Patch Picks: Five Nonprofits Making a Difference

Each week, Lakeville Patch will run a weekly feature called Patch Picks, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, and ways to spend a day off.

Want to suggest a list? Submit your idea in the comment box.

To help in your philanthropic ventures, this week's Patch Picks highlights five local nonprofits in and around Lakeville that are making a difference, locally and around the world. Check out the hyperlinks to find out more about these nonprofits.

Places to get your philanthorpy on:

1.) The Lakeville Resource Center, located in downtown Lakeville is part of the Eagan Resource Center, which is the largest food shelf in Dakota County. The nonprofit organization is committed to eliminating hunger. The organization has grown from serving 38 families per month in 2005 to serving over 700 families per month in 2010, many of whom, are right here in Lakeville. Folks can donate money, or non-perishable food items.

2) 360 Communities is a Dakota County-based, nonprofit, and human services agency that helps many groups of people in Lakeville, from domestic abuse victims to families in need of food shelves.

3.) Bundles of Love, located in Apple Valley provides bundles of goodies for newborns and premature babies in need. They regularly assist more than 60 clinics, agencies and hospitals by providing them with clothing and blankets for families in need.

4.) Kids 'n Kinsip in Apple Valley provides positive adult role models for at-risk children throughout the Apple Valley, Lakeville, Eagan, Farmington, Burnsville and Rosemount areas. They do fun activities that ignite imagination and teach children valuable family skills.

5.) is a nonprofit Christian organization that relies on its children and adult volunteers to help hand-pack meals to feed starving children in more than 60 countries worldwide. The organization has been in Eagan for the past five years and is FDA regulated. It has a 94 percent efficiency rate.