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And Just Like That
Memorial Day has come and gone, bringing the unofficial start of summer! And just like that, we are switching from blowing snow to other outdoor activities like gardening and mowing grass; I love this time of year, but Mother Nature could use a dimmer switch!
On Saturday morning, I received an unexpected call from friends who had their travel plans interrupted by a rogue wild turkey flying directly into their windshield. While a trailer was being organized to bring their vehicle back, I drove to pick them up just outside Spicer, MN. When I arrived, my friends remarked on how many people offered them a ride, a place to stay, or a vehicle to continue their drive to Bemidji for their great-nephew's graduation. Maybe the saying is true, "It's nicer in Spicer," or we Minnesotans are generally just a friendly lot.
In times of need, people rally together to show tremendous community support. We support each other and our community. United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) has wrapped up the 2022-2023 annual campaign, and just like that, we begin to reinvest the funds raised by our community right back into our community. Each year non-profit organizations that align with our priority areas of Health, Education, Financial Stability, Hunger, and Safety & Well-being apply for our Community Investment Grants.
As we begin this new grant cycle, I want to thank and recognize the organizations that have been our Community Partners for the past year.
• Junior Achievement North
o Junior Achievement of Lyon County
• Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
o LSS Meals & Meals on Wheels
• Marshall Food4Kids
o Weekend Food Backpack Program
• Marshall Public Schools
o Practical Assessment Exploration System
• New Horizons Crisis Center
o Crime Victim Service
o Parenting Time – self-pay families
• Prairie Five Community Action Council Inc
o Prairie Five Meals
• Serve Minnesota
o Reading Corps
• SWWC Foundation for Innovation in Education
• United Community Action Partnership
o Kitchen Table Food Shelf
o Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
o The Refuge Emergency Shelter Program
• Women's Rural Advocacy Programs Inc
These are the groups and organizations that are doing the work of helping those in need and making our community a better place to live. UWSWMN is proud to partner with these organizations; by working together, we ensure everyone has access to the basic building blocks necessary for a better life, and we continue to strive to achieve our mission of improving lives and strengthening communities in Southwest Minnesota.