Fiscal Year 2020–2021

We came out stronger, together

We will remember it as The Year of COVID. For Our Saviour's Community Services, the pandemic struck with full force just as we began a new fiscal year, on April 1, 2020.

Within a matter of weeks, we converted the English Learning Center to remote learning, implemented new safety protocols for housing residents, and relocated our emergency shelter to a hotel, so guests could have the safety of individual rooms and 24/7 support.

Volunteers used to teaching in-person classes and serving shelter meals were just as swift in their response, learning to support individual students by phone and in virtual classrooms; dropping off meals (or paying local restaurants to deliver them); and contributing food and other supplies for our residents, students, and neighbors.

Working remotely, our administrative and development team cranked out more than 70 grant applications, successfully raising well over a million dollars in emergency aid alone. Donors and congregational partners also stepped up, increasing total contributions by more than $80,000 from the prior year. Everyone grabbed an oar, and we weathered the storm.

Of course, many of us also lost friends, colleagues, and loved ones. And the murder of George Floyd sparked a racial reckoning that will continue to transform our communities, our institutions, and ourselves for years to come.

Yes, there is much more work to do. But we invite you to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable accomplishments of the past year and some of the lessons we've learned. Unhoused adults can thrive with just a bit more privacy and support. Adult English learners appreciate the opportunity to learn remotely. And community bonds grow strong when we come together with common purpose.

David Fey, Interim Executive Director

“Right now, I'm just trying”

From her first day of school in 2019 to now, Khadija sees a big change in herself. She says, “On the first day, I was scared to speak English.” But Khadija never let that fear stop her from learning. When her friend told her about the English Learning Center, she knew she wanted to attend. “Because I need it. My children are going to school, and I need to have conversations with their teachers.”

Even a pandemic couldn't stop Khadija from learning. She went from riding to class in the school van to logging in online. She was one of the first Google Classroom students and helped the ELC staff learn how best to do distance learning. “When my children are at home, I can learn English. My son helps me. I watch a lot of YouTube videos. I practice listening. I can cook and listen to English.”

In recognition of her hard work during an extraordinary year, Khadija received Literacy Minnesota's 2020 Outstanding Learner Award.

“It's been magnificent, compared to being on the streets”

On May 1, 2020, Sheila became one of the first guests to stay at the hotel where our shelter began operating when the pandemic began. She'd never been to a shelter before and recalls it was a little hectic and took some time to adjust. But she's glad she came, especially since having COPD put her at much higher risk with COVID.

With stable shelter, Sheila has the time and energy to focus on her mental and physical health. She says she keeps all of her appointments, something she wasn't able to do when she was on the streets. “Here, I have the support that I need, and that's the main factor, being able to have the support.”

Sheila most looks forward to the day when she can have her own place, where she can cook and have her grandkids spend the night. “When I get my place, I want to be able to come back here and help the fellow people that are struggling. I want to give back what was really gave to me.”