The staff at Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless is involved in all aspects of the organization. It is their dedication that allows us to serve our community better.
Staff
Arna Yetter, Executive Director
Arna has more than 20 years of experience in education including teaching, developing gifted and talented programs, community resources, teacher development, volunteer program management, adult education, and business education partnerships.
Arna came to Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless in 1991 when she coordinated the organization’s fundraising. Since then as the organization grew, her role has been ever changing. “Working on hunger and homeless issues through Open Your Heart continues to be challenging and rewarding!” she says.
Arna continues her life-long commitment to volunteerism as an Art Adventure Guide at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and serves on the Women’s Ministry Leadership Team at Crossroads Church in Woodbury.
Tom Mulhere, Resource Director
Tom joined Open Your Heart in 2008 with seven years of prior experience working in the non-profit field.
Before that Tom had almost 30 years of business experience in the field of global trading, risk management and marketing in the mining and metals industry, including 10 years with Cargill, Inc. in New York and Minneapolis.
Active as a volunteer with nonprofits in both the Phillips and Jordan neighborhoods of Minneapolis, Mulhere was responsible for resource and relationship generation for the People Serving People homeless shelter in downtown Minneapolis and has served on the board of Our Saviour’s Housing.
Alexis Walstad, Communications and Program Services Director
Alexis joined Open Your Heart in September 2009 as Campaign Coordinator and was thrilled to be promoted to Communications and Program Services Director in January 2010. She came to Open Your Heart after working with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota – Refugee Services. She is still actively involved in the local refugee community as co-chair of Twin Cities World Refugee Day.
In her role at Open Your Heart, Alexis enjoys interacting with workplace giving donors, volunteers and the agencies funded by Open Your Heart grants. “It’s inspiring to meet so many people who truly understand what their neighbors are going through and want to help,” Alexis says. “I’m honored to be able to share the mission of Open Your Heart with such caring people.”
Open Your Heart helps Veterans like Shawn.
Shawn was first homeless right after he got out of the service in 1983. When he came home he was asked by his mother, “When are you moving out?” Shawn eventually got married, had a child, and bought a house. He was working with metal fabricating when a piece of metal shot into his eye. Due to this injury Shawn was unable to work, he lost his house and he got a divorce.
Shawn receives a monthly allowance through his Veteran Affairs Benefits. This money only goes so far, after his bills for mental health treatment Shawn is left with very little money for a place to live. He very much wants to work and recently went to school for computer repair. Shawn has a positive outlook that eventually someone will give a homeless veteran a chance for a new beginning.