Spotlight on Sauk Centre

Providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity to work and live in their community is exactly what WACOSA’s mission is all about. WACOSA has two locations - one in Waite Park and one in Sauk Centre. Our Sauk Centre location provides many services to the community, including contract packaging and assembly work, “Can-do” Crews, and business staffing.

The first Business Solution offered at WACOSA’s Sauk Centre location is contract packaging and assembly work. Our sales and production staff strive to have a complete understanding of your project, whatever you needs happen to be. Some services include inventory control, pre-operational checklists and training, re-work, and quality checking. Outsourcing to WACOSA can benefit your company in many ways; cutting your costs, boosting your revenue, easing labour shortages and much more.

Our “Can Do” Crews are another option to help your local businesses. Our crews consist of five to seven people and we offer cleaning services, product tear-down, assembly, packaging, labelling, and quality checking and re-work. With a 97% satisfaction rating, it’s easy to see why our “Can Do” Crews are so popular around the St. Cloud region.

Staffing your business is another service of WACOSA’s Sauk Centre location. When set to staff your business, we are committed to the highest standards in job training, coaching, and support. We work diligently with each client to get teams trained until they feel comfortable to produce their own work. We also find it important to have follow-ups with our staffing clients to keep in touch and ensure success within their business.

Although Sauk Centre does not have a thrift store, we do still accept donations at the location. Docu-Shred is also only available at the Waite Park Location, but the Waite Park location works with customers at Sauk Centre to shred their documents.

Our vision at WACOSA is that individuals of all abilities are empowered to reach their full potential. Our vision is made possible through the array of services we offer the community. To get updates about WACOSA, like us on Facebook.

Preparing for Give to the Max Day 2015

Preparing for Give to the Max Day 2015

 

Minnesotans around the state are gearing themselves for Give to the Max Day in hopes of breaking last year’s record of  $18 million donated to schools and nonprofits throughout the land of 10,000 lakes.

Give to the Max day is extremely important for nonprofits because it strengthens the nonprofit community by making their organizations more well known in the area. Creating relationships with community members helps find supporters that are passionate about the same goals and missions of making the community a better place.

GiveMn is a resource to help connect people with organizations within Minnesota. Every year, GiveMn sets aside one day to fundraise as much as possible for local schools and nonprofits in our community called Give to the Max Day. Fundraising is a major part of Give to the Max Day. Fundraising for your favorite organization can be difficult, but don’t let that stop you- there are tons of simple ways to get involved:

Use the Media

Using media to your advantage helps get the word out to all people in your communities. Contacting news stations, local newspapers, radio talk shows, and social media help spread the world about your passion for fundraising. The more people that know about the event, the more donors you receive.

MORE is More

Focus on getting multiple donors rather than focusing on the amount each individual donor gives. If you spend your time getting people to donate, they will be more interested in the cause with which you are participating rather than just solely asking for a number. Fundraising is all about the way you present it. Grab your audience’s attention making them want to support your mission.

Cite your Source

If you want people to donate to an organization because it means something special to you, tell them why it is important. Explain to potential donors why the organization is important to you and what, in your eyes, makes it special and worth funding. genuine appreciation through the eyes of someone involved will speak much louder than any other selling tactic you can think of.

This year, Give to the Max day is set for November 12, 2015, so grab your best fundraising skills, make a plan,  and let’s do our best to earn some funds for Minnesota Schools and nonprofits! If you have yet to choose a nonprofit, make WACOSA your organization of choice by visiting our Give MN page.

Hiring: Part-Time Training Specialist (ThriftWorks!)

WACOSA, a non-profit organization in the St. Cloud area, dedicated to providing services to adults w/developmental disabilities, is seeking a PT Training Specialist (Direct Support Prof.) to join our ThriftWorks! team.

Job Duties:

• Responsible to develop skills of adults w/disabilities so they may live & work in the community at their greatest potential
• Supports Consumers’ behavior needs by assist. in development & follow-through of adaptive behavior programs, protocols, & de-escalation procedures; while adhering to WACOSA’s Guiding Principles
• Carries-out respectful assist. w/personal care needs for Consumers; including bathroom support, meal-time assist., positioning, & administering medications & medical needs
• Completes all Consumer programs & related data collection, maintain a computer proficiency of 30 wpm, accessing/creating/modifying data files, printing, & savings docs. & accessing Internet resources
• Adheres to all WACOSA safety policies & procedure, acts as a role model for others, & holds self/ others accountable
• Other duties as assigned
• M - S; approx. 20 hrs per wk. (sched. may vary upon business needs)

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma/GED req’d
• People skills, patience, organization, ability to convey information/ ideas so others can understand, & the ability to maintain confidentiality are a must
• Knowledge of word processing, data entry, & accessing the Internet
• Must be 20+ y/o, possess a valid MN Driver’s License & insurable driving record; driving is req’d
• Must be willing to submit to a Health Card Physical (if applicable), Motor Vehicle Check, Criminal Background Check, & Drug Screen (post offer)
• Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs. & assist w/adult lifts & transfers
• Exp. working w/disabled or special needs groups preferred

How to Apply:
Position is PT & includes PTO & Holidays, $11.08 per hour Mon. –Sat. Send a completed appl. (avail. at www.WACOSA.org under ‘Contact Us') -OR- complete in-person at:

WACOSA
320 Bldg. Sundial Dr., (Door 3)
P.O. Box 757
Waite Park, MN 56387

**NO phone calls**

WACOSA is an EOE/M/W/Vet/Disability/AA Employer

All candidates are considered w/o regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age, or marital status, sexual orientation or preference, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or membership on a local rights commission

www.WACOSA.org

Volunteer Position: Retail Specialist

Retail Specialist

Provide upbeat, positive customer service to all who enter WACOSA’s ThriftWorks! store. Manage donation drop-off, including assisting customers with accepting donations and providing receipts as directed by staff members. Sort and/or price donations. May include operating cash register and/or merchandising items on the store floor. This volunteer position is available Monday through Friday between 10:00am - 7:00pm, and Saturdays from 9:00am - 5:00pm. We ask that you volunteer for a minimum 4-hour per week shift. The day / time you are scheduled may vary according to your availability and the needs of our organization. This volunteer position is available at 310 Sundial Drive, Waite Park, MN. 

Interested in Volunteering? 

Contact Andrea Harrell 

320-251-0087 ext 227

aharrell@wacosa.org

http://wacosa.org/ways-help/volunteer/

ThriftWorks! Home Makeover

It’s 10:00 PM and you’re still awake. You couldn’t fall asleep so you’re up in front of your TV with your remote in hand flipping through the channels until you land on your favorite home design show. A thought races through your mind “Wow, lucky people! If I only I had the budget to make my dinky old home beautiful.”

Not to worry! Anyone can beautify their home without breaking bank. By shopping at thrift stores in your surrounding community, you can change your home to look just like the one you saw on your favorite home design show. Get your walking shoes on and make sure you know where your tools are because there are many great items to use in crazy creative ways you haven’t even imagined! For instance, here are five ways to make window shutters into home décor (FYI there are many more ways than only these!):

1. Shutter Bulletin Board

2. Shutter Console Table

3. Shutter Headboard

4. Shutter Shelf Iron Brackets

5. Shutter Wall Clock

Window shutters can be used in so many ways to decorate your home! Well there’s definitely more ways and you can learn about them here.

Just like the window shutter example, you can find many items in your community thrift stores to decorate your home with without burning a hole in your wallet.

ThriftWorks is right here in St. Cloud and there are many cool items that can be used to makeover your home. Look at some of these cool items you can find in our store. 

Put down your remote control and put on your creative thinking hat! It’s your time to start having your own home design fun! 

The Season of Shredding

It's everyone's favorite time of year...tax season! Whether you've finished filing your taxes or still need to begin, knowing which documents to save or shred is in important part of putting together your "tax puzzle".

Have you ever heard of the “Three Year Rule”? After you have filed your taxes, make sure to hold on to certain documents for at least three years. Why three years? You need to keep your documents that will support the items on your tax return for three years in case the IRS needs to start an audit.

Shred after three years:
· Tax return forms
· Tax return schedules
· Property records
· Investment records & statements
· Business assets (for depreciation)

These aren't the only records to shred after you have completely filed your taxes. To ensure you will not be a victim of identity theft, shred anything with sensitive information on it.

Documents to shred sooner than 3 years:
· Tax records
· Pay stubs
· Bank statements
· Credit card statements
· Medical records
· Insurance records
· IRA contributions
· Home purchase/sale/improvements
· Warranties

Don’t have a shredder? WACOSA's DocuShred, located next ThriftWorks!, will shred all of your confidential documents.

ThriftWorks! January Specials

AgVenture Gives!

Watkins Farming Company Will Donate $500 to Local Charities

 AgVenture focuses on providing exceptional value and service to their customers. Their main goal is to deliver a superior service to customers in all areas of the farming enterprise. AgVenture believes in doing the right thing and to maintain high moral standards even if it may compromise short-term profitability. They are also willing to be sufficiently creative and flexible and, at the core, always operate under a high moral, ethical and legal standard.

 Sandy Hansen, owner of AgVenture Feed and Seed Inc, sees beyond the bottom line and is always mindful of the needs of her community. For her, a successful business is one that gives back to its customers, its employees, and its community. Sandy’s goal is to give ten percent of the company’s net profits away each year to various needs and causes.

Hansen's “pay it forward” state of mind contributed to the birth of a charitable Facebook contest. AgVenture will give back by donating $250 to the two charities who receive the most votes by December 22nd, 2013. Anyone who has a Facebook profile can vote once per day.

By voting for WACOSA, you are supporting our mission: provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to work and live in their communities. We want individuals of all abilities to reach their full potential. We would greatly appreciate it if you took a few seconds out of your day to vote for WACOSA. Thank you for your help.

WACOSA

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ThriftWorks! December Specials

October specials at ThriftWorks!

IMPORTANT DETAILS ABOUT OUR MONTHLY SPECIALS

Military Mondays 25% off your purchase - must have valid military ID

Student Tuesdays 25% off your purchase - must have valid student ID

Senior Wednesdays - 55 or over, must have valid picture ID

White & yellow tags are excluded from all specials and coupons

No cash value with any of our specials or coupons

FOLLOW WACOSA ON FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES AND SPECIALS

Ask about joining our ThriftWorks! email list for exclusive specials!

THRIFTWORKS!, a thrift store in Waite Park, MN, is operatedby WACOSA, a nonprofit serving adults with disabilities. All proceeds benefit WACOSA whose mission is to provide individuals with
disabilities the opportunity to work and live in their community.

 

Waite Park shopping & donation hours:

310 Sundial Drive (just east of Crafts Direct) Convenient drive-thru drop off Monday - Friday 10:00am to 7:00pm

Saturday 9am to 5pm Closed Sundays


Sauk Centre donation only hours:

712 Lincoln Loop in Sauk Centre Drop off at main entrance Monday - Friday 9am to 4pm



Important details about our monthly specials

Military Mondays 25% off your purchase - must have valid military ID Student Tuesdays 25% off your purchase - must have valid student ID Senior Wednesdays - 55 or over, must have valid picture ID White & yellow tags are excluded from all specials and coupons No cash value with any of our specials or coupons

FOLLOW WACOSA ON FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES AND SPECIALS Ask about joining our ThriftWorks! email list for exclusive specials!

Making A Difference!

Since we began in 1963, we’ve been determined to make a difference for those with disabilities. We firmly believe that every individual is capable of positively contributing to their community and to society as a whole. Regardless of the type of disability, with the proper support and training, our clients excel in the workplace. We’ve been told time and time again that the amount of passion they bring is inspiring; hearing this feedback never gets old. It’s what keeps us striving to provide even more opportunities and further expand employment for the disabled community. We’ve come a long way, but the job is never done!

                  To provide a brief overview of our services, there are two main tactics we use for employment. The first is in-center work, which is held at one of our own sites. This consists of production work such as assembling, labeling, packaging products, shredding confidential documents, or recycling duties. The other option incorporates a little more direct involvement with the community. Either individually or in a work group, our clients work in various central Minnesota businesses where they partake in the typical job training before being fully submersed in the work atmosphere. These positions can be short-term but it’s very common for them to turn into long-term employment.

                  We can’t thank the community enough for all of the support they have given Wacosa over our 50 years of service. It’s helped us open the doors to even more opportunities. Most recently, we’ve opened up a thrift shop in Waite Park called Wacosa Thriftworks! Feel free to stop to make a donation or do a little shopping, or both! Also, On July 20^th, the St. Cloud Rox baseball team generously hosted Wacosa night. For every general admission ticket sold, Wacosa benefited $3. It was so great to give the public a chance to contribute to our mission and to see the smile on their faces because of the difference they knew they were making. 

                  Throughout the Central Minnesota area, we’ve been blessed to be able to impact the lives of over 500 disabled individuals. Every day at Wacosa is truly rewarding for everyone involved – we look forward to the many more great years of service and progress to come!