2025 Fall Meeting Recap
Attendees of the Fall meeting held at Every Third Saturday
On September 24th, GIVING WoMN gathered at Every Third Saturday to kick off our series of fall meetings. These opportunities are designed to get us closer to the work with which our grantees are engaged and to learn how GIVING WoMN support has made a positive impact with those they are serving. This meeting welcomed both Tom McKenna, Marine Corps Veteran, and co-founder of Every Third Saturday; and Tabatha Barrett, Senior Director of Social Services and Innovation at DARTS.
Every Third Saturday exists to assist Veterans in finding new purpose after military services. Their mission focuses on fostering hope and supporting post-traumatic growth for veterans. Last year alone, ETS served over 3,000 veterans from across the Twin Cities. Positive outcomes include fostering community, rediscovering purpose, and serving a greater cause for self-fulfillment and growth. Some of the ways in which they do this is through Warrior's Return, an intensive personal development workshop; an array of classes including art, bible study, and guitar lessons; and Veteran's coffee talk. GIVING WoMN is honored to be a part of ETS's success through a 2023 grant, particularly in helping them to build up their emergency fund and in providing a more robust selection of goods at their supply store including clothing, hygiene items, and blankets, all free of charge to Veterans.
DARTS recognizes the transition involved in aging. Their services empower older adults to age independently in place while supporting caregivers in transforming the journey from a challenge to a celebration. The connections they create, such as through their Caregiver supports, assists children, spouses, and friends of an aging adult obtain access to vital information to help them navigate this process in a positive way. Specifically, DARTS utilized their 2024 GIVING WoMN grant to enhance their caregiver counseling and coaching by providing informal education and support based on specific caregiver needs. They were also able to boost individual respite which uplifts compassionate, well-trained volunteers in providing supervision and companionship to the person who is frail or ill, so that the caregiver can take a break, knowing their family member is safe.
For more information on this topic or our speakers, please visit:
Every Third Saturday (https://www.everythirdsaturday.org/)