Edina Give and Go celebrated its 10th anniversary in April. The organization awards grants to Edina Public School students who are unable to pay fees for arts, academics or athletic activities. Its goal is to make programs accessible to all students. Photo: Edina Give and Go
One of Edina’s most impactful organizations, Edina Give and Go, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. “Small needs, big impact,” is how co-founder Meg Rodriguez distills the Edina Give and Go mission. The group works with families in Edina to ensure equitable access to academic and enrichment opportunities for public school students.
“I was frustrated that our system in Edina was built on perception—perception that everyone has plenty,” Rodriguez says of the moment she realized it was time to make a difference. As a basketball and lacrosse captain’s parent and theater mom, Rodriguez realized that some simply couldn’t afford fees for activities. As of 2024, almost 20 percent of Edina Public Schools students live in households that qualify for free and reduced-priced meals. For the 2023–24 school year, 1,621 students qualified for free and reduced lunch.
With such a need, Rodriguez saw that with some organization, the whole Edina community could make an impact for good.
“All the random acts of kindness in support of these kids would get evened out if we formulated a systematic approach,” she says. “A kid who’s unseen would have a place to go just as much as the kid who has the guts to call the captain’s parent and say, ‘I don’t have a stick.’”
Without much hesitation, Rodriguez alongside her friend and co-founder Idith Almog started Edina Give and Go. A decade later, the organization has supported 2,500 students with $1.5 million in grants for sports, driver’s education, tutoring, theater and more.
“I’m not just thinking about the kids. I’m also thinking about the parents—what it means for parents to be able to say, ‘Yes,’ to their kids. The parents themselves stand on those sidelines, and so much community building happens on the sidelines or at the cookie reception after the concert,” says Sarah Hardy, Edina Give and Go’s board chair. “I’ve only seen generosity and eagerness. I think sometimes people are surprised when I tell them there’s a need in Edina,” she says. Part of Edina Give and Go’s work is to educate the community about poverty statistics in a community that’s often perceived as entirely affluent.
“We have different types of families, families that have lived here for many generations in Edina—families that just arrived to Edina and families that just arrived in the country,” says Catalina Carrasco, outreach and student granting coordinator for Edina Give and Go.
“Sometimes, kids just need to be involved in activities where they can meet peers and engage—it’s a place where they can create relationships. Sometimes, they need help to continue a sport that they are really good at or to help them explore new opportunities with music, with academic support,” Carrasco says. She has seen students improve in school after getting the opportunity to participate in an extracurricular activity. “It’s like a little seed that we plant for them to get better at school,” she says.
“Some families have to choose between paying rent or registering their kid in an activity,” Carrasco says. “We bring hope.”
Edina Give and Go hosts a used gear swap each September. Community members can bring donations—everything from musical instruments to sports equipment. It’s a way to directly support affordable access to families in the community. This year’s gear donation day is September 7, and the shopping day is September 8.
Edina Give and Go
Facebook: Edina Give and Go
Instagram: @edinagiveandgo
