you've got ties, you've got shoes, >> housewares, >> housewares. Yeah. There's a lot of And it's you you don't take junk, >> home decor. So, yeah. >> You get stuff you get stuff that works. It's functional >> and you know, you put it back out there and repurpose it. It's it's a great great recycling, >> reuse, reuse. >> And also, if you know anyone does want to connect with me, I'll just share my email is andrew neighborsm.org. So, feel free to reach out there. I love to connect further whether that's a personalized tour or to connect with your business as well. Especially if you are an employer out there that's looking for some quality employees. >> Yeah, you can also Google I've done this. Google Andrew Neighbors Incorporated Andrew and your name comes up with with your email and your desk phone. So those that are I I've been visiting here at Conversations in South St. Paul with Andrew Hoffman from Neighbors Incorporated and we've had a great conversation. So thanks thanks for you know being here and and doing the work that you do behind the scenes to help neighbors be successful. Obviously it's your job but you have a lot of passion, a lot of heart and soul that you put into it and it then it doesn't seem like a job. It seems like a a wonderful >> Yeah. It makes a difference and it's a rewarding career when you look at it that way. So but before we go I know you shared a couple of of things. Is there anything else that we want to, you know, leave with the audience that maybe we we haven't said or you any of the questions that that I put forward that that I didn't ask? Because again, we talk about so much stuff. You do so many things. There's the old school things that are always going to be there, the new stuff that's coming that you're you're working on that financial empowerment, >> you know. Is there anything that that we left out or that you want to reiterate? >> I think it's more reiterate. Uh, one thing is just, you know, our services are for all. So I really want to make that clear. So if you are in someone that finds himself in a job transition or looking for employment, need access to food, please come see us. Uh we really are there for the community. There's no geographic boundaries from that side of things. And also if you are an employer again would love to connect with you. Uh we are connecting with people. Um and what we try to do on our end some of the due diligence of understanding again why the culture and all those pieces. So then when we refer people to you, it's someone we've also helped vet out on our end to make sure that be high quality staff for you. So um that's free of charge. There's no cost or anything really. It's about transforming lives there and connecting people and often connections happen with employers. So you know making those connections love to do that. >> Thanks a lot. It's Andrew Hoffman with Neighbors Incorporated. Appreciate you. >> Thank you.