Jim Cook - Blaisdell Community Hero

The Blaisdell YMCA celebrates Jim Cook as this week's Community Hero. Cook (pictured in the middle, with Blaisdell Executive Director Mike Melstad, left, and John Meegan, Vice Chair of the Community Board, right), a member of the Community Board for three years, has been a pivotal volunteer for his neighborhood Y.

"Anything that needs fixing, Jim can find a solution," says Mike Melstad, Executive Director of the Blaisdell Y. "Jim is the most known guy on the South side. He's a wonderful ambassador and he can always find the right path."

Jim retired as Director of the Sabathani Community Center in 2006, and is still building on the great relationships he developed during his nearly 30 years with that organization. His solid community connections have helped generate even more support for the Blaisdell Y. A member of the Y since 1980, Jim was more than willing and able to step into a board member role.

"It's because of my experience at Sabathani that I have developed relationships with people of means and people with needs," Jim explains. "I help them connect the dots. The Y is an important dot and a catalyst for building this wonderful community we all see."

Jim, a quintessential team player, assisted Blaisdell in meeting its 2008 Y-Partners goal of $143,300. These funds help the Blaisdell Y maintain its charitable mission of ensuring that no one is turned away from Y programs or services because of an inability to pay a fee. Dollars raised also support other Y initiatives designed to help kids, adults and seniors develop healthy spirits, minds and bodies.

John Meegan, Vice Chair of the Blaisdell Board, says Jim is a great example to other volunteers. "This has been the best board I ever served on and it's because the whole board is as committed and as high-caliber as Jim."

Operation Holiday Basket – Hiawatha YMCA Community Service Project with Roosevelt High School

UPDATED DECEMBER 21:

Operation Holiday Basket (OHB) has been in existence for 36 years. Gedric Merritt has been fortunate to have his champion volunteer on the front line with him to help assist in coordinating this Operation. This person is a fellow by the name of Freeman “Mac” McInroy. Mac has been a great contributor to the program for 37 years. He is a retired Roosevelt Teacher, Football and Track Coach. Last year we served 300 families in North and South Minneapolis. Mac and Gary Lewis have been long-time supporters of Hiawatha YMCA and the founders of this dynamic community service project. Many families have been impacted by their caring and sharing to feed families in need. Mac’s story is that he wanted to give back to others, because his family was served at a time when they were down on their luck.

The food is distributed to diverse groups of low income families and individuals who are mostly East African and people of color. We also help some people who are disabled and they benefit greatly from this generous opportunity. There are just over 200 volunteers that help in this endeavor; they come from area schools in the south Minneapolis. They support this event by doing food drives within the school and then they transport the items to the Hiawatha YMCA. Ameri-Corp and the Vista program also send volunteers who help support the cause.

The Baskets were assembled on the morning of December 21st, 2007 by volunteers from Roosevelt High school (students and alumni), Ameri-Corps Volunteers, Vista Program Volunteers, Community volunteers and many other volunteers from various organizations and schools. Volunteers form a supply chain from the storage area to the lower level, where the baskets are filled by other volunteers. Completed baskets are then moved to the final staging areas where a donated turkey from Cub Foods in added to complete the process.

The baskets are delivered to the families or they can pick them up from the Hiawatha YMCA on Friday, December 21st, 2007. Baskets that are being picked up will be available starting at 10am and delivery of all other baskets begins at 11.