In early 2024, a community member approached Forward Health Foundation with a heartfelt desire to help alleviate hunger in our area. After coming into an unexpected sum of money, they generously chose to donate $5,000 to the Foundation, with the stipulation that the funds be used for hunger-related initiatives. The donor entrusted the distribution of the donation to the discretion of our board.

After careful consideration, the Foundation’s board allocated the $5,000 donation to three local organizations dedicated to supporting food and nutrition outreach in our community:

$2,000 to Deer River Community Café

  • The Deer River Community Café serves an average of 2,000 Deer River residents per month, according to John Weber, Executive Director of the Cafe, providing vital meals and a sense of community to our residents. Open Monday through Thursday from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at King Elementary, the Café also delivers up to 20 meals per day to the Community TechHub to support after-school programs.

Toni Burbie, Deer River Community Cafe volunteer

$2,000 to Deer River After School Programming

  • This allocation supports Deer River’s after-school programs, providing nutritious snacks for children in collaboration with Full-Service Community Schools, Boys and Girls Club, and the Community TechHub. Tristen Aho, TechHub Coordinator, shared, “As for the snacks coming in, it’s huge for us. It’s the first thing kids do when they get here. It also allows us 10-15 minutes to start the day in the lounge, decompress with the kids, ask about their day, judge their mood, and find out what they want to do with their time here.”  Kayleen Monacelli, Boys and Girls Club Director, adds that there are 145 club members enrolled, with an average daily attendance of 66. Nearly half of these members enjoy meals at the Community Café, with some even bringing food home to help support their families. In the month of November, they distributed over 1000 snacks to students. These funds also support the King Pantry, which offers food and hygiene supplies to school families in need.

Ethan Thompson, Boys and Girls Club of Leech Lake Area

$1,000 to Deer River Area Food Shelf

  • Serving an average of 20 families (50 individuals) weekly, the Deer River Area Food Shelf ensures that community members have access to food and hygiene essentials. Located at the north end of Essentia Health in the Goodall Resource Center, the Food Shelf is open Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Deer River Area Food Shelf

Forward Health Foundation is committed to supporting and strengthening our community, and we are deeply grateful for the generosity and compassion shown by this donor. These funds will provide direct support to local families and children facing food insecurity, especially through our winter months.

For more information or to learn how you can support these initiatives, please contact the Forward Health Foundation at 218-246-4212.

*Photos courtesy of Samantha Martin Photography.

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