Celebrating 20 years of glorious gardens! 

Taking place throughout the entire month of July, Stepping Stones’ 2021 Garden Tour will feature a hybrid blend of individual videos of four exquisite gardens to view from the comfort of your couch as well as the opportunity to visit two of the lovely locales in person:

  • Menomonie Community Garden(2500 Ninth Street East – next to Phelan Park) on Saturday, July 24 will be open for viewing 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Lynn and Richard Nehring (N7263  State Road 40, about 4 miles south of Colfax). Due to parking limitations the garden will be open for visiting from 12 noon to 7 p.m. for four days:  Sunday, July 25 through Wednesday, July 28. Look for Garden Tour signs on State Road 40 near the garden.  Please note that this garden not be open on other dates/times.  

Here’s a description of this year’s gardens and the dates to “tune in” for each virtual visit:

Week of July  5: Located in rural Menomonie, CharBar Ranch is Barb Anderson and Charlie LeFevre’s pride and joy. Set among ponds and a view of grazing sheep, their garden features a variety of flowers, small fruits and berries, and vegetable plots in a serene setting.

Week of July 12: Cheryl and James Frisch’s hilltop hideaway outside Colfax is replete with lilies, roses, a fine variety of perennials, and a vegetable garden.

Week of July 19: In its 12th year, the Menomonie Community Garden has grown to more than 100 plots rented to local gardeners to create a true showplace of sustainable agriculture and setting for horticultural education.

Week of July 26: Lynn and RIchard Nehring’s home in rural Colfax. Tucked along a hillside, this hidden gem is filled with shade and sun perennial gardens and borders along meandering pathways. Featured on the 2010 Garden Tour, visitors will find new gardens and changed landscapes.

The grand finale to the month-long celebration will be an online silent auction of a fine selection of garden-related delights, like painted barn quilts (like the one seen here) and other unique outdoor décor, compost, named hostas and other plants, new and vintage quilts, artwork of all kinds, jewelry and gift baskets — along with other goodies like smart TVs vacuum cleaners, and an HD tablet.

Mark your calendar: The bidding starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 23 and ends at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 31!

Look for the links for both the garden tour videos and online auction on Stepping Stones’ website (www.steppingstonesdc.org) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SteppingStonesDunnCounty) as well as on Twitter and Instagram.

Join us as we celebrate 20 years of meandering through lovely local Dunn County gardens and meeting the generous and gifted folks who share their passion for creating delightful outdoor spaces!

We’re looking for an AmeriCorps Vista member!

This full-time placement is full-time will begin on August 2 and will run for one year.  The aim of the position will be to help Stepping Stones expand services to underserved communities — specifically in rural Dunn County and with members of our Hmong and growing Hispanic communities. 

As recruitment has been challenging for AmeriCorps over the past year, we want to use the greatest resources that we have in the community — you — in order to get the word out to the right people. If you know of someone who would be a strong learner and leader, one who is driven to make a difference in the lives of others and would find a good fit in the benefits of an AmeriCorps Vista placement, please share  this POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT and let us know!

What’s Happening at Stepping Stones in 2021!

Stepping Stones continues to be CLOSED to all Walk-Ins. Only staff & volunteers are permitted in the building. We thank you for your understanding.

The Food Pantry is OPEN 3 days a week for curbside pick-up of pre-packed boxes/bags.  Anyone in need of food is welcome!

Hours have not changed, just days —  Monday: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; Wednesday: 3– 6 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. – Noon

Click here for updated Food Pantry information

IF YOU NEED OTHER HELP: If you need some other type of assistance or know someone who does, please call or email us: 715.235.2920   communityconnect@steppingstonesdc.org   We will reply within one business day.

FINANCIAL DONATIONS: If you’d like to make an online donation, please click on the DONATE button above. You can also call us, and we can process a credit card over the phone; or mail your donation to: Stepping Stones, 1602 Stout Rd., Menomonie, WI  54751

Thank you for your support!

YOU SHOP.
AMAZON GIVES.

When you’re shopping online please use this Amazon Smile link to have 0.5% of your purchase donated directly to Stepping Stones!  It couldn’t be easier to support Stepping Stones and we will all be smiling.

You can also make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app. Simply follow the instructions below to select “Stepping Stones of Dunn County Inc” as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. They’ll donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us.

How it works: 1) Open the Amazon app on your phone;  2) Select the main menu (=) & tap on “AmazonSmile” within Programs & Features;  3) Select “Stepping Stones of Dunn County Inc” as your charity;  4) Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app

Note:  You must use the above link or the Amazon Smile link on Amazon.com—using the mobile app does not give you the option to donate. 

 

Contact Stepping Stones

Serving Dunn County

Stepping Stones seeks to foster a community that prevents hunger, homelessness and isolation throughout Dunn County through its three programs.

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FOOD PANTRY

The Food Pantry provides food and personal care items to people in need and is currently averaging over 1,500 visits per month. Stepping Stones also provides Project SAM (Share A Meal) weekend kids meals to students in the Menomonie School district.

 

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SHELTERS

The Stepping Stones Shelters provide emergency shelter, housing assistance, and referral services. There are 5 shelter apartments for families of varying sizes. The apartments are always occupied and a waiting list is maintained.

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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

The Community Connections Program connects volunteers to people needing support services and provides direct assistance to people in emergency financial need as funds are available.

Statistically Speaking

1,634

Average visits to the Food Pantry per month in 2020, serving an average of 3,356 each month, three days a week (when curbside distribution began in March). Nearly 80% are living at or below poverty level — and the rest very close.

6,287

Nights of shelter provided in 2020 at either one of the Stepping Stones Shelters or at a local motel for short-term stays when the shelters are full.

126

People assisted by volunteers with supportive services such as food deliveries, small home repairs, and yardwork, while $3,085 of direct assistance was provided to help with expenses such as rent, heat, electrical bills, fuel, clothing and other critical needs in 2020.

7,257

Volunteer hours contributed in 2020 to help make all of Stepping Stones’ programs and services possible. Due to COVID-19, Volunteering and Community Service dropped dramatically.

Newsletter & Memorials Archives

Recent news and Memorial contributions

The Stepping Stones Newsletter is a vital communication tool that lets the community know about all of the great work that’s done each quarter by Stepping Stones’ volunteers, board, and staff. You can read about what’s happening with Stepping Stones’ programs, current events, ways to help, and other news and updates.  The Gifts & Memorials insert is also included.

Newsletter and Memorials Archives

In the archives, all of the issues for each year are assembled into one PDF volume for your reading pleasure.  It’s a great way to get a sense of the enduring work and mission of Stepping Stones!