“Why not make something small a little bit bigger?”
That’s the question Emmy Woods asked herself a couple of winters back. When she appeared on the City Cast Twin Cities podcast, Woods said she had been feeling “a little lost and a little hopeless with the state of the world.” She decided to take a gig she had coming up at the 331 Club in Northeast Minneapolis and amplify a pre-existing warm winter clothing drive for Southside Harm Reduction Services. She figures if everyone does a little in their world, the world will get that much better. Spoiler alert: she’s right. Since then, it has become an annual event, and this year, City Cast Twin Cities is getting in on the positive energy!
(Courtesy Emmy Woods)
The Winter Clothing Drive takes place at the 331 Club on Sunday at 7 pm. I will be on hand for the event to take in the show and accept your donations.
Southside Harm Reduction has seen a huge increase in the need for cold-weather gear (jackets, boots, socks, hats, gloves/mittens, hand and foot warmers, etc.). They especially need boots that are sizes 10 and larger, as well as jackets that are sizes large and above. Distributing winter gear is essential to keeping folks safe in our community during the coldest months of the year. If you want to make a donation but cannot make it to the show, they do accept donations at their drop-in center.
About Southside Harm Reduction Services
Southside Harm Reduction Services’ mission is to promote the human rights to health, safety, and autonomy of people who use drugs. Their goal is to support the community to claim their rights to dignity, autonomy, and health through person-centered direct services. This year, SHR opened a drop-in center in South Minneapolis where community members can access naloxone, harm reduction supplies, hot meals, medical care, rapid HIV/HCV testing, housing resources, drug checking, and other linkage to care services. Alongside the drop-in center, SHR’s outreach and delivery programs continue to reach people across Minneapolis, ensuring everyone who relies on Southside has access to naloxone, safer use supplies, and other essentials to stay safe.
About Emmy Woods
Emmy Woods (she/they) was born and raised on an old dirt road in rural North Dakota and currently resides in Saint Paul, MN. With hints of country, folk, and blues, Emmy’s songs showcase her knack for storytelling, her strengths in musical artistry, and her ethereal voice. Drawing on a range of influences, including Billie Holiday, Emmylou Harris, and Against Me, Emmy has shared stages with such talents as Melissa Carper, Sarah Morris, Ryan Young of Trampled by Turtles, and Cam Whitcomb, to name a few. Emmy began writing at 13; however, her music remained unreleased and rarely performed until 2023, when she burst out of her living room and onto the Minnesota music scene with the release of 3 recorded collections. Undeniably prolific, she has since released several singles and an EP. Performing anywhere that’ll have her, from dive bars and markets to ballrooms and festivals, Woods continues to gain momentum with her witty and captivating repertoire, her disarmingly down-to-earth charm, and her genre-bending sound.
