Minnesota Valley Action Council (MVAC) provides services in the nine-county region to tackle poverty through a variety of programming. Its Faribault County office and its Head Start facility are both located at 301 N. Main Street in Blue Earth. The Faribault County MVAC office recently updated its hours, and will now be open on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Individuals seeking MVAC services other days of the week are encouraged to call 1-800-767-7139 or visit mnvac.org.

The Minnesota Valley Action Council (MVAC) is tackling poverty in the nine-county region, one individual at a time.

“We are here to help people get themselves out of poverty to be successful and meet their own goals in their lives – whether that is through employment, education, housing, or transportation,” MVAC executive director Amanda Mackie explains.

The organization provides services in Faribault County, as well as Blue Earth, Brown, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan Counties.

Due to changes in funding, the organization’s office in Blue Earth has reduced its office hours. The office, located at 301 N. Main Street, is now open on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t help people on other days,” Mackie clarifies. “They just need to call us, or access us through the chat feature on our website, which helps direct people to where they need to be.”

She adds that MVAC’s office in Fairmont is also open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mackie encourages anybody who thinks they could benefit from MVAC’s services to reach out to the organization, even if they are unsure which service would best fit their needs.

“We start with clients where they are, and find that resource that they need,” she explains.

And, MVAC’s resources and services are considerable.

According to Mackie, one of the most popular services in Faribault County is MVAC’s Energy Assistance Program.

“We help folks pay their heating bills throughout the winter,” she says. “We see all types of families accessing the program, but especially seniors living on fixed incomes.”

MVAC has other energy-focused programming as well, including an Energy Related Repair Program which provides repairs or replacements for primary heating units in emergency no-heat situations, and a Weatherization Program which reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing their homes’ energy efficiency.

The Standalone Program, meanwhile, is designed for owners and renters who need to repair or replace their water heater and air conditioning unit.

Additionally, residents who need to make general repairs to their home may benefit from MVAC’s Housing Rehab Program, which provides loan and grant opportunities to make necessary repairs or updates to address health, safety and accessibility issues.

Another MVAC program which is popular in the Faribault County area is Head Start, which provides programming for children from birth to the age of five, as well as for parents and expectant parents.

“We provide preschool in all nine counties, as well as home visits,” Mackie comments.

Faribault County’s Head Start facility is also located at 301 N. Main Street.

These programs just scratch the surface of MVAC’s available services. The organization also offers adult employment and training services, which provide opportunities for career exploration, counselor-approved training and employment to help participants identify a career path and find suitable employment.

“We help people find new jobs, and brush up on their resume and skills,” Mackie explains. “They might need to go back to school to get a certification or degree, and we can help people pay for that.”

MVAC assists employment and training program participants with financing up to $4,000 per semester in expenses for career-related training and education programs.

The organization also recognizes the challenge of commuting to work without a reliable means of transportation. As such, MVAC has piloted Wheel Get There, a program through which people can donate cars to be sold by MVAC to low-income individuals at a discount.

MVAC also purchases new cars and leases them to individuals who may not qualify for traditional financing.

“We work with people to make payments so they can be successful,” Mackie says. “Transportation is so critical in rural areas – in most places, you need a car to get to work.”

MVAC’s finance-related programming includes Family Assets in Minnesota (FAIM), which helps people save funds for a specific goal to build their assets, and a Tax Preparation Program which provides eligible, elderly and disabled participants with free income tax preparation services.

“Homelessness prevention programs are big in all counties,” Mackie adds. “Folks struggle to stay in their homes and make rent, and we can help with that.”

MVAC’s Homeless Prevention Program provides funds for past-due and current rent payments, deposits for a new unit, utilities and other needs, and mortgage payments.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program, meanwhile, is a federal program available in Faribault and Le Sueur Counties which provides participants with a rental subsidy, allowing them to pay a portion of their rent proportional to 30 percent of their income.

Finally, MVAC offers some programming specific to youth and seniors.

The Youth Program, open to individuals between 14 and 24 years of age, supports individuals interested in pursuing post-secondary training, and helps them achieve their educational and employment goals.

The Senior Community Employment Program, meanwhile, offers employment opportunities to people ages 55 and over.

“I think there are a lot of things we do that are not as well-known,” Mackie summarizes. She adds, “The services are all free, with the exception of the purchase and use of a car, and our thrift stores.”

She encourages individuals who believe they could benefit from MVAC’s services to contact the organization to see which program might be the best fit for their circumstances.

“Each program comes with its own set of eligibility requirements,” Mackie explains. “Most of the time, it has to do with income levels. We encourage people to come in and ask – it really varies.”

She says MVAC typically works with a wide array of organizations in the area to ensure that if an individual’s needs would be better met by an organization other than MVAC, they are connected with the appropriate resources.

“Someone doesn’t need to know what program they’re looking for, just what would help them be more successful or meet their needs,” Mackie clarifies. “When you’re stressed and in crisis, the last thing you want to do is drive from agency to agency, asking for help.”

Despite the wide range of programs already offered through MVAC, Mackie says the organization is always on the look out for new services it could provide its clients.

For example, MVAC recently received a grant from the Minnesota Diaper Bank to distribute diapers to its county offices.

“We are always looking for new opportunities,” Mackie concludes.

To contact MVAC about its services, call 1-800-767-7139, or access the organization’s chat feature at mnvac.org.