Connect &
Find Resources
Explore resources and ways to get involved in the Phillips community. Please note this page will be continuously updated with resources and opportuniites.
The Phillips Tool Library
About
​The Tool Library is focused on delivering specific high-need tools that are difficult to find, specified-use, or are unaffordable. Our Tool Library seeks to lower the barrier to entry for gardening, farming, and neighborhood maintenance tasks. Tools are free for use.
The Library has a Tier System. Tier 1 tools can be rented right away for use. Tier 2 tools consist of higher value specified use or power tools. We reserve these tools primarily for farfm and garden organizations operating in the neighborhood, but may make exceptions after one time of sucessfully using the Tool Library.
Tier 1 Tool List:
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Hori Hori Tools
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Seed Starting Tools
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Branch Lopper
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Collapsible Milk Crates
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Soil sampling probe – Kit with ziplock bags, QR code, how-to
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Broad-fork (Johnny’s Seed)
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Weed wrench (midsize)
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Large branch lopper
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Fruit Picker
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Staple Gun
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Wire Weeder Kit
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Scuffle Hoe (3.5")
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Scuffle Hoe (5")
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Tier 2 Tool List (Tier 2 power tools are only available for rental to farm and garden partners:
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EGO CS1611 16 in. Chainsaw (Battery & Charger)
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EGO Hedge Trimmer (Battery & Charger)
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EGO PS1001 Pole Saw Kit (Battery & Charger)
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EGO Lawnmower (Battery & Charger)
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EGO Leaf Blower (Battery & Charger)
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Orchard Ladder
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EGO POWER+ Self Propelled Lawn Mower Kit LM2114SP
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Impact Driver + Drill and screw bits
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Terrateck wheel hoe
The library is housed at East Phillips Improvement Coalition (2433 Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404). We are in the office Tuesday-Thursday ~ 9-5 PM, and after filling out the form, we will get in contact with you to figure out a pickup time. Tools can be rented for two weeks, after which they must be returned to an EPIC staff members. We prioritize residents in the Greater Phillips area, but everyone is welcome to send in a request.
To rent tools, fill out our Tool Rental Form here.​​​​
Addiction & Housing
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Avivo MN: Avivo serves nearly 10,000 individuals each year; helping them achieve recovery, find housing stability, and achieve employment and economic advancement. Serving Minnesota since 1960, we specialize in helping individuals and families who face complex barriers – poverty, homelessness, unemployment, chemical addiction or mental health concerns – achieve recovery and economic stability.
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Isuroon: Our programs are designed with a holistic and culturally attuned approach to empower Somali and East African families. Discover the array of services and support we provide to enhance community engagement.
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Southside Harm Reduction: Based in South Minneapolis, Southside Harm Reduction Services works within a harm reduction framework to promote the human rights to health, safety, autonomy, and agency among people who use substances.
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American Indian Community Development Corporation: We provide culturally unique initiatives, housing, and entrepreneurial programs that strengthen American Indian communities.
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Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota: If you are homeless or you do not have stable housing, the first step is to reach out to your county’s Coordinated Entry System contact. Coordinated Entry is a statewide screening process to assess your needs and connect you to a provider that can help. We serve people referred through Coordinated Entry in the Twin Cities, St. Cloud and Brainerd communities. If you need support in one of these areas, please see this list of Coordinated Entry System contacts. If you need rent or utility assistance, our Prevention Program provides direct financial assistance to households when funding is available. Check out our page for a list of available funding and to see if you qualify. Email preventionassistance@lssmn.org with any questions or to be referred to another organization for financial assistance.
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Our Saviors Housing: WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF HOPE FOR THOSE WHO NEED A HOME. OUR MISSION IS ELIMINATING HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING SHELTER, SUPPORT, AND A CHANCE TO START OVER.
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MICAH - Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing: MICAH envisions a metropolitan area where everyone, without exception, has a safe, decent, accessible, and affordable home.
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Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity: Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is committed to building the quality of life, health, and economic prosperity of the seven-county metro region by producing, preserving, and advocating for affordable homeownership – because homes and families are the foundation of successful communities.
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Minnesota Homeownership Center: Long-term homeownership builds wealth. The Minnesota Homeownership Center offers free advisor services and other resources to help you buy a home, and one-on-one help to prevent foreclosure when times are tough.
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Community Meeting, April 2, 2024: A fellow at the University of Minnesota, Benjamin Swart, talks about Addiction Medicine.
Arts & Culture
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Heart of the Beast: In the HEART of the BEAST (HOBT) is a community of artists working within our larger community to create magic together. We make puppets large and small-monstrous, beautiful, silly, human, plant, animal, you name it. We use gesture, voice, form, and color, giving life to puppets that help tell stories to represent the world as it is and as we dream it could be.
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The American Swedish Institute: The American Swedish Institute is a museum, a cultural education center, a café, a destination store, a historic mansion, and more. Visit today.
Safety
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Southside Harm Reduction: Based in South Minneapolis, Southside Harm Reduction Services works within a harm reduction framework to promote the human rights to health, safety, autonomy, and agency among people who use substances.
Community Development
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Native American Community Development Institute: NACDI’s work is founded on the belief that all American Indian people have a place, purpose, and a future strengthened by sustainable asset-based community development. Since 2007, NACDI’s work facilitates systems change through our integrated pathways of Community Engagement, Community Organizing, Community Development, and Indigenous Arts and Culture.
Transportation
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The Grease Pit: Community-oriented bike repair shop – helping residents fix their own bikes and learn to ride!
Journalism
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The Alley Newspaper: the alley is the community newspaper of the Phillips Community in Minneapolis, serving more than 20,000 residents and many businesses, agencies, schools, and visitors to Phillips.
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Southside Pride: Southside Pride is three free monthly newspapers publishing community news, religious events and a community calendar for the Phillips/Powderhorn, Nokomis and Riverside Communities. We are proud of the racial and cultural diversity of the Southside, and we oppose racism and other efforts to keep us apart as a community.
Free Services
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Food
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Isuroon: Our programs are designed with a holistic and culturally attuned approach to empower Somali and East African families. Discover the array of services and support we provide to enhance community engagement.
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Waite House: A long-standing pillar of the vibrant Phillips Community in South Minneapolis, our Waite House neighborhood center nurtures the health, prosperity, and social capital of over 4,500 community members each year.
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