Armed with a bright blue Super Bowl jacket, a healthy snack, and a message of hope, Super Bowl volunteers will be on the front lines of helping sex trafficking victims and at-risk kids.
MATTER and The Link are joining forces during the days surrounding the Super Bowl to provide a healthy meal, along with other critical resources, for people experiencing the impacts of poverty, social injustice, and trafficking in the Twin Cities.
As part of this extensive effort, The Link has conducted training for Super Bowl outreach workers to help them identify sex trafficking victims and at-risk kids. They will be equipped with MATTERbox healthy snack packs to distribute, along with resource cards from The Link, including where to find a safe place to stay, as well as how to locate food, clothing, and healthcare. More than 5,500 healthy MATTERbox meals will be distributed in the Twin Cities community though this collaborative partnership with The Link.
MATTER’s relationship with The Link grew out of a mutual interest in serving youth in the Twin Cities community, which began with an introduction at an FBI community meeting addressing trafficking during the Super Bowl. While trafficking happens throughout the year, events like the Super Bowl provide an opportunity to bring more public awareness to this pervasive issue and offer much needed help to the victims.
“The Link is thrilled to partner with Matter on this important issue – having increased supplies and support during this time has allowed us to arm our outreach workers who will be working 18 hours a day for the 10 days surrounding the Super Bowl, and aids all of our shelter partners with increased food supplies,” stated Beth Holger-Ambrose, Executive Director, The Link.
The MATTERbox program strives to activate healthy eating for kids and families through innovative partnerships serving the community. Minnesota businesses like C.H. Robinson, United Health Group, Hormel, and many others, have volunteered their time and financial support by joining with MATTER to pack these 5,500 meals. A final meal packing event is taking place at the Touch by Alyssa Milano Flag Football game on February 3, 2018, with the Women of the NFL and MATTER.
MATTER’s longstanding partnership with the NFL and Vikings Women seeks to impact youth, women and families in Minnesota through MATTERbox packing and distribution to community partners throughout the year. Tami Hedrick, Director of Vikings Women commented,
“As a proud Board Member of MATTER, and as Director of Vikings Women, where our mission is to connect, empower and impact women, this partnership is an important opportunity to serve our community during this busy time around the big game.”
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