Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative

Your Support Makes an Impact in the Lives of Children and Families!

SUPPORT LPCFC GENERAL OPERATING AND PROGRAMMING!

LPCFC ORGANIZATION HISTORY

Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative (LPCFC) became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in December of 2011, founded by a group of education, child development, health, and social service professionals.

CURRENT PROGRAMS

Meet in the Park (2016-Present)

LPCFC adopted the Meet on the Street event that was started by the Lincoln Park on the Move Coalition in 2016 and moved the event to Harrison Park in 2022. This annual community event, that takes place in July, promotes health and wellbeing by providing family friendly activities and resources from local businesses and nonprofits.

Harrison Park Gardens (2016-Present)

In 2016, we worked with Duluth Community Garden Program (DCGP) and the City of Duluth to build 10 community garden plots, managed and rented by DCGP. In 2016, we also built a demonstration medicine garden and pollinator garden, and in 2020, we planted a 12-tree fruit orchard, all of which we are stewards of. The demo gardens and orchard are available to the community. 

Big Red Bookshelf (2018-Present)

LPCFC provides free, age-appropriate books to members of the community. We oversee and supply books for 17 bookshelves spread throughout Duluth. This program relies on funding and donations of books from community members who believe in encouraging a love for reading at an early age. 

Family Friends and Neighbors (2018-Present)

This program supports individuals, who help take care of children, by hosting Play and Learn gatherings and providing resources like our free Anishinaabe Awesiinyens Puppet Activity Book Make-n-Takes and other whole-family centered resources. 

LPCFC ChildCare (2019-Present)

Our licensed family childcare offers part-time, full-time, and drop-in services that provide stability and opportunity for families living in and out of poverty Monday-Friday 7:45AM-4:45PM. Our childcare is a 4 Star Parent Aware rated program and accepts Early Learning Scholarships, Child Care Assistance, and private pay. We are a play-based childcare and with our new yard at our new space, we are moving towards being a nature-play childcare. 

We participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, offering meals at no separate charge to enrolled children at our site. The goal of the food program is to improve the diets of young children and increase the opportunity for children to eat a variety of nutritious foods. Meals meet nutritional standards established by the USDA. LPCFC is an equal opportunity provider. 

LPCFC ChildCare received a 4 Star Parent Aware rating in July 2022 and we are currently working on our renewal. 

Supported Family Time (2019-Present)

Our Supported Family Time program allows children to have safe, conflict-free access to parents and caregivers. We offer in-home, on-site, and virtual parent coaching, in-home, on-site, and virtual observation, and transportation services. We offer these services in our workspaces, in homes, and in the community, Monday through Saturday between 8AM and 8PM. We have a team of staff doing this work with us and pair families in a culturally specific way whenever possible. Transportation needs are so great for this program that we are seeking vehicle donations and/or funding to purchase a vehicle that staff/volunteers can use to transport families. 

GROCERY GIVE AWAY (2021-Present)

The Grocery Give Away, organized by our Family Advisory Board, is a free, pop-up market that provides free food and hygiene products to the community in partnership with Second Harvest Northland. There are no limits, events go by a first come, first serve basis, and take place monthly from 11:00am-1:00pm on the Sunday after the third Tuesday. We're raising funding to help support the general operation of this program as we explore what opening a more formal food shelf would like for LPCFC, with more frequent hours and services. 

YOUTH AGAINST KOMMERCIAL TOBACCO (YAK) (2022-Present)

LPCFC was selected to participate in the Minnesota Department of Health’s Youth E-Cigarette Prevention and Cessation Initiative. We work to develop and engage youth as essential partners to raise awareness and change social norms and behaviors around youth e-cigarette and commercial tobacco use. We integrate factors of mental well-being that contribute to reducing commercial tobacco use among youth. Through this work, we aim to make sustainable changes to community policies, practices, systems, and environment. 

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER (2025-Present)

As part of this work, we provide a free Notary Public service, host a Family Advisory Board (FAB), who are members of program sub-committees, and connect people to community resources. We belong to a network of Community and Family Resource Centers in St. Louis County and with their support, we created a small computer lab and a free closet that community members can access. Our free closet has hygiene items, school supplies, clothes, etc.