2023 FM Area Caring Catalog

"Happy Birthday to you…" Four simple words that are tightly woven into our existence and so quickly sung from the tip of our tongue without giving a second thought…But for so many children in our community, their birthdays are often not celebrated due to a multitude of family difficulties.

Box of Balloons - Fargo works with community referral partners to identify children in need, ages 1 through 12, who will not have the opportunity to be celebrated on their birthday. Our core belief is that every child deserves to feel special and have a memorable birthday. Our fundamental goal is to provide joy, hope, and celebration for the child!

Once we receive a request from a referral partner, we pull together a unique and customized Birthday Box for the specific child, which includes tableware, decorations, party game/activity, party favors, cupcakes and candles, and a birthday gift, card, and necessary wrapping. We then provide the birthday box to the parent or caregiver, dignifying their role in the child's life and making them the birthday hero!

A birthday party is so much more than balloons and decorations; it is a celebration of life, a day of joy. A birthday party provides a child with confidence, self-esteem, and positive self-worth. Birthday celebrations give children in need a positive memory that will last them a lifetime.

Box of Balloons is 100% volunteer-led, which means that 100% of all gifts go directly to celebrating children in our community!

$10 Purchases a pinata for the birthday party.

$25 Purchases a birthday gift.

$50 covers tableware, party decor, and a game or activity for 6.

$100 provides one complete Birthday Box for a child who would otherwise not be celebrated.

Robert* has intellectual and developmental disabilities. He also suffers from seizures. Because he can feel them coming on, if he's in public, he'll seclude himself until he feels safe. Sometimes, that's in a business—and he can't explain what's happening or why he won't leave.

Years ago, he was tazed when he wouldn't leave a restaurant. It was scary for everyone involved. But it was traumatizing for Robert.

CCRI is a Moorhead-based nonprofit that helps people with disabilities not only navigate daily life but also have experiences—like prom, camp, and game nights—that make life colorful.

For years, Robert wouldn't participate in these activities. But last summer he signed up for adaptive softball (so he could win a trophy to show his dad).

He used a tee to hit the ball, ran the bases holding his coach's hand, and when he made a homerun, he called everyone he could think of to tell them. While Robert did have a seizure during one game, he gave himself medication to stop it, got up, grabbed his coach's hand, and ran until he crossed home plate. Robert got his trophy to show his dad—and everyone else who said yes when asked if they wanted to see something amazing.

Founded in 1977 by parents who wanted more than institutionalized care for their kids, CCRI serves 400 people, including more than half of those who receive disability services in Moorhead.

State funding pays for the basics. We fundraise to give folks with disabilities experiences that are worth calling home for.

Will you help us? Your donation of:

$50 covers art supplies

$100 funds adaptive softball equipment

$500 supports prom

$1,000 supports accessible mental health services

Thank you for making life colorful for vulnerable children and adults.

*Name changed for anonymity.

(CUP) is an openly queer nonprofit organization founded in 2014 by Executive Director Cody Severson and board member Sarah Benson.

We believe our community needs inclusive and affirming services for minority groups who are often underrepresented and disproportionately affected by barriers, like the LGBTQ+ community, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We strive to be a safe place for people to seek help no matter what their gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious belief, age, or disability is. Through displaying pride flags, having coffee and tea available, community phone, a legal kiosk and calming music on, we create a space for people who are afraid to seek services; our person-centered valued ensures they are treated with dignity, and feel secure.

Winters are a season in our region that carries some of the highest and most emergent needs in our community so we're seeking a fundraising goal that includes as much funding as possible for the most common needs:

$8 can buy 10 hand warmers to hand out.

$27 can purchase a 31 day bus pass.

$40 can cover an application fee to apply to an apartment.

$70 can purchase a pair of deep winter boots.

$100 can purchase a deep winter coat.

$200 for emergency hotel stay.

$250 - $500 can cover the security deposit for an apartment.

Our work doesn't end here. Your continued support not only helps us as an organization but provides care and resources that maintain dignity and safety for FM citizens. We thank as do the FM citizens directly impacted by your generosity.

Give the Gifts of Dignity + Stability

"Mom, we all have beds! I can finally have my friends over!"

Sleeping on the floor. Eating meals on a cardboard box. Looking around and seeing an empty space. Empty walls. Empty cupboards. Empty rooms. Empty... Four walls seem like it should be enough. But it is not.

Entering housing is an important step in the journey of emerging from homelessness, yet four walls are not enough to solve the problem. Down Home empowers lives by furnishing homes for families and individuals emerging from homelessness. We help end the cycle of homelessness by creating homes and a community of comfort, dignity, stability, and connection.

Down Home turns moving in — into moving home. DH's process is extensive, intentional, and impactful. They offer hope with our hands and feet, providing a transformative fresh start, and designing a life-changing space - a place that fosters dignity. A home to invite family and friends. A community of belonging and new beginnings. They meet each family in their space, coordinate items to personalize it, and rehome thousands of donations to transform empty spaces into nurturing, engaging, and dignified homes. 100% of those served have someone in their family sleeping on the floor. DH prioritizes the gift of brand-new mattresses to provide the comforts and dignity of a good night's sleep.

Down Home is furnishings, decor, and so much more. Beyond the transformation day, we connect with our families. From birthday packages by Box of Balloons to floral bouquets from Hope Blooms, our growing number of collaboration partners offer opportunities to break down barriers.

Thank you for being Down Home for the Holidays and giving the gift of a future beyond four walls.

Our main purpose is to provide food. However, rather than just providing any food, we strive towards offering a variety of healthy foods. We ask each household what dietary needs they have and try to match those needs as best as we can. Each household can count on milk, eggs, frozen meat, peanut butter, fresh fruits and vegetables, and canned goods, in addition to other foods that have been donated to the pantry. The other foods include dairy items, frozen foods, and bread. We also provide toilet paper and soap to those in need of food. We meet many people who lack basic hygiene items. We receive requests for other hygiene items such as toothpaste, deodorant, laundry soap, and dish soap upon request.

In 2022, we provided nearly 12,000 food baskets to over 5,700 households.

Many of us take for granted basic food items and supplies such as laundry soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant. Others in our community go without these items because they can't afford them. These items enhance the lives of those in need by reducing the stress they experience to meet their essential needs.

There is a need for individuals to have a safe place to sleep at night to feel secure and encouraged in every other aspect of life. Stable housing provides improved outcomes surrounding employment, health, education, and more.

There are a few things that a person who is released from prison needs as they reenter our communities: a system that supports them, a way to make money to support themselves, and a safe place to sleep at night. Give the gift of a fresh start this holiday season. F5 Project recognizes the need for individuals to have a place to call home to feel confident in their transition journey.

We currently have seven houses spread throughout Fargo, Grand Forks, and Bismarck that support 30 individuals, but amid these cold months, we need your help. Every size gift is valuable and impactful.

Your gift of:

$25 supports the purchase of essential everyday items and cleaning supplies.

$75 supports the purchase of bedding and pillows.

$150 supports the heating and utility bill in one of our houses.

$300 supports the purchase of a twin bed.

$750 covers rent for one of our houses for an entire month.

F5 Project was founded to help individuals struggling with incarceration, mental health, and addiction by providing resources and services to help obtain employment, housing, health care, and other basic needs. By empowering individuals to create meaningful change through support and grace, F5 Project restores purpose for individuals, fosters healing and rebuilds stronger communities.

YOU MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN!

YOUR support makes thrilling performances possible - of new music as well as masterpieces which have stood the tests of time.

Our full season can be found at www.fmsymphony.org. Please consider joining us--we know you're going to LOVE IT!

In addition to these concerts, we have a whole day in which we provide three daytime performances of Young People's Concerts for nearly 3,000 elementary students from throughout the region. For many, this is their first exposure to symphonic music.

You can make a difference! We steadfastly strive to enrich our community through the power of live music that educates, entertains, and inspires. Please consider helping us in this mission. Any amount helps! Donations made in excess of $100+ will be denoted in Masterworks Series Concert programs. Chair sponsorships start at $1000. We also acknowledge honorariums and memorials.

There really is NOTHING like the power of live music. Please help us to keep the music playing for years to come! We'll see you at the Symphony!

Hi! It's us - the unofficial mascot of Fargo and your friendly neighborhood cinema.

Nestled in the heart of downtown, the Fargo Theatre has been lighting up Broadway since 1926. We are proud to be considered a local landmark (and the city's best selfie spot). But the real Fargo Theatre magic happens on our stage and screens. Generations have shared magical movie memories and inspiring live performances within our walls. In this singular space, where a first-time filmmaker can share a silver screen with Steven Spielberg, imagination ignites. Where history comes alive alongside innovative creators, minds open, and hearts explore. Where movie stars, rock icons, and your granddaughter's ballet class all tread the boards, "arts for all" becomes reality.

The Fargo Theatre's programming is an eclectic trove of treasures. We offer daily screenings of the very best new movies and specialty, curated series like Kids' Flicks. The Theatre's stage hosts a variety of professional, touring artists and local performing arts organizations. With a dedicated team of volunteers, the Theatre produces the annual Fargo Film Festival. We also host festivals produced by other organizations, including the ND Human Rights Film Festival and Fargo Docs. The Fargo Theatre welcomes approximately 3,000 students annually for educational field trip experiences and hosts community-building events.

It takes a lot of love to continue the Theatre's legacy of arts excellence. We ask that you consider a gift today to support a critical update to our cinema sound equipment. Dating back to 1998 AD, our analogue audio gear is now going the way of the dinosaurs. We must convert to digital sound to keep the "talkies" talking. Your generosity will help us continue to create movie magic and new memories for generations to come.

Our mission is transforming disabilities into abilities through purposeful work and life experiences in a community farm setting.

We don't just grow produce. At our core, we serve people with developmental disabilities – adults, young and old, who live with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down's Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, and a plethora of other conditions who were born with chronic differences and were dealt a hand in life that no amount of money, hours in the field, or boxfuls of tomatoes will ever erase. However, what we provide for them is LOVE.

How we share that love with our employees – our Garden Engineers – is special. It's through regular wages. It's through prayer. It's through friendship. It's through conversations in the field. It's through making sure that they feel seen, heard, valued, and respected.

Founded in 2012 by a group of Moorhead parents, Farm in the Dell has developed unique opportunities that fill our employee's spirits, sharpen their minds, and cultivate joy. In our commitment to further the mission and impact of transforming disabilities into abilities, we are ready to expand our reach by serving more individuals than ever before.

We are so deeply grateful for the opportunity to provide meaningful employment that fills our employees' spirits, sharpens their minds, and cultivates joy!

Without reliable transportation, it is difficult to get or maintain a job, and without a job, it is hard to maintain your independence and dignity.

As one might imagine, transportation issues are huge in our community, and the need is overwhelming. Unlike many bigger cities, people often can't just take a bus to work, school, or appointments because our public transit system has limited hours and locations. Additionally, utilizing public transportation can take hours. This creates challenges when trying to get kids to daycare and get to work. It is especially challenging for single parents.

Fix It Forward Ministry (formerly Higher Power Automotive Ministries) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity located at Fix It Forward Auto Care in Fargo, ND. Our goal is to remove the transportation barrier for the most in-need members of our community, thus helping enable them to be independent and self-sufficient. This is accomplished in two ways. First, by providing free car repairs to needy individuals to help keep their vehicles on the road and safe. Second, by repairing donated vehicles and giving them to needy members in our community who do not have a vehicle or whose vehicle is beyond repair. We utilize volunteer labor, discounted parts, and charitable donations to cover the costs of repairs.

We truly are Driven To Serve

We furnish new beginnings for families in crisis.

On the surface, it's providing access to gently used furniture for people getting back on their feet. If we look deeper, however, it's so much more.

Rarely is it just about a couch. Or a dresser. Or a table. Or a bed. It's about supporting people who have the courage to step into a new season of life after experiencing a season of hardship. Most of the people we serve come to us while overcoming treatment for addiction, transitioning from homeless to homed, recovering from a natural disaster, escaping domestic violence, escaping violence in their homeland, or a variety of other difficult circumstances that leave them with little to nothing. It's a critical season where it's about much more than furniture – it's about hope.

Since our start in 2020, we've already made an incredible impact for local families in need. In just over three years, we've served over 1,600 families by giving our over 18,000 pieces of furniture at no cost. It's clear to us that the need in our community is only going to grow and that we are providing a critical service that is essential not only to the people we serve but also to the organization who refer clients to us.

As we look ahead, our goal is to serve 3,500 families by the end of 2025. To do so, it's going to take more. More space for increased inventory. More volunteers and staff to serve. More support from difference makers in the community. You can help inspire hope for thousands in our community by making this our biggest Caring Catalog ever. Together, we can furnish new beginnings for local families in crisis.

We see potential, ability, and possibility.

We educate, inspire, and believe. We advocate for inclusion and promote independence by making a lifetime commitment to our families by filling their toolboxes to bring out the 'Best of All' in their loved one with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disability in our country and yet, is the least funded. GiGi's Playhouse is a place for individuals with Down syndrome and their families to experience life outside of the diagnosis, a place for programs, a place for celebration, and community connections. Your investment allows GiGi's to continue to provide top-notch therapeutic, educational, and social programs. All programs, resources and support offered by GiGi's are provided at no cost to participants and their families. GiGi's firmly adheres to the philosophy that cost should never be a barrier to success.

With your generosity you will bring out the 'Best of All' in individuals with Down syndrome and their families. GiGi's goal is to provide over 5,500 hours of free programs to participants in 2024 through 23+ programs. All programs are delivered in a format that supports how individuals with Down syndrome learn best. Programs aim to maximize self-confidence and empower individuals to achieve their greatest potential.

Every gift makes an impact.

$25 provides one hour of programming for an individual with Down syndrome and their family.

$50 provides materials and instructions for one GiGiFIT or GiGi's Kitchen participant per class.

$100 provides networking opportunities for parents/caregivers to know they are not alone on this journey.

$250 supports one student for a 12-week session of one-on-one literacy tutoring.

$500 supports a therapeutic program for one month.

Dyslexia Learning Center

If you are reading this, you are literate. You can type a text, tell time, and send emails. You can fill your car with gas after you read and answer the questions at the pump. You can drive to work without getting lost. You understand the value of money and the passage of time.

As you can imagine, the effects of illiteracy deeply and negatively impact the development of our state's economic and social growth. At Haley's Hope, we champion the potential within every dyslexic learner, having made a profound difference in the lives of countless students and families across our region.

The cornerstone of Haley's Hope is the one-on-one tutoring program, which employs the Orton Gillingham (OG) approach. This method has a remarkable track record of significantly improving reading, spelling, and writing abilities in students and adults with dyslexia.

"I was spending some time with my grandson. He got up, went to get a book, sat down next to me – and wanted to read to me. Watching that scene of success and his sense of accomplishment says it all," says Kim. "Just imagine what more Haley's Hope can do when they can expand their programming to benefit even more children."

But Haley's Hope doesn't stop there. We have created a Multisensory Math program, Summer Academy, support educational rights through IEP and 504 Plan guidance, and strive to raise funds to create multiple online learning opportunities and outreach initiatives. Haley's Hope is dedicated to empowering individuals to believe in their potential and achieve their dreams.

Your support isn't just a donation; it's an investment in a brighter future, where illiteracy is replaced with empowerment and obstacles transform into stepping stones. Your generosity will create ripples of positive change far beyond the written word.

Our mission is to address food insecurities, build communities, and providing delicious food to nurture body, heart, and soul.

Heart-n-Soul Community Café moves around the Fargo Moorhead area with our pay-what-you-can food trailer. Some of our guests will pay what they can, pay the suggested amount of $10, or pay it forward to help a neighbor in need. Unable to hold our pop-up cafes when the pandemic started, our "Lunch Bunch" program was started in April 2020. We identified high-risk community members who didn't have access to a weekend meal. Every other weekend, we deliver 250 meals with a card of joy included in every lunch. It has been so successful and needed in our community it has grown into a permanent addition to our mission. Research has shown that not eating enough can cause prolonged periods of anxiety and depression. We believe our Lunch Bunch makes an impact. Feedback from one of our lunch recipients, "Sometimes you are down, and you don't eat healthy, and then you get this fresh and nutritious, balanced meal. The card and the meal are a lifter-upper."

Your gift will help us to continue to serve community members in need of a weekend meal and a word of encouragement.

Special Edition Lunch Bunch:

$10 dollars will provide a neighbor in need of a meat and cheese sandwich, fruit, vegetables, chips, and dessert, along with a greeting card.

$50 dollars will provide lunch for a family in need of a weekend meal.

$250 dollars will provide seniors living in affordable housing communities with a hearty meal for the weekend.

$500 dollars will provide 250 meals for an entire weekend!

Help us continue to serve our community by providing weekend lunches to nurture body, heart, and soul.

Our mission is to "Rescue. Shelter. Protect. Rehome".

We urgently implore your support for the Veterinary Care Fund of Homeward Animal Shelter, a crucial lifeline for animals in dire need. Our work strongly depends on your generosity, allowing us to full fill this vital promise to animals in crisis.

In addition to general wellness exams for our animals, many require ongoing or significant support to address their health needs, such as Eeyore, a senior cat with FIV, who underwent dental surgery requiring full tooth removal to alleviate his pain. Mr. Peabody, another feline, faced with life-threatening urinary crystal complications but was saved with timely treatment. Senior dogs Junior and Jane battle relentless allergies.

Ivy, a resilient dog, faces a weakening skin condition that jeopardizes her immune system. Feline friends Phoebe and Halo, both diabetic seniors, rely on your support. Tackle, Spinner, and their siblings triumphed over mange, thanks to our care. Marnie's journey included a leg amputation, but she's thriving with your help. We nurture motherless kittens and provide sanctuary to animals like Donald and Crinkle, who face persistent allergies.

These stories offer a glimpse of the daily challenges our shelter faces. Your contributions to the Veterinary Care Fund enable us to provide life-saving treatments, surgeries, medications, and a safe haven for these animals until they find their forever homes.

Please join us in making a difference. Together, we can continue to be a beacon of hope for animals in distress, bringing them one step closer to the loving families they deserve.

We believe in the transformative power of flowers and joy to change the world. Our mission focuses on the social and emotional well-being of some of our most vulnerable community members who feel forgotten through a beautiful but simple message of "you matter." Hope Blooms provides bouquets to individuals in hospice care, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, assisted living, memory care centers, shelters, women and families in need, and so many more.

With the caring hands of many volunteers, we repurpose donated flowers, rearrange them into bedside bouquets, and deliver them to our community members in need. Knowing you matter and feeling like you are part of a larger purpose is essential to our well-being as humans. Our work is helping foster this feeling of belonging for so many — an invaluable gift of the heart.

Mission Moment "I was having a really rough and sad time when I received a bouquet at Lakeland Mental Health. I got the biggest smile when I got to take a bouquet home. They helped my heart and head, and they made my week. Thank you." - Cindy

Hope Blooms has created more than 75,000 moments of joy.

Funds raised through the Caring Catalog will support our two main programs:

Petal It Forward program harnesses the power of joy by reaching out directly to community members in need with beautiful surprise and doorstep bouquet deliveries.

Flower Empower program brings people together through the art of handcrafting floral bouquets in a nurturing and creative environment while building meaningful connections with others.

With your support, we can continue this beautiful ripple of kindness in our community!

We take educational programming into the 21st century with a focus on design thinking and social emotional growth. We utilize project-based learning to create what we like to call "secret learning" opportunities, where our students feel empowered to build and, engineer, and grow with freedom from expectations. We use trauma-informed techniques, as well as other teaching methods focused on neurodivergent learning behaviors, to create a space where all our students feel safe, heard, and understood because we know that without strong relationships, no learning is possible.

We believe strongly in growing community through education, support, and connection, which goes hand-in-hand with our mission to never turn away a student because of economic or behavioral struggles.

Through summer programming, our micro-school, and after-school programming, we served well over 100 families in the greater Fargo-Moorhead area in 2023, giving over $50,000 in financial assistance.

We believe we can change the world, one child at a time.

During the past five years, over 37,000 people were incarcerated at the Cass County Jail.

One of these inmates said, "I am thankful for my second chance and renewal that I got through faith in Jesus Christ. In jail, men and women are at their lowest point, often times finally recognizing that they cannot do it on their own. I am thankful that the Jail Chaplains is there to let them know that they don't have to."

Criminals aren't the enemy; they are the hostages of the enemy. Satan keeps them bound through secrecy, isolation, and delusion. Jail Chaplains has come to set them free in the name of Jesus Christ. We do this by pointing people to a life-saving faith in Jesus Christ. Then, the Holy Spirit can uncover secrecy. Fellowship with Christians can combat isolation. God's word can end delusion. "So, faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ," Romans 10:17.

You can provide God's word to the men and women of the Cass County Jail. Your gift through the FM Area Foundation Caring Catalog will change lives. 100% of your donation will go toward buying Life Recovery Bibles for inmates who take part in small groups and meet with our volunteers in 2024.

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it, Isaiah 55:11.

"Dementia doesn't rob someone of their dignity. Our reaction to them does.", says Teepa Snow, a leading dementia educator.

This worldwide reaction to individuals living with dementia and their loved ones often causes debilitating fear, isolation, and other mental health issues among these individuals.

Memory Café of the Red River Valley (MCRRV) recognizes but rejects the prevailing "gloom and doom" narrative that suggests people diagnosed with dementia should hide, pretend nothing is changing, and give up hope for living with meaningful purpose and active community engagement. Instead, we demonstrate that while there are undeniable challenges in living with dementia – as is true with any chronic, progressive disease - it IS possible to live well with dementia.

Our vision is to change the way we think about and support memory loss.

To achieve this goal, MCRRV provides high-quality education for the community, participants, and over seventy volunteers who are largely responsible for carrying out our mission. Our programs also include enriching socialization, creative arts, community engagement/service opportunities, and inter-generational connections. We have outgrown our location three times and have hosted almost 2000 guests this year. In 2023, we sponsored the Sing From Your Heart dementia-friendly chorus and our Too Soon to Forget Young Onset Dementia support group.

"I never knew a place like this existed!" exclaimed a recent new participant. "I love MCRRV because they still see my wife for who she is, not just what she has lost.", wrote another care partner.

A gaping hole would exist in our region without MCRRV! Thank you for supporting this far-reaching, crucial gathering place for the memory loss community!

Support - Connections - Belonging - Dignity

Have you ever moved to a new community, started a new school, joined a new group, and wondered how you fit in? Was there someone who reached out, invited you to join them, and made you feel welcome?

As refugees and immigrants come to our communities for education, employment, or a safe environment, there is also a need and a longing for support, connection, belonging, and dignity.

There is a need for the basics: shelter, food, health, and income, but that need is followed by the hope of being seen for our unique contributions. We need connections to people around us who are supportive in our daily lives, work, and development.

New American Consortium for Wellness and Empowerment's mission is to be part of a network of community organizations that, together, is a place of support, refuge, and belonging to individuals and families who are new to the area.

We provide English language classes, tutoring, mentoring, and companionship. From level 1 of learning, assistance with writing papers for a college course, studying for a driver's permit, preparing for an interview, and entering a CNA class or a citizenship test, our ELL program is free, flexible, and welcoming.

All of our services are made possible by the generous support of a financial donation, volunteer time, or an in-kind donation.

$20 supports the purchase of ELL(English Language Learner) books, notebooks, and art project supplies.

$50 supports the purchase of personal hygiene supplies.

$100 supports the purchase of bus passes to travel to job interviews.

$200 supports the purchase of essential pantry items for a family.

$250 supports a driver's training class.

$250 also provides support to NACWE to maintain our services.

We seek to address homelessness and hopelessness in a way that is transformational and Christ-centered.

Our mission is to serve people who are on the journey from homeless and hurting to whole and healthy by meeting basic needs and transforming lives through the love of Christ.

Our ministry addresses the causes of homelessness. Your important investment helps us to meet immediate needs by offering food, clothing, shelter, and acute medical care. And for men who commit to real, lasting change, your support provides restorative programs to help them build confidence, gain skills, heal from trauma, recover from addiction, and access life-saving resources.

After 116 years of serving our community, we are uniquely equipped to help those in crisis. Our trained staff and community partners connect individuals to local health and human service agencies. From the moment someone walks through our doors, they are offered guidance in a safe, sober, and structured environment—treating everyone with compassion, dignity, and respect.

The reality is that more individuals are struggling with homelessness and poverty in our community than before. From July 2022 to June 2023, an average of 123 men sought refuge at New Life Center each night. That's an overwhelming 23% increase over the prior year. A total of 92,000 meals were served to men, women, and children – an increase of nearly 21%. Those numbers speak volumes in terms of the importance of your support.

Your support through the Caring Catalog helps us meet the growing needs. It also helps restore what individuals coming to New Life Center have lost and their hope in Jesus. Together, we can help people rise from the ashes of hopelessness and move from a life of homeless and hurting to whole and healthy.

Our prevention education program is a lifeline for our community's children, empowering them with knowledge, skills, and resilience to navigate life safely. As our community expands, so does the demand for our services. More schools and classrooms mean more children to be educated.

Generously funded by donations and grants, this program is free for schools, ensuring every student, regardless of where they attend school, has access to these crucial resources. The curriculum spans from elementary to high school and plays a pivotal role in shaping future generations.

Here's why your support is vital:

Empowerment and Safety: Second graders learn about body autonomy and personal safety. Lessons empower children to recognize and assert control over their own bodies, cultivating a sense of self-worth and protection.

Early Intervention: Prevention education puts a stop to violence before it ever takes root. Students develop a strong foundation for setting boundaries, seeking help, and navigating challenging situations.

Healthy Relationships: Middle schoolers learn essential skills for building healthy teen relationships. They explore emotions, communication, and the distinctions between healthy, unhealthy, and unsafe relationships.

Bullying Prevention: Middle school curriculum confronts the issue of bullying, equipping students with strategies to combat it.

Awareness and Prevention of Violence: In high school, the focus is human trafficking. Students learn to recognize signs of danger and how to protect themselves and others, empowering them to navigate the complexities of the real world safely.

Your support will have a lasting impact, creating a safer, more informed, and more compassionate community for generations to come.

Together, we can ensure that no child is left unprotected, and we can put an end to violence before it begins.

When a child is sick, nothing is more important than being together and near needed medical care. RMHC of the Red River Valley allows families focus on what matters most by limiting the additional stress and financial burden of receiving critical medical care far from home.

Each year, together with you, we serve over 750 sick kids and their families through two main programs. Our Ronald McDonald House provides hotel-like accommodations, home cooked meals, and amenities for up to 24 families a night. Our Ronald McDonald Family Room offers a respite space within the Essentia Health NICU to support families while they are bedside with their premature child.

Any family residing outside the Fargo Moorhead area with a child age 21 or younger receiving care at Sanford, Essentia or Prairie St. John's is eligible to stay. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we operate on a pay what you can model, with 89% of families receiving the comforts of home at no cost. If a family wishes to contribute to their stay, the suggested donation is $20/night. While it's easy to see the practical ways we help families, the real magic of RMHC is the opportunity for families to connect with each other and navigate the uncertainties of a medical diagnosis together.

Your support of RMHC through the Caring Catalog offers the gift of togetherness, community, healing and hope this holiday season.

Families Can Recover from the Impact of Addiction

Is your family or someone you know experiencing heartbreak because of a loved one caught up in the destructive behaviors of an addiction? Substance Use Disorders seem to be running rampant, with both the individual and their family suffering physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Soul Solutions offers a Family Program which meets weekly in a group setting lead by an addiction counselor. Participants learn about the disease and how to help their loved one detach themselves from the monster of addiction.

"When I found the Family Program my personal sanity was totally out of control! I am in sales and have always valued serving well, I had nothing left to give because I was paralyzed by fear. My son has struggled with alcohol for 40 yrs. and nothing I tried has helped him. In the family program, I have people I can be totally honest with, they get it and together we are learning to take our lives back as we grow & support one another.

"My wife's drinking had been out of control for 14-15 yrs. while I tried to help protect her from embarrassing herself, our children & me. I got her into treatment multiple times & the stress lead to me having several heart attacks, nothing changed. In the Family Program, I have learned I did not cause my wife's drinking problem, I can't control it & I can't cure her. The group participants & I have gained an understanding about the disease of addiction. This knowledge helped me recognize I needed to get out of my wife's way and let her handle her disease. I started focusing on taking care of myself & setting boundaries. I had told her if I ever caught her driving intoxicated, I would call law enforcement and the day came when I made that call. The Family Program leader frequently tells us the family getting educated may be the best chance of our loved one getting into recovery. I know that to be true & am rejoicing today my wife has 15 months of sobriety. That did not happen until I let her be responsible for the consequences of her disease and started taking care of me."

You can be part of providing hope, education and healing for family members participating in Soul Solutions complimentary Family Program. Each $50 donation will provide workbooks for an individual, impacting the future for a family and our community.

The Gift of One Night's Safety + Support For Her Future Journey

Give the gift of safety to someone who lives in fear and danger. Through YWCA, you'll provide a safe and warm place to go when she has nowhere else to turn. You'll ensure YWCA Emergency Shelter operates 24 hours every day of the year so vulnerable women and children immediately have an emergency home, food, clothing and hygiene items.

Next, you'll give the hope she needs for the future by providing a caring YWCA team to walk alongside her. YWCA supports her journey with understanding of trauma, and practical knowledge of community resources for starting life over - because intimate partner violence almost always pushes women into extreme poverty.

Each survivor gains a YWCA advocate who'll help her find healing and face barriers ahead. She'll form a vision for the future, and connect with YWCA Cass Clay and community resources for herself and her children. Seemingly impossible goals become possible with YWCA's employment and education program, onsite childcare, empowerment classes, an onsite Sanford nurse and health clinics, plus resources to solve transportation and future housing needs.

$25 provides safety planning for one woman: the set of actions that can lower her risk of harm when leaving a violent partner.

$66 provides the first night of shelter and empowerment programs.

$132 provides a night of shelter and services for both a woman and a child.

You may be saving a life with your gift.

You first ensure a way out for those who live in violence or homeless due to poverty. With warmth and a roof overhead, hope arises through goals, encouragement to pursue them, resources to overcome obstacles, and a bridge onto the path of her own choosing.