Learn More About CES

Mission Statement

Community Emergency Service (CES) is dedicated to assisting community people in meeting basic physical, emotional and spiritual needs in a warm, accepting and Christ-like manner.

Welcome to CES

Since its origin, CES has provided high-quality direct service to persons in need and now serves over 55,000 people annually.  The clients largely consist of low-income households, single parent families, the elderly, mentally/emotionally handicapped persons and recent immigrant groups.

Through direct aid relief, advocacy, referral, guidance and prayer support if desired, CES seeks to strengthen families and individuals.  The desire of CES is to move them beyond crisis to financial stability, emotional health and personal and spiritual strength and growth.

CES was organized in 1971 as a ministry of Augustana Lutheran Church under statutes of their Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity under the Internal Renenue Code and the laws of the State of Minnesota.

The organization's formal name is Community Emergency Service of Augustana Lutheran Church.  Throughout this report, the name CES, the acronym reference by which the organization is commonly known, is used.  CES' parent organization, Augustana Lutheran Church, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Offices and Facilities

CES operates out of the old Emanuel Methodist Church located on the corner of 11th Avenue and 19th Street with the main entrance on the 19th Street side.  Augustana Lutheran Church owns this approzimately 10,000 square foot space.

Uniqueness

Standing out for having leadership that helped establish the organization over 35 years ago, CES offers a broad range of crisis services without excluding the spiritual dimension.  Matters of faith or "religion" are not forced or pressed on anyone.  All are served equally regardless of race, color, creed or sexual preference.

Affiliations

CES is a ministry of Augustana Lutheran Church operating in conjunction with its own separate board and under the direction of Executive Director, Rev. John R. Bohnsack.  Many other congregations, individuals and some corporations also cooperate with and support CES.

Following is a list of CES' different Affiliates:

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Emergency FoodShelf Network
  • Hunger Solutions Minnesota
  • Minnesota Council for Nonprofits

COOPERATING GROUPS

As a community partner and referral agency, CES cooperates with over 90 other nonprofit organizations, community groups, businesses, government agencies and congregations.

Networking List   There are many organizations within the area that assist people where CES can not and there is a working relationship back and forth between many of them.

 

CONSULTANTS/REFERENCES

  • CONSULTANTS

Tim Tucker
Augustana Home
1007 E 14th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-333-1551

Fred Kopplin
Attorney at Law
5038 34th Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55417
612-721-4488

  • REFERENCES

Janine Laird
Hunger Solutions Minneasota
1502 Nicollet Avenue S, Suite 5
Minneapolis, MN 55403
612-870-9170

Pastor Don Rudrud
Former Minneapolis Area Synod
122 West Franklin
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-870-3610

Rev. D Wangaard
Minneapolis Area Synod
122 West Franklin, Suite #600
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-230-3316

 

SOURCES OF SUPPORT

The following is a list of businesses and foundations who have been part of the source of support for CES over the years.  There is an ongoing schedule with several of the following Foundations and Trusts that are applied to on a yearly basis.  Besides these businesses and foundations, there are churches and individuals too numerous to list that are a part of the donor base.

  • Minneapolis Area Emergency Fund (MAEF)
  • The Beim Foundation
  • The Dhein Foundation
  • Edward R. Bazinet Foundation
  • Burdick-Craddick Family Foundation
  • Sit Investment Associates Foundation
  • Russell T. Lund Charitable Trust
  • Caridad Corporation
  • Piper Jaffray (now UBS)
  • Ameriprise (formerly American Express)
  • Thrivent Financial