News

1 in 13 people in Minnesota face hunger.*  In our community, the Deer River Food Shelf is doing what it can to minimize barriers to food, and they also offer home COVID test kits, hygiene and baby supplies to our rural families.  Food Shelf coordinator, Janet Maki, shared that approximately 20 families visit the food shelf weekly while open Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Through the gifts of donors, Forward Health Foundation is able to aid in supporting this effort. The Food Shelf is located in the north side of Essentia Health-Deer River hospital building, in the Goodall

Building upon the tenacity of our community in their determination to see a thriving hospital providing care to the residents of the Deer River area, we have been acting on that spirit with our Cornerstone Employee Giving Fund campaign.  Developed after the affiliation with Essentia Health, this fund allows employees the ability to give-back to their team and the patients in unique and tangible ways - of their choosing.  Our Campaign began in May with banana splits and root beer floats, encouraging submissions of project ideas that would enhance the delivery of care for providers, and the receiving of care

What is the measure of touching a life…particularly, a teenager’s life in our ever-changing culture?  The Campus Life program has been supporting and impacting youth in the Deer River area for over 20 years.  In that time, much has changed for our youth and the world in which they are growing up.  However, one thing remains steadfast and unchanging - the need to be heard and validated.   Heather Schjenken has been the Campus Life Director in Deer River since 1998, and offers this sentiment, “I’ve been fortunate to see first-hand the impact Campus life has made on so many young

The pandemic has taught us much about the needs of our communities and the importance of the village in caring for one another. When students were not attending classes, it became increasingly apparent that schools are a huge part of that village - in many ways. One specific way was in the schools’ offering of their King Pantry which provides food for school families and community members.  In collaboration with Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, ISD #317 is able to “...deliver food to families, they can pick it up at school, and we can send food home on buses

Any form of post-secondary education can be challenging, and it can be extra challenging to return to school as a non-traditional student where, sometimes, the stakes are higher, available free time is less, and the cost of that education can be a barrier.  Because of generous donors, Forward Health Foundation is able to offer healthcare career scholarships to employees of Essentia Health - Deer River & Grand Rapids, looking to advance their skills, enhance their knowledge and further their career.  We are thankful for the opportunity to give back to our community by helping ease the financial burden of returning