MVAC, a community action agency that is for communities, not for profit, has served the people of south central Minnesota since 1965. Our belief that hard work should be valued and rewarded, that working people are struggling and that we at MVAC provide opportunities for people and communities.

There is always so much that needs our attention on a daily basis that we don’t often take the time to reflect on what we have collectively accomplished. On behalf of Minnesota Valley Action Council, Inc., I wanted to express my appreciation for the contributions you personally have made to MVAC’s development of resources and opportunities that empower people in low-wage work to secure affordable housing, viable transportation, employment, training for employment and educational opportunities for children.

Minnesota Valley Action Council has learned long ago that no one can accomplish good things in isolation. That it takes involvement and contributions from many people and many different sectors of our communities in order to produce positive outcomes in people’s march towards self reliance.

Collectively, we, the MVAC staff, MVAC Board members, community partners, volunteers, elected officials and private employers and individuals, have:

• Invested $16,520,523 on behalf of people living in the nine counties of south central Minnesota. The majority of which has been spent in local businesses and with local contractors on behalf of people experiencing low-income.

• Those funds have provided direct employment for 280 people in south central Minnesota.

• We have provided 901 low-income children with quality pre-school opportunities through the efforts of Head Start.

• We have gotten 1,921 volunteers to contribute their talents to serving south central Minnesota people who are struggling with poverty.

• We have fielded at least 90,401 calls from people seeking our assistance over the phone and 46,298 visits into our county-based offices.

• We have assisted 57 people to secure low-interest loans so they could make needed improvements to their homes. Those loans have generated $842,484 that has been spent at local area businesses helping the local community’s economy.

• We have assisted 104 people with services that prevented them from becoming one of the growing homeless statistics.

• We provided free tax preparation services and filed 166 tax returns, which resulted in $220,905 in tax refunds and credits for low-income households in south central Minnesota.

• We have provided 140 people with the opportunity to secure their own transportation through the Wheel Get There initiative.

• In an environment of well-published financial fraud and abuse by large corporations, MVAC ‘s annual audit cited no areas of non-compliance, which is similar to receiving an A+.

• We assisted 6,231 people with their heat bills.

• $978,110 has been paid to area fuel vendors providing fuel to people receiving energy assistance.

• We assisted 394 individuals with reduced rental expenses which allowed them quality, safe, affordable housing.

• We concluded our third year of operations for our social enterprise AGAIN, Thrift & More Store. AGAIN received $318,324 in donated product from the community, provided training opportunities for 300 people. AGAIN produced $75,432 in revenue over expenses which will be used to assist this area’s low-wage workers.

• We have assisted 1,982 people to gain employment through our efforts in work force development.

• We have provided 13,916 rides to primarily elderly and disabled people in Waseca County through the Waseca Transportation program.

• We have weatherized 331 homes through out south central MN and spent $648,328 at local businesses purchasing the materials to complete the weatherization itself.

• We provided 117 at risk teenagers an opportunity to learn and earn during the summer employment program.

• We have provided fiscal services for two other organizations that have brought in $129,253 to help offset the cost of fiscal and support services for the agency. This has saved individual programs from paying those expenses.

• We have provided 30 people the opportunity to save for the purchase of a home, money for post secondary training or starting up a small business through the FAIM initiative (Family Assets for Independence in MN). Through FAIM, 660 hours of intensive financial literacy was provided. The 30 people have saved over $10,875 of their own earned income, which will be matched by $32,625 from private, State & Federal sources to be applied to one of the three activities mentioned above.

• We have provided 603 people, who had lost their jobs due to business/plant closings or downsizing with employment services

• We have provided 1,776 books to pre-school age children from Head Start’s literacy initiative. The books were courtesy of the Reading Is Fundamental Grant.

• MVAC has benefited from 1,188 hours volunteered by MVAC Board members assisting MVAC to achieve our mission of Developing resources & opportunities, which empower people and communities.

• We have ensured that 621 children were screened for hearing and vision through our Head Start program.

• We also ensured that 549 pre-school age children received a dental exam, some for the very first time.

• We have provided 5,000 people with car information assistance through the Wheel Get There Initiative.

• We have provided $637,521 to area landlords for rental assistance payments on behalf of persons experiencing low income.

• We have assisted 238 households with furnace repairs or replacement. That equates to $178,916 paid to local businesses specializing in furnace replacement/repairs.

• We assisted 7 communities with Small Cities Development Program grants, rehabbing 51 homes and 9 commercial buildings. This activity generated $1,546,159 that has been spent at local area businesses, helping the local economy.

• The community has contributed over $1,341,986 through in-kind match (services or products donated) to assist with the efforts of providing services targeted at the 19,312 people still experiencing poverty in south central MN.

• 116 cars were donated to MVAC’s Wheel Get There Initiative.

• We have provided the nurturing environment for a Head Start child, whose parent, when asked what Head Start has done for her child, replied, “With moving from a city to a rural area, this program has helped me with resources and mental health support that I am forever grateful.”

• Another Head Start parent had this to say “This program has helped my family so much, ever since my 3 kids have attended. I’ve learned so much & new ways to educate my kids, and family time.”

• An energy assistance participant said “To all the good people at MVAC, I deeply appreciate your efforts in helping me pay my LP gas bill, thank you very much. You have so many wonderful programs to help people who are in trouble, there seems to be so many these days. Again, my profound gratitude for your help.”

• Another person wrote “Thank you so much for your help! I’ve had a hard time in 2007, from being homeless & jobless after my divorce, to working hard, saving and getting my own place. Receiving help to pay for heat and my rent deposit has been a blessing to me. I just want to say you do make a difference!”

• A person involved with our Wheel Get There Initiative, had this to say “I can not begin to thank you for everything you have done to help us get our new life started. Without all o your help, I am not sure what we would have done. Plus all of the help you have provided. I can not thank you enough ”

• Another person assisted by Wheel Get There had this to say “Thank you so much for your concern about my car situation. You’ve been a blessing to me and I thank you with all my heart. My family thanks you too.”

• We have provided the conditions that allow thousands of low-income citizens to purchase clothing and other household items at a very affordable price through the AGAIN, Thrift & More store.

Although it’s been more than 40 years since President Kennedy issued his challenge to America to assist the poor, it could have been issued today. The fact is the poor are still part of the fabric of our communities. That 19,312 people still live in poverty in south central Minnesota attest to that. The poor continue to be invisible to many in our community and they live on the outskirts of hope. What they need is what our collective efforts have provided them.

We collectively have accomplished much during 2007. Thank you for your contribution and I hope you take pride in what you have done.

We at MVAC are people helping people to help themselves. The year 2008 promises to be full of more opportunities to develop resources and opportunities which empower people and communities through out south-central Minnesota.

Respectfully,