2025 Fall Week of Caring

During our annual Fall Week of Caring, 240 dedicated associates came together to make a meaningful impact in our communities. Over the course of the week, we contributed 1,811 hours across 32 unique projects. From crafting handmade gifts for cancer patients to restoring cemeteries, supporting food shelves, and bringing joy to seniors and children, each project reflected our shared commitment to compassion, teamwork, and community impact.

Here’s an overview of each project and the positive impact of our volunteers’ efforts.

• Aspirus St. Luke’s Clinic: 9 volunteers created 8 scarves, 15 hats, and 7 lap blankets, while 51 volunteers made 100 fleece tie blankets to donate to cancer patients.
• Glacial Ridge Hospital & Morris Hospital: 2 volunteers made handmade crochet hats for newborns.
• Second Harvest Northland: 18 volunteers packed 640 food bags for children and families, including spaghetti dinners and snack backpacks.
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Shelf: 4 volunteers sorted donations, and NBC contributed personal care items including shampoo, body wash, and razors.
• United Way of NEMN – Buddy Backpacks: 14 volunteers and 7 of their family and friends packed 240 backpacks for children in need.
• Monticello Help Center: 4 volunteers assembled quick food boxes for mobile pickup.
• Big Lake Community Food Shelf: 3 volunteers bagged and distributed produce and fruit to clients in need.

• Family Life Center Range: 4 volunteers sorted donations of baby, toddler, and child gear for struggling families.
• Someplace Safe Thrift Stores: 12 volunteers assisted with checkout, stocked shelves, and organized books, DVDs, and CDs.
• Meals on Wheels – Morris: 1 volunteer delivered hot and frozen meals to homebound seniors.
• Bemidji United Way Meals on Wheels: 2 volunteers decorated paper bags used to deliver meals to seniors, adding a cheerful touch to each delivery.
• Benedictine Senior Living: 6 volunteers played bingo and bowling with residents, and 6 volunteers walked along the Canal Park boardwalk, sharing stories.
• Scandi Haven: 4 volunteers assisted with a Hawaiian-themed senior event, adding festive décor and bright florals.
• Terri’s Day Care: 4 volunteers participated in bringing smiles and stories to little ones.
• Brinks Community Senior Center: 4 volunteers prepared meals and desserts for seniors and completed cleanup.

• Forest Hill Cemetery: 22 volunteers cleaned, shoveled, added pea gravel to enhance 125 grave markers and the labyrinth, and carefully dug up gravestones that had not been visible for years.
• Greenwood Cemetery: 19 volunteers removed debris and restored grounds.
• Hope Haven: 13 volunteers tore down an old fence and dug holes for new posts, and 9 volunteers finished installing fence panels, laid mulch, touched up exterior paint, and refreshed interior walls and ceilings.
• North Country RIDE: 20 volunteers painted fencing, benches, and riding obstacles, and performed other cleanup tasks.
• Camp Knutson: 12 volunteers cleaned and stained three buildings, detailed seven transport vans, and landscaped around the memorial garden.
• Camp Confidence: 10 volunteers set up tents, moved furniture, and priced merchandise for an upcoming sale.

• Wisconsin Adopt A Highway: 21 volunteers cleaned up Highway 13, removing trash and improving the community.
• Baxter Adopt A Highway: 7 volunteers cleaned Highway 210, collecting 15 bags of trash.
• Fairlawn Mansion & Museum: 17 volunteers prepared gardens for winter, completed indoor cleaning, and reorganized spaces.
• Morris Public Library: 5 volunteers dusted bookshelves and learned re-shelving procedures, supporting library operations including Spanish-language resources.
• Ties for Troops: 5 volunteers made 20 handmade tie blankets for veterans.

• Borderlands Humane Society: 1 volunteer spent time with the animals, giving them much-needed attention and care. 4 volunteers collected donations including cat food, dog treats, and toys.
• Sherburne County Area United Way: 17 volunteers assembled goodie bags for Community Connect, wrote inspirational notes to include in coat pockets for those in need, and prepared items for event participants.
• Bagley City: 3 volunteers painted trail markers along local paths to improve visibility and accessibility.

As we reflect on the impact of this year’s Fall Week of Caring, we are filled with gratitude for our associates and the communities we serve. This week reminded us that when we come together, we can create meaningful change. Each act of service carried forward our promise to put compassion into action, and we look forward to continuing this tradition of care in the years ahead.