Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
In 2016, Keystone provided services to over 30,000 people with the help of 3,000 volunteers. Outcomes include the following: 24,685 people (8,122 households) received over 2.4 million pounds of nutritious food and 1,437 people (530 households) received crisis assistance or case management services to ensure they have the foundational supports in place to be self-sufficient, stable and successful. 3,139 seniors participated in senior services offered by Keystone to help them remain living independently in their community. 298 received in-home services such as meals on wheels, 1,918 participated in active senior programs and 923 received case management services. Keystone youth programs provide academic, social skill and vocational support to 303 youth who participated in after-school, summer and employment programs. Volunteers are integral to the success of every Keystone program and in 2016, with the help of a new full time volunteer coordinator, individual volunteer support increased by 55%; Keystone volunteers provided 35,089 hours of service in 2016 totaling $877,933 of in-kind support or the equivalent of nearly 17 additional FTE’s.
Current Goals
Keystone Community Services’ mission is to support low income youth, families, individuals and seniors living in St. Paul and the surrounding suburban communities of Ramsey County. Our goals for 2017 include the following: 250 low-income youth will have the academic, social and vocational skills to succeed at school and in the community. 70% of Keystone youth program participants in grades K-10 will achieve grade level or above in math and reading as a result of their participation in evidence-based tutoring and youth development programming. 22,500 low income individuals and families will have foundational supports in place to be self-sufficient, stable and successful. 2,500 seniors and adults with disabilities will remain living in the community of their choice with dignity and self-determination. New initiatives planned for 2017 include launching the Best Buy Teen Tech Center where teens can leverage techology to develop projects based on their own interests; Increasing partnerships with the faith and business communities to increase food support for a projected 10% increase in food shelf participants; increase earned income from two social enterprises - Express Bike and History Tours – to support youth and senior programs.
Community or Constituency Served
Keystone serves over 30,000 people at seven community locations in St. Paul and Ramsey County, including three food shelves, a mobile food-mobile and two major multi-service sites, Merriam Park Community Center and West Seventh Community Center. Approximately 97% of the people Keystone works with are low-income, 72% are people of color, and 45% are immigrants/refugees – many are vulnerable with critical and complex needs. We provide services in the areas of basic needs, youth school success and healthy development, youth employment, family stability and self-sufficiency, and senior services. Keystone has the largest basic needs human service program in the east metro and operates two of the largest community-based youth and senior programs in St. Paul. We effectively reach out and respond to inter-generational needs to help low-income individuals and families achieve greater stability, safety, self-sufficiency, and opportunity throughout their lives.
Geographic Area Served
Our community based services for seniors, youth, individuals and families offer support for Ramsey County residents most of whom live in Saint Paul. We also provide waiver case management services for elderly and people with disabilities who reside in Hennepin County.
