BACKGROUND
United Way advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Through your investment, United Way is able to address the critical needs that matter most to you and our community and create a meaningful difference in people’s lives by: investing in nonprofit health and human service programs and services that address the most critical needs and deliver the greatest impact possible; implementing community impact initiatives and support year round programs that address new and emerging needs; and, forming strategic partnerships and collaborations—sharing responsibility and accountability for delivering meaningful and long-lasting results.
Our focus is on education, income and health – the building blocks for a good quality of life.
PROGRAMS OF UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI AREA
BACKPACK BUDDIES
In the Bemidji area, 1 in 5 children experience food insecurity and hunger. The Backpack Buddies program was developed to help ensure that children in the Bemidji school district have access to nutritious, non-perishable and easy-to-prepare food at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations.
The program provides backpacks filled with food that is child friendly, non-perishable, and easily consumed free of charge. An average weekly menu consists of: 2 entrees, 1 snack, 2 breakfast items, 1 vegetable, 2 fruits, and 2 milks, and 1 high protein item. The food is purchased from the North Country Food Bank and community groups and volunteers package the food each month.
The food packs are discretely distributed to children, as best determined by the school, on the last day before weekends and all scheduled school breaks/holiday breaks.
Thanks to Sanford Health, the program has expanded to feed more than 450 children, who have been referred by school staff as experiencing food insecurity or hunger, each weekend and school break. The program currently serves all Bemidji school district schools.
COATS FOR THE COMMUNITY
Each year donations of gently used, clean winter coats and outerwear for men, women, children and infants are collected. More than 3,000 cold-weather items are collected and distributed to our Bemidji neighbors to keep them warm and dry during the winter.
HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR KIDS
Each year between 800 and 1000 children, ages 0-16, experience a joyful Christmas thanks to the generosity and kindness of others. Parents or legal guardians register for the Holiday Gifts for Kids program and have the opportunity to choose a gift for their child on distribution day. In addition, each family receives a board game to enjoy together.
SOMEONE SPECIAL VOLUNTEERS
United Way of Bemidji Area partners with Ken K. Thompson Jewelry, KB101 Radio, and The Bemidji Pioneer, to recognize the value of volunteerism.
The Someone Special Volunteer Program provides an opportunity for any individual, organization, business, or group, to recognize up to two volunteers who have made a difference within the community through volunteering.
Areas Served
Leech Lake Reservation, Cass County, Beltrami County, Hubbard County & Itasca County
Title III. Congregate Meals
Meal provision to an elderly client or other eligible participant at a nutrition site, senior center or some other congregate setting.
Eligibility Requriements
Persons who are 60+ years of age or older and spouse, regardless of age and other eligible individuals.
Documents Requested
- Proof of age
- Proof of residency
Intake Procedure
Walk-in or call for more information
Fees
None, contributions are accepted.
Guests can eat for the cost of $4.50.
——————————————————————————–
Title III. Home Delivered Meals
Meal provision to an elder or other eligible participant at the client’s place of residence.
Eligibility Requriements
Home delivered meal recipients must be 60 years of age or older, home bound by reason of illness, disability or functional need, and unable to prepare their own meals. Meals may be made available to individuals with disabilities who reside in a non-institutional household with and are accompanied by an individual eligible for congregate meals.
Documents Requested
- Proof of age
- Proof of residency
Intake Procedure
Walk-in or call for more information
Fees
None, contributions are accepted.
——————————————————————————–
Title VI. Congregate and Home Delivered Meals
Eligibility will include enrolled members of any recognized tribe aged 55-59 years or over within the program service area. Eligibility will include spouse, handicapped or disabled individual in the same household of the eligible participant who accompany participant to a congregate site.
Documents Requested
- Proof of age
- Proof of residency
Intake Procedure
Walk-in or call for more information
Fees
None, contributions are accepted.
——————————————————————————–
Title VI. Part C – Caregiver Program
Hours 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Native American Family Caregiver Support Program Requirements
Native American Family Caregiver Support Program can serve two types of unpaid family caregivers:
- Family caregivers: An adult family member, or another individual, who is an unpaid informal provider of in-home and community care to an older individual or to an individual with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder with neurological and organic brain dysfunction.
- Grandparents or older individuals who are relative caregivers: A grandparent or step grandparent of a child, or relative of a child by blood marriage, or adoption, who is 55 years of age or older and
- lives with the child;
- is the primary caregiver of the child because the biological or adoptive parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver of the child; and
- has a legal relationship to the child, as such legal custody or guardianship, or is raising the child informally.
The five required services are:
- Information to caregivers about available services.
- Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to services.
- Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregivers training to assist the caregivers in the area of health, nutrition, and financial literacy, and in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles.
- Respite care to enable caregivers of frail elders to be temporarily and intermittently relieved from their cargiving responsibilities.
- Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to caregivers of frail elders to complement the care provided by caregivers.
Documents Requested
- Proof of age
- Proof of residency
Intake Procedure
Walk-in or call for more information
Satellite Sites
Ball Club ENP
31027 Artic Drive
Ball Club, MN
(218) 246-8537
Bena/Sugar Point ENP
15085 Old Housing Drive
Bena, MN
(218) 665-5313
Cass Lake ENP
6216 Upper Cass Frontage Road
Cass Lake, MN
(Adjacent to Teal’s – across highway 2)
(218) 335-8314
Inger/S. Lake ENP
53736 Co. Rd. 146
Inger, MN
(218) 659-2652
Onigum ENP
8826 Onigum Road
Onigum, MN
(218) 547-3995
Featuring northern MN’s finest fresh produce & products: strawberries, garden produce, fall decor, chicken, beef, pork, baked goods, pickles, jams/jellies, honey, flowers, soaps & crafts. EBT, WIC, Visa/MC accepted. Call or follow Facebook for more information.
Located in downtown Bemidji at the St Michel Furniture parking lot
Emergency food
Also has Meals on Wheels, no requirements
Mission-Values: “Strengthening Families and Building a Strong Community”
Vision: “All families have what they need to reach their full potential and contribute to their community” Our work at the Family Center is guided by the following values; respect, integrity, compassion and honesty.
It’s our goal to provide local children and their families the support they need to function as strong, healthy family units. We offer a variety of services, programs and opportunities for families…please browse our site to see how we may be of service to you.
Pine River-Backus Family Center
P.O. Box 1
Pine River, MN 56474
(located downtown Pine River in the Community Resources Center)
A seasonal, open air farmers market committed to providing customers with fresh, locally grown and harvested produce. The food is not only fresh but tastes better and by buying locally you are supporting the local economy and reducing the amount of energy used in transportation. In addition, our vendors use natural growing methods to not only give you better produce but a green and better tomorrow. All arts and fine crafts are designed and produced locally. We invite you to visit us and discover a new way to buy produce and other fine locally produced products. With live music by local musicians, chef’s demonstrations, and other special events we offer a destination that is fun for the whole family.
Serving Southern Koochiching, Northern Itasca, and Northern Beltrami Counties.
P.O. Box 236 Northome, MN 56661
The Walker Area Food Shelf is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals who are in need of food, striving to preserve dignity, extending respect, and maintaining confidentiality to all clients. We will educate clients on other services for which they may qualify such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), NAPS (Supplemental Assistance Program for Seniors), and other social service programs.
P. O. Box 1101
Food Shelf in Remer area
Peoples Church is a multicultural mission congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, with a special emphasis on outreach to people living in poverty. Ten years ago Pastor Bob Kelly and Carol Kelly–moved by the spiritual and medical needs of the poor and homeless in the Bemidji, Minnesota area–started the ministry.
Peoples Church offers ministries in worship, referral, hospitality, food, clothing, and other basic needs as well as our unique bike ministry. The congregation is a full-fledged member church of the denomination and is noted for its ministries.
In order to stay at People’s Church individuals must be interviewed by Bob Kelly or Julia Plum.
The Pillager Family Center currently serves as a “go-to” for community members. With two offices we serve as the liaison between Cass County and the Pillager School District. Our main office houses our Food Shelf and many County forms and references a community member might need. In addition we offer teleconference video services with County workers, WIC Clinics, Food Shelf, MAC and NAPS distribution, and serve as an information spot. Our satellite office is adjacent to the Pillager Elementary School. From here we coordinate the Little Huskies Daycare, Early Childhood Family Education programs, ECSE, Pre-school, and Head Start. Because we are so centrally located in two different locations, we are able to meet our communities needs in ways other entities may not.
Parking is available in front of the Family Center doors on the south side of Pillager City Hall.
Satellite Office:
Pillager School
323 E. 2nd Street
Pillager, MN 56473
The Bemidji Community Soup Kitchen organizes four free meals a week at two area churches. Anyone that is hungry and would like to share a meal is welcome. There are no income guidelines or forms required. The meal is free to anyone who comes through our doors. Thus an open table!
Dine with us Mondays and Tuesdays from 5-6pm (doors open at 4:30pm) at:
Mount Zion 414 Lincoln Ave SE Bemidji
Dine with us Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-6pm (doors open at 4:30pm) at:
United Methodist Church 924 Beltrami Ave NW Bemidji
Must be a resident of Clearwater county.
As hundreds of people gather in churches or other locations, they have one thing in common. They are gathering to get food at a Ruby’s Pop-Up Pantry.
Ruby’s Pantry is for ANYONE that eats! There is no income or residency requirement and Ruby’s Pantry is for anyone looking to extend their monthly grocery budget. Each guest donates a $25 donation and receives an abundance of grocery items. Ruby’s Pantry is not government funded and is a 501 C3. Each donation is used to cover operational costs like trucking, gas, and warehouse staff. All of the food is donated by corporate food donors making it possible to reach more families each month at locations across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, serves over 100 hunger relief agencies in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca, Koochiching, Kanabec and Mille Lacs counties in North Central Minnesota. We are located in Grand Rapids and administer several programs that distribute over 4 million pounds of donated and purchased food and grocery products directly to individuals and through agencies that serve the needy. The Food Bank has 15 employees, and over 500 regular volunteers who work daily or on special events.
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank supplies the most basic of human needs – Food. We provide this food to agencies that feed many hungry children, working families, disabled people and the elderly. We are experts at procuring excess food products and distributing them to hungry people. We are at the front lines in advocacy for hunger relief locally, statewide and nationally.
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank serves some of the highest poverty areas in Minnesota. An estimated 17,200 different people per month are served by the Food Bank, about 4,400 different people receive emergency food assistance in any given week. The amount of food distributed by the Food Bank rises each year as the number of people coming to our hunger relief agencies continues to increase.
The Bagley Senior Center’s activities include: Meals on Wheels, Senior Dining, Consignment Craft Room, Thrift Store, Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors, and Yarn Group (1st and 3rd Tuesday from 9:30am – 12:30pm)
Mahube-Otwa provides services for low income and elderly persons living in Mahnomen, Hubbard, Becker, Otter Tail and Wadena counties.
Mahube-Otwa is a private, non-profit corporation governed by a volunteer board of directors representing the low income, public and private sectors of the community.
Services include:
Head Start
Family Development and Housing
Child Care and Relative Caregivers
Child Passenger Safety Education
Senior Programs
Energy Programs
Family Health
Call for application assistance and Program details.
Evergreen Youth & Family Services
Instagram: @evergreenyfs
Evergreen Shelter Program (Ages 9-17)………………………………………………………………………………………………..218-751-4332
Physical Address: 622 Mississippi Ave Bemidji, MN 56601
Open: 24/7, 365 days a year
SERVICES: Youth Crisis Shelter, Family Support & Parent Coaching
Evergreen Youth Services/Drop-In Center (Ages 14-24)………………………………………………………………………218-751-8223
Physical Address: 610 Patriot Dr. NW Bemidji, MN 56601
Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (11:00am-6:00pm); Wednesday (12:00pm-6:00pm)
SERVICES: Youth Drop-in Center, Street Outreach, Housing Assistance, Mental Health Support, Client Transportation
Evergreen Youth & Family Services is a community-based organization committed to strengthening youth, preserving families, and building relationships with an emphasis on those living in Northern Minnesota. Evergreen serves youth experiencing homelessness, runaways, and families in crisis by providing housing resources, youth crisis shelter, food & clothing, hot lunches 5 days/week, referrals, family support & parent coaching, mental health support, independent living skills, referrals to other community resources and more.