Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union is a not-for- profit, cooperative, financial institution that is owned and operated by its members and designed to meet their financial needs. A credit union performs the same basic functions as a bank, like checking, savings and loans; but differs in that it does not operate as a for profit business.
Financial Literacy: Poor financial decisions can become larger financial problems at any stage in life. Affinity member advisors are trained to provide guidance and support through free financial and credit savings
Annual Credit Report and Review: Questions about your credit? Confused about what your credit score means? As a member, we will answer questions and help you understand what credit means for you. Members can receive one free annual credit report and review. Please note: This is not the free credit report consumers are offered through the federal government.
One-on-One Financial Advice and Budgeting: We’ll take the time to sit down with you and answer your questions about your finances. If you need a little assistance organizing a budget we’ll help you with that, too. And it won’t cost you anything! This is a free benefit of your membership.
Other sites located at:
1420 Birchmont Dr NE, Suite 45, (BSU Campus) 218-444-2575
2120 SE 2nd Avenue Grand Rapids, MN 55744
785 US Highway 59 Mahnomen, MN 56557
Hannah Ave location: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Birchmont Drive: Wednesday and Thursday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Mahnomen: Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Grand Rapids: Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Community Resource Connections (CRC) is a nonprofit membership organization serving Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater and Hubbard Counties.
MNsure Navigators: Application for Medical Assistance, Minnesota Care, and Qualified Health Plans offered through the state of Minnesota’s health exchange. CRC staff provide computer and internet access, and question by question guidance. No cost to you. Appointments required.
Service Access: Assistance finding the resources you need. CRC staff will educate you about your service options, assist you with service applications, and advocate for you when the system doesn’t work as you need it to work. No cost to you.
Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS): CRC’s Blackduck office site takes applications and serves as a dissemination point for food commodities provided through North Country Food Bank. Eligibility is based on age (60+) and income (call for guidelines). Free monthly food boxes containing a $40 value of non-perishable food items.
Community Service Agency Membership: CRC works with community service agencies to organize and publish a hard copy resource directory as well as this electronic version. Other member services include: facilitation of networking meetings, cooperative marketing events, nonprofit start up guidance, and program support.
Community Resource Connections: Locations:
Staff are available by telephone at 218-333-0880 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Calls ring into all office locations – the first person available will respond.
NOTE: Not all office locations are available to take walk-ins. We strongly encourage you to call ahead to make an appointment.
BEMIDJI
1. CRC Headquarters: 750 Paul Bunyan Dr NW, Unit #12 Bemidji, MN 56601
2. CRC at Beltrami County Community Services Building: 616 America Avenue NW Bemidji MN 56601 Suite 220
BLACKDUCK
3. CRC at the Blackduck Resource Center: #17 Main St. (Moon Drug Building), PO Box 414, Blackduck, MN 56630
WALKER
4. CRC at Walker-based BI-CAP: Call to schedule an appointment to be seen
Staff are available by telephone at 218-333-0880 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Our Mission: Providing education, mentoring and support services that build strong individuals and families in the Northland Community School District.
Core Values:
- Education is an important key to building self-sufficient individuals and strong families.
- Every person has value. We operate out of consideration for each individual’s dignity.
- Strong families build strong communities.
- Healthy families and community systems are essential to supporting sustainable change in individuals.
- We strive for communities in which people are interdependent.
- We collaborate with other organizations that support our mission.
The Northland Area Family Services Center was created as a unique way to give rural access to county and educational services, and to meet community needs through innovative programming. Incorporated in 1996 as a 501C3, we serve the Northland Community School District and parts of Leech Lake Reservation. This is a population of 4,474 people (5.26 persons per square mile). In our service area 20% of households make less than $20,000 and 11.9% or 536 people in our community live below the poverty line.
A church led ministry and emergency program organized to provide short term assistance for those who fall through the cracks and who need immediate help and have nowhere else to turn in the short run. In addition to providing financial aid for food, gas, rent, and utility payments, Churches United also assists individuals and families through counseling and referrals to other community agencies and resources.
Mission Statement
Churches United is a non-profit organization of Bemidji Area churches, led by the Spirit of Christ. Working together to meet the emergency needs of homeless and low-income people in a prayerful way.
Services May Include:
Basic emergency needs: Food, gas, bus tokens, clothing, laundry, and rent/utility assistance
Referrals are made as needed to area agency and businesses. A photo I.D. is required for all vouchers. A valid drivers license and photocopiable proof of valid insurance is required for all gas vouchers. Screenshots and/or cell phone “proof” is not accepted.
COVID Policy:
While our lobby is open it is best to call ahead to complete an application by phone prior to coming in. Only one individual or family is allowed in the lobby at once. Please call to make sure we are open. Masks are required in our office; one will be provided if needed. No loitering or waiting for the bus is allowed in our office.
Student First: A school-based, community-driven program that helps youth identify their strengths and empowers theme to pursue their life goals. Support and guidance are provided to students by professional program staff and a one-on-one, caring adult Success Coach. Located at Bemidji Middle School, Bemidji High School and Kelliher Public Schools.
Bemidji Middle School Truancy Tracker Program: Provides mentoring, tutoring, adult role models and any other necessary means of support to youths in Grades 6-8 to help identify and address issues contributing to truancy.
Re-Engagement Case Management: Provides case management services to students with attendance issues who attend Bemidji High School, Voyageurs Expeditionary School, and Blackduck Schools to reduce truant behavior and prevent court involvement.
Truancy Case Management: Provides case management services to students and families who are involved in the Court system due to truancy.
Our Mission: The Bemidji Community Food Shelf is a faith-based, caring place that listens to those who are experiencing food insecurity. We work with our partners to be inclusive and to provide fresh, nourishing foods for those living in Beltrami County and the Bemidji School District.
Households may make one visit per calendar month which will provide about 10 meals, or 3-5 days of food per household. Services are based on income eligibility. We are also a distribution site for Nutrition Assistance Program for Sneiors (NAPS) boxes for income eligible seniors 60 and over. Applications are available at the food shelf.
Please bring a current ID if you have one. We will need the names and birthdates of household members and the gross income for the household.
Bemidji Community Food Shelf (BCFS) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
P.O. Box 3118 Bemidji, MN 56619
As a community based humanitarian organization, the American Red Cross Minnesota Region prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of others.
American Red Cross Northern Minnesota serves communities across Rosseau, Lake of the Woods, Beltrami, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Hubbard, Wadena, Cass, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, Saint Louis, Carlton, Lake and Cook counties in Minnesota, and Douglas County in western Wisconsin. Also serves all tribal nations. Volunteers are always in demand.
AFTER A DISASTER
After a disaster, communities and families turn to the Red Cross for help—and we stand ready to provide comfort and care—free of charge.
The Red Cross helps disaster victims by providing safe shelter, hot meals, essential relief supplies, emotional support and health services like first aid. Trained Red Cross workers often meet one-on-one with families to develop individual plans and identify available resources to help aid recovery.
Red Cross disaster relief focuses on relieving immediate disaster-caused needs so that families can get back on their feet and resume their lives as quickly as possible. The Red Cross also supports emergency workers, links family members outside the disaster area, and provides blood and blood products to disaster victims.
MILITARY FAMILIES
Emergency Communication Services
All day, every day, the Red Cross connects service members with their families back home when an emergency strikes.
Financial Assistance
The Red Cross partners with the military aid societies to help service members and their families get emergency financial assistance 24/7.
Information and Referral Services
The Red Cross provides counseling, guidance, information, referrals and other social services for all military personnel and their families.
Deployment Services
Before, during and after deployments, the Red Cross provides training, information and support for military members and their families.
Key programs: Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant, Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program, Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans, Rural Energy for America Program, Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans and Grants, Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees, Business and Industry Loan Guarantees.
We offer tools and training for employment and for helping seniors remain independent and active. As Minnesota’s accessible reading source we also transcribe books and other materials into alternative formats, including audio and braille. We assist Minnesotans who are blind, DeafBlind, losing vision, or who have another disability that makes it difficult to read print.
218-333-8100 (Public Health)/ 218-333-4223 (Social Services)
CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND PROGRAMS:
Child Placement and Respite Services
Child Protection
Children’s Mental Health Services
Family Preservation Services
Foster Care Licensing and Adoptions
Parent Support Outreach and Child Welfare Services
ADULT SERVICES:
Services to Persons with Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Services to Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Services to the Elderly and Physically Disabled Adults and Children
Services to Persons with Serious Mental Illness
Adult Protection Services
Licensing of Adult Foster Care and Child Care
CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP)
Child care assistance is available to parents who are receiving assistance under the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and parents whose income is at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty guideline and are in an approved activity. It is important for parents to know their child is well-cared for while they are at work, looking for work, obtaining training or going to school in order to secure employment. Application is required to have eligibility determined. CCAP may not cover all child care costs. Parental amounts depend on the family’s income, the number of people in the family, and how much the child care provider charges. The goal is to assist the family to maintain employment and gain self-sufficiency.
CHILD SUPPORT
Every child needs financial and emotional support and every child has the right to support from both parents. Minnesota’s child support program benefits children by enforcing parental responsibility for child support.
Either parent of a child may apply or qualify for certain support services from the Child Support Unit. Depending on the circumstances associated with the case, there may be fees assessed for collection unless the applicant receives public assistance (Minnesota Family Investment Program, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, or Childcare Assistance.)
Services available:
*Locating parents
*Establishing parentage
*Establishing and enforcing court orders for basic medical and childcare
support
*Working with other states to enforce support orders
*Collecting and processing payments
*Assisting clients throughout the child support process
*Closing cases
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Cash Assistance
Food Support
Medical Programs
Emergency Assistance
PUBLIC HEALTH
Home Health Care – Administer a Class A License Medicare certified home health care program.
WIC – Women, Infants, & Children – Nutrition and breast feeding education program.
Immunization Clinic – Immunizations are available for infants, children, and adults.
Maternal and Child Health Family Home Visiting – Visits to pregnant women, infants and children for assessment, education, support and referral for community resources.
Child & Teen Checkups – Child and Teen Checkups and follow-up for children 0-21 years who are eligible for Medical Assistance.
Car Seat Education – Child passenger Safety Seat Technicians instruct on proper use of and assist with installation of car seats for infants and children.
PrimeWest – A Medicaid-managed health plan serving 13 rural counties in Minnesota. The plan was created to respond to the specific needs of their low-income residents.
Public Health Preparedness – Planning with community partners for coordinated emergency response to natural and man-made disasters.
BELTRAMI COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDES WOMEN, INFANTS, CHILDREN (WIC), IMMUNIZATIONS, CHILD AND TEEN CHECKUPS, MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH, FAMILY HOME VISITING.
SERVICES INCLUDE:
SHOTS FOR ALL AGES, BREASTFEEDING COUNSELING, HOME VISITS, PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY WIDE EMERGENCIES, HEALTH SCREENINGS, EDUCATION AND REFERRALS
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
Veterans Service provides benefits and services to the veterans and their dependents in a responsive, timely and compassionate manner in recognition of their service to the Nation.
It is the goal , in partnership with the Veterans Health Administration and the National Cemetery Administration, to provide benefits and services to the veterans and their families in recognition of their service to the Nation. Our vision is that the veterans whom we serve will feel that our Nation has kept its commitment to them. Courage, honesty, trust, respect, open communication, and accountability will be reflected in our day to day behavior.
Veteran Service Officers are qualified and certified by the State of Minnesota and the Department of Veterans Affairs to file claims in the behalf of veterans.
For a Copy of a Military Discharge (DD214), a Request for the Release of Private Data must be submitted.
Low Rent Public Housing:
Bemidji: Northland Apartments and Scattered Site Housing.
Section 8 – Housing Choice Voucher:
Rental assistance subsidy for very low and extremely low income:
Beltrami, Clearwater and Mahnomen Counties.
Bridges:
Subsidy program by referral from the Mental Health Initiative. Beltrami and Hubbard Counties
Re-Entry:
For supervised parolees’ by referral from the Department of Corrections. Beltrami County
Project-Based Vouchers:
Park Place for individuals who are homeless. Conifer Villas and Conifer East for families.
VASH Vouchers:
Bemidji: Vouchers for Veterans.
The Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC) works to ensure quality affordable housing options for low and moderate income households throughout the region. The HRDC is a regional planning and development organization that serves local governments, development organizations, community leaders, and others in the five counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen in north central Minnesota. The HRDC can help these customers identify needs, develop appropriate solutions, and find the resources to carry out their plans. Most importantly we provide staff leadership to move our communities forward.
We exist to help our communities, and our Region as a whole, be successful. This is our core mission, and core value. Everything we do is focused on creating that success. Our services and activities are a function of our skills and competencies and those needs communities have as they strive to be successful.
PO BOX #906 Bemidji, MN 56619
Recreation: Camping, lodging, hiking trails, volleyball court, playground, picnic shelter, winter warming house, swimming beach, wheelchair accessible pier fishing, canoe access.
Shelter Space: Space available for reservations: Daily use dining hall for up to 120 people and a picnic shelter.
We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
Mailing address: PO Box 397, Bemidji, MN 56619
Building (Interest free home loans):
Northwoods Habitat for Humanity builds simple, decent, affordable homes with selected partners who contribute 300 hours of sweat equity either by working on their own or other Habitat homes, or volunteering with Habitat and sells the home to the partner with a zero interest mortgage. Must have the ability to pay long term (25-30 year) mortgage and willingness to partner with Habitat.
Habitat Restore:
A building supply thrift store that sells donated surplus and gently used building materials, furniture, appliances and unique items to support H abitat’s building program and eliminate waste in our local landfills.
218-444-6398
A Brush with Kindness (ABWK):
A nation-wide program that serves low-income homeowners struggling to maintain the exterior of their homes. Assistance includes, but is not limited to, exterior repairs, (deck, sidewalk, ramp, painting, etc.) landscaping, and yard clean up. For low income homeowners (seniors, veteran, people with disabilities).
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.
SERVING: Polk, Red Lake, Norman, Marshall, and Pennington COUNTIES, and Bagley in Clearwater County.
Tri-Valley Heartland Express Bus provides transportation services to the general public in six counties, Polk, Red Lake, Norman, Marshall, and Pennington, and Bagley in Clearwater County. Buses run through these counties on various days and destinations. Public transit buses are available with no age limits or income requirements to ride the bus. Buses have a comfortable 19-25 seating capacity with at least two wheel chair tie downs and a dependable wheel chair lift Transportation service is used for a variety of reasons, which include medical, nutritional, social, recreational, shopping and other personal activities with destinations such as Grand Forks, Bemidji, Thief River Falls, Fargo/Moorhead and Crookston. Tri-Valley Heartland Express provides safe, friendly and dependable transportation to the citizens of the rural area at a reasonable price. Call for a schedule. The main office is located in Crookston with satellite offices in Ada and Thief River Falls. The phone number at the main office is 800-201-3432.
In Crookston, Thief River Falls, and Bagley the Tri-Valley Heartland Express offers subscription service and general dial a ride service. People that need the transportation on a regular basis at the same time would be considered a subscription service customer. Whether it’s for work, play, rehab or fun, one call, that’s all it takes to set up the subscription service ride. When you call for a ride the bus will pick you up in front of the place you want and drop you off right in front of the place you want to go. A 24 hour notice is encouraged to guarantee your ride. All this for $1.50.
The Tri-Valley Heartland Express can take you where you want to go. For parents this could be a blessing on wheels. Running from 7:30 am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, the Bus can pick up and deliver children, adults, and young adults anywhere in Crookston, Thief River Falls, and Bagley including after school classes, or daycare, community events, recreation events, and entertainment activities. To make arrangements for school transportation, subscription service or just a general ride to tour the community call 281-0700 in Crookston, 681-6760 for service in Thief River Falls and 218-694-5090 for service in Bagley.
Tri-Valley Public Transportation
Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.
1345 Fairfax Avenue
Crookston, MN 56716
SERVING: Mahnomen County
Mahnomen County Heartland Express provides general public transportation throughout Mahnomen County. Heartland Express provides dial-a-ride and flexible route bus service throughout Mahnomen County. We also provide trips to and from White Earth and Ogema in Becker County.
Three daily routes will be running Monday-Friday. A bus will be going to Fargo once a week for anyone who wishes to shop or has a medical appointment. Medical appointments need to be scheduled no earlier than 10 am and all clients must be done with their appointments no later than 2:45 pm.
Volunteer Services to Fargo for medical purposes will be on Wednesday. Anyone who wants a ride must call into the transit office at least one day in advance to schedule a ride. Appointments need to be made between 9 am and 2 pm.
Volunteer Services to Detroit Lakes for medical purposes will be Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anyone who wants a ride must call into the transit office at least one day in advance to schedule a ride. Appointments need to be made between 9 am and 2 pm.