Reindeer sing, flashlights glow and kazoos hum through the halls in Appleton and Madison as students prepare for their holiday program. The performance shines a spotlight on just how wild things can get at the North Pole this time of year! Thanks to a grant from the Appleton Community Foundation and donations from local families, teachers were able to purchase supplies to make the show really sparkle.
Give Where You Live
Mountain Lake Area Foundation grants help put food on the table
Mountain Lake Area Foundation (MLAF) has granted $25,000 over the last 10 years to help sustain the local Loaves & Fishes food shelf. In addition to supporting the local food shelf, MLAF has granted to many other projects in the community. Their core fundraiser is an annual dinner, a well-attended affair the community looks forward to each year.
Windom Veterans Memorial a testament to service
Driving through Windom on Highway 71, you can’t miss the flags snapping smartly in the breeze over the Windom Veterans Memorial at the center of town. Limestone blocks dovetail black stone monuments, each etched with the image of a service member from different branches of the military. The memorial is a testament not only to the service of those in the armed forces, but also to the everyday service shown by those who care for our rural communities.
How community foundations are making a difference in southwest Minnesota
Community foundations take the kindness of neighbors and turn it into something bigger. They amplify the ordinary ways we care for each other as individuals, bringing together donors, residents, and nonprofits to help our communities thrive. Whether you’re familiar with your local community foundation or not, chances are you’ve felt its influence. To give you an idea of the good that’s happening, we have updates from a handful of our newest community foundation partners.
Cottonwood Area Community Foundation grant helps equip first responders
Our community foundation partner the Cottonwood Area Community Foundation granted $1,000 to help the local fire department to purchase additional equipment for a new tanker/pumper truck that replaced a very old tanker truck. National First Responders Day in October honors the bravery and dedication of first responders who keep people in our communities safe. We’re shining a spotlight on the grant from our local partner supporting this essential public service.
Worthington Area Community Foundation supports Nobles County 4-H Program
October marks National 4-H Week, and to celebrate we’re highlighting a grant from one of our community foundation partners investing in this youth-focused nonprofit. Earlier this year, the Worthington Area Community Foundation (WACF) awarded $1,500 to Nobles County 4-H to purchase additional tablets to use with Edison robots, allowing more youth to engage in hands-on learning and strengthen their coding and problem-solving skills. WACF is one of our 31 community foundation partners.
