OPENING DOORS
A Community's Thank You to Kim Ambers
Join us in transforming Kim's home and garden into a place of healing and renewal for a remarkable woman who has devoted her life to serving others.
What if an entire community came together to say thank you to someone who has spent her life caring for others?
For more than 35 years, Kim Ambers has dedicated her life to serving children and families in North Minneapolis, including 21 years at Lucy Craft Laney Community School. Her calling began remarkably early. At just ten years old, she transformed her bedroom into a summer school for neighborhood children, complete with lessons, homework, and recess in the backyard. By summer's end, impressed parents were hiring her to tutor their children throughout the school year.
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Throughout her life, Kim has cared for others—her three children, her grandmother, her uncle, and countless young people in her community. Yet her own journey has been marked by profound grief and hardship, including losing both parents at a young age and the devastating murder of her son Richard.
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In 2017, Kim found a community of healing and friendship through the From Death to Life's Two Mothers Healing Group at St. Jane House. Over the years, she has become a beloved member of this circle of mothers who have lost children to homicide.
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One Open Door Leads to Another
In June 2026, friends and neighbors came together to express their gratitude for Kim by reclaiming her overgrown garden, which had suffered years of neglect following flooding, storm damage, and the overwhelming demands of caregiving and grief.
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What began as a simple garden makeover blossomed into an extraordinary community effort to restore not only her garden but the entire exterior of her home. Volunteers, skilled tradespeople, friends, and neighbors joined forces to create a beautiful outdoor sanctuary and give her home a much-needed renewal.
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The transformation has been remarkable—not only in the physical spaces restored, but in the friendships strengthened, generosity inspired, and hope rekindled along the way.
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Experience the Opening Doors Story
We've captured this remarkable journey in a moving five-minute film, Opening Doors: A Community's Thank You to Kim Ambers. It's a story of grief and resilience, gratitude and generosity, and the extraordinary things that can happen when a community comes together in love and compassion.​
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​Small acts. Big love. Amazing transformation!
From the first day of clearing the garden to the remarkable transformation that followed, explore a photo album of the people, moments, and acts of kindness that brought Opening Doors to life.​​​
And the story is still unfolding!
We're now turning our attention to the interior of Kim's home, where essential plumbing, electrical, and other repairs are needed to make it safe, comfortable, and welcoming.
HERE ARE TWO WAYS TO HELP
Contribute Financially
Help us renovate Kim's home and garden, making much needed repairs to create a safe, welcoming space. Any amount you can contribute helps!
Contribute online via GoFundMe.
If you prefer to donate by check, please make checks payable to the Huckleberry Kindness Fund and write “Opening Doors” in the memo line.
Mail to:
St. Jane House
1403 Emerson Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Please note that donations to this benevolence fund, which is managed by St. Jane House Director Brian Mogren, are not tax-deductible.
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If you are considering a gift of $1,000 or more and would like to explore giving options that may offer a tax benefit, please email Brian Mogren before making your donation.
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Thank you for your generosity and support.
Sign Up to Volunteer
What door can YOU open?
Opening Doors began with a simple act of kindness and grew into something extraordinary, thanks to neighbors and friends sharing their time, talents, resources, and connections. Now we're inviting YOU to be part of the next chapter!
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There are so many ways to get involved, whether you have a few hours to spare, a special skill to share, or connections that could make a difference. And you can even contribute from the comfort of your own home!
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Here are just a few possibilities:
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Lend a hand: Assist with home improvements, landscaping, gardening, or other hands-on projects.
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Share your skills: Offer expertise in construction, plumbing, electrical work, fundraising, communications, or project coordination.
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Open your network: Connect us with businesses, contractors, community organizations, or potential donors who might contribute services, materials, or financial support.
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Spread the word: Share our video and GoFundMe campaign with friends, family, and your social networks.
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Volunteer from home: Help with research, phone calls, emails, donor outreach, thank-you notes, or other behind-the-scenes tasks.
Every contribution matters, and no act of kindness is too small!
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Interested in getting involved?
Email Brian Mogren, to learn more about current opportunities and explore how your unique gifts might help open another door.
Together, we can make extraordinary things happen—one open door at a time!
Home and Garden Blessing and Celebration
Summer 2027
Please plan to join us for a blessing and celebration of Kim's home and garden. All who volunteered in any way with this project are encouraged to join us!
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Opening Doors is a community initiative growing out of St. Jane House, an urban retreat center and house of hospitality sponsored by the Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis.
