2026 Spring Week of Caring

This spring’s Week of Caring once again brought associates together in support of the communities we call home. Throughout the week, volunteers stepped away from their daily routines to support a wide range of local projects, from hands-on cleanup efforts and nonprofit partnerships to service activities that helped meet local needs. The impact of the week goes beyond the projects completed, with meaningful connections built and a lasting difference made in the places where we all live and work.

Below is an overview of each project and what was accomplished through our volunteers’ time and efforts.

• Letters of Love: 43 volunteers created handmade cards for children in hospitals nationwide.
• Knit & Crochet for Essentia Health: 11 volunteers made hats and blankets for Essentia Health’s NICU and Cancer Center.
• Tie Blankets for Essentia Health: 45 volunteers created 83 fleece blankets for cancer patients.
• Carlton County Animal Rescue: 30 volunteers made 300 dog and cat toys for foster animals.
• Second Harvest Northland: 24 volunteers packed food program bags for local families in need.
• Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center: 10 volunteers refreshed the Victory Garden exhibit with new soil.
• Wisconsin Hwy 13 Adopt a Highway: 11 volunteers collected 13 bags of trash along Hwy 13.
• Valley Youth Center: 9 volunteers organized supplies, prepared gardens, and played kickball with kids.
• City of Duluth Rose Garden: 7 volunteers helped maintain roses and clean surrounding paths.

• Leif Erickson Park/Lakewalk: 7 volunteers cleaned litter throughout the park and Lakewalk area in Duluth.
• Hayes Court Complex: 23 volunteers completed field maintenance, painting, trimming, and cleanup projects.
• Animal Allies: 13 volunteers cleaned facilities and created enrichment toys for rescue animals.
• Wisconsin Hwy 2 Adopt a Highway: 17 volunteers collected 22 bags of garbage along Highway 2.
• Old Vermilion Trail Hunting Preserve: 5 volunteers cleaned grounds and collected shell casings.
• Park Hill Cemetery: 22 volunteers cleaned 239 veteran gravemarkers over four days.
• Fairview Range Regional Hospital: 5 volunteers made 15 blankets for newborns in Hibbing.
• Hibbing Sick Kids Activity Bags: 2 volunteers assembled 25 activity bags for pediatric patients.

• MDC Iron Range Science & Engineering Festival: 6 volunteers guided more than 120 middle school STEM students.
• Family Life Center Range: 2 volunteers sorted donated children’s clothing.
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Shelf: 2 volunteers organized food donations.
• United Way Comforts of Home Program: 2 volunteers sorted donated home goods.
• Maple Hill Cemetery: 4 volunteers cleaned veteran headstones ahead of Memorial Day ceremonies.
• Morris Public Library: 6 volunteers organized books, assisted with discarded materials, and translated the summer calendar into Spanish.
• Someplace Safe Thrift Stores: 8 volunteers sorted donations and organized store inventory.
• Veterans Sewing Group: 4 volunteers helped create quilts for veterans in need.

• Benson Tie Blankets: 4 volunteers made blankets for local cancer patients.
• Benson Ladies Auxiliary & VFW: 4 volunteers sold VFW poppies to support Minnesota veterans.
• MN Peony Society: 4 volunteers weeded and cleaned the peony garden ahead of bloom season.
• Ambush Park: 4 volunteers cleaned park and camping areas for summer visitors.
• Thryve Promotional Goodie Bags: 15 volunteers assembled awareness bags with wildflower seeds and resources.
• Big Lake Litter Cleanup: 3 volunteers cleaned litter along railroad tracks and Highway 25.
• Monticello Help Center: 14 volunteers packaged food items for community distribution.
• Camp Knutson: 12 volunteers stained and refreshed building exteriors over four days.
• Baxter Adopt a Highway: 13 volunteers cleaned Highway 210 in Baxter.

• Camp Confidence: 8 volunteers cleaned and organized camp facilities and storage areas.
• Greenwood Cemetery: 11 volunteers cleaned and cleared debris throughout the cemetery grounds.
• Bemidji United Way Meals on Wheels: 3 volunteers decorated delivery bags for local seniors.
• Bagley Cemetery Cleanup: 4 volunteers cleaned and prepared cemetery grounds for Memorial Day.
• City of Bagley Spring Cleanup: 4 volunteers painted trail markers at Bagley City Park.
• Lake of the Woods Humane Society Toy Drive: 5 volunteers collected supplies for shelter animals.
• Lake of the Woods Humane Society Animal Enrichment: 4 volunteers cleaned kennels, cared for animals, and assisted shelter staff.
• Good Samaritan Cards: 3 volunteers created 53 cheerful cards for local senior residents.
• Forest Hill Cemetery: 13 volunteers cleaned and restored military headstones in International Falls.

Looking back on this spring’s Week of Caring, we’re grateful for the time, energy, and heart poured into the communities we serve. Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make this effort meaningful.