Our Work

United Way partner: Boys & Girls Club of Hibbing offers a broad range of programs that promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. Donations to UWNEMN support operation of the program as well as the continuation and enhancement of essential youth services for students in our community.

United Way led: Bright Beginnings has been working for more than 10 years to increase local access to childcare and early childhood education opportunities.

United Way partner: Camp Chicagami strives to make the joys and lessons of Summer Camp available and affordable for all children and to support and strengthen other youth development, education and enrichment programing. Donations to UWNEMN provide scholarships so all children in our service area can experience camp.

United Way partner: Check & Connect is an intervention used with K-12 students in St. Louis County who show warning signs of disengagement with school and who are at risk of dropping out. Donations to UWNEMN provide food, family engagement activities, and school supplies to students enrolled in the program within our service area - and are aiding in the expansion of the program.

United Way partner: Ely Community Resource fosters positive youth development through activities designed to increase self-esteem and confidence, build a sense of community, and provide positive adult relationships that allow effective interventions for Ely-area students. Donations to UWNEMN provide year-round age-appropriate programming that supports academic progress and social/emotional education for K-12 students.

United Way partner: Ely's Historic State Theater is piloting an after-school program for 4th-grade students in Ely, Tower, and Babbitt elementary schools. Programming will include a variety of topics such as film critique, screenwriting workshops, film history fun, behind-the-scene tours, cinema-themed arts & crafts, and film & food pairings. Donations to UWNEMN are supporting the launch of the CinemaKidz pilot.

United Way partner: Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines is a one-of-a-kind, proven leadership
development program that pairs girls with strong, caring female role models and mentors who prepare them to take the lead from age 5 to 18 and into adulthood. Donations to UWNEMN provides scholarships for membership, uniforms, camp, programs, and travel to scouts across our service area.

United Way led: Imagination Library, Dolly Parton's school readiness program, delivers monthly age appropriate books to children birth to age five for FREE! UWNEMN is proud to operate this program locally; since bringing the program to our region, more 300,000 books have been put in the hands of area children!

United Way partner: Laurentian Arts and Culture Alliance is piloting a Youth Empowerment Project, an art and performance-based programming targeted toward youth who have experienced ACEs across the Iron Range. Donations to UWNEMN are supporting the development and implementation of the pilot.

United Way led: Lunch Buddies screens, trains, and matches mentors with local elementary students identified by school staff as being in need of additional positive adult role models. There is currently one student in Keewatin awaiting a mentor - apply to be matched with them today!

United Way partner: Mesabi Fit provides a destination for individuals and families that promotes fun, fitness, and a sense of well being. Donations to UWNEMN support the Mesabi Fit Youth Development Membership Grant, which removes barriers for teens ages 15-18 who would like to access the facilities but otherwise could not afford a membership.

United Way partner: Minnesota Reading Corps provides supplemental support to children from Kindergarten to 3rd grade to gain the literacy skills necessary to succeed in school and in life. Donations to UWNEMN placed a Reading Corps tutor in a local school for the 2024-25 school year.

United Way partner: Northern Star Scouting (formerly Voyageurs Area Council, BSA) prepares youth in a safe and inclusive environment to be leaders and individuals of strong character. Donations to UWNEMN are supporting the program's operation -  and growth - throughout our service area.

United Way led: Step Into School unites Koochiching County businesses, first responders, volunteers, and families for a back-to-school celebration that sets students up for success. The one-day program also takes students shopping to select new school shoes at no-cost to their families.

United Way partner: Volunteers in Education is a community-based tutoring program that helps Iron Range students improve literacy skills, increase overall academic success, and progress in social and emotional development. Donations to UWNEMN helped create the program and continue to support is operation.

United Way led: Youth United Contest gives high school seniors across our service area a chance to have their voice heard - and win scholarship funding to apply towards two-year, four-year, or trade school education.

United Way partner: Care Partners supports our Iron Range neighbors through the difficult battle of fighting cancer or another life-limiting illness by alleviating the financial burdens and stress that often occurs when expensive medical treatments suddenly become necessary. Donations to UWNEMN increase direct access to emergency financial support and services.

United Way partner: Ely Community Health Center provides free basic medical and highly discounted dental services to those who are uninsured, underinsured, or are facing barriers to care in the Ely area. Donations to UWNEMN support the operation of the clinic.

United Way partner: Koochiching Aging Options promotes the well-being, dignity, and independence of Koochiching County’s aging residents and assists all who care for them by providing coordinated support services, referral, and education. Donations to UWNEMN support the agency's Senior Wheels program.

United Way partner: Northwoods Partners supports older adults and their caregivers throughout Ely, Winton, Babbitt, Tower, Soudan, and the surrounding area by providing resources that promote independence and healthy aging. Donations to UWNEMN support the operation and expansion of the program.

United Way partner: Project Care provides free basic medical care to the uninsured and underinsured. It is the sole source of health care for 58% of its patients. Donations to UWNEMN support the operation of its Hibbing and Virginia clinics.

United Way led: Smiles United is working to expand access to dental care across our region. Through this program, UWNEMN supports Children's Dental Services' mobile dental program in schools and hosts them in our building. We've also established the Northeast Minnesota Dental Task Force to work more directly with local stakeholders on this critical issue.

United Way led: United for Veterans was designed to address the critical need for expanded, wrap-around services throughout our rural communities. The program evolved to include a crisis fund, transitional home, regular social connectivity activities, an oral history project, and more.

United Way partner: Advocates for Family Peace has been serving victim/survivors of domestic violence in northern St. Louis and Itasca Counties for over 45 years. Donations to UWNEMN make it possible for outreach staff to travel across our large counties and into surrounding areas.

United Way partner: American Red Cross is a community-based humanitarian organization working to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Donations to UWNEMN allow frequent collaboration with American Red Cross, most notably when responding to emergencies like recent regional flooding.

United Way partner: Backus Community Center is "the heart of International Falls, where all generations celebrate arts, culture, recreation, wellness and life-long learning." Donations to UWNEMN support its free summer lunch program.

United Way partner: Bois Forte Band of Chippewa's Elderly Nutrition Program provides healthy, nutritious meals for all Bois Forte Elders. Food is included with the traditional teachings and any education or learning as it is believed the knowledge will be digested with the food. Donations to UWNEMN supported the purchase and installation of commercial dishwashers for the ENP.

United Way led: Buddy Backpacks provides our most at-risk children (referred and enrolled by local schools) with nutritious, child-friendly, non-perishable food items each Friday or holiday break before they head home from school. 

United Way led: Comforts of Home helps our neighbors recovering from housing crises get back on our feet - and keeps partner stores' unsold products out of landfills. Last year, more than $123,000 worth of essential household items were distributed to families in need.

United Way led: Day of Action mobilizes more than 200 volunteers for one day of community revitalization. This year's Day of Action, presented by U. S. Steel and organized in partnership with Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) and Itasca County Habitat for Humanity will take place June 13th in Nashwauk!

United Way partner: Friends Against Abuse is a community based, crime victim advocacy agency that serves victims in Koochiching and Lake of the Woods counties, providing support, advocacy, and aid to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and general crime. Donations to UWNEMN support the agency's 24/7 crisis line.

United Way partner: Justice North (formerly Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota) is a nonprofit civil law firm dedicated to the principle that equal access to justice is a basic human right, regardless of background or circumstances. Donations to UWNEMN support Justice North's work representing clients in housing cases and domestic violence cases, preserving home and family stability and protecting victims of domestic violence across our service area.

United Way partner: Koochiching County Food Access is the primary hunger relief organization in Koochiching County. Donations to UWNEMN provide food for its county-wide network of food shelves and school pantries 

United Way led: Meet Up and Chow Down serves more than 10,000 free lunches to local children each summer. Summer 2025 sites are under review now. Let us know if you'd like to host (or volunteer for) a site in your community!

United Way partner: North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity has given homeownership opportunities to 116 families in 15 Iron Range communities since its founding in 1995. Donations to UWNEMN assist in building affordable homes with families and individuals in need in North St. Louis County. 

United Way partner: Range Transitional Housing provides transitional and permanent supportive housing to homeless households in northern St. Louis County. Donations to UWNEMN support the agency's Youth Transitional Housing program as well as Case Management expenses and emergency services for those in need.

United Way partner: Salvation Army Hibbing assists with housing, utilities, food, and seasonal programming. Donations to UWNEMN provide food and equipment for the agency's new Youth Rec Center.

United Way partner: Salvation Army Virginia operates a free dinner program and emergency food shelf. Donations to UWNEMN purchase food for these critically needed programs.

United Way partner: Second Harvest Northland is the Northland’s largest, non-profit charitable organization ensuring dignified and equitable food access to its network of agency and community partners (food shelves, on-site meal programs, tribal organizations) and families, children and seniors in need across our region. Donations to UWNEMN purchase food and also provide transportation, storage, and handling of donated food from donors to recipients.

United Way partner: Sexual Assault Program of NSLC is the only agency in Northern St. Louis County that provides free 24/7 confidential advocacy services to victims of sexual violence. Donations to UWNEMN support the agency's work in crisis intervention, information/referrals, system liaison, safety services, emergency financial assistance, personal advocacy accompaniment, ongoing advocacy support, and increasing community awareness through educational sessions/groups.
 

United Way partner: Star of the North Maternity Home helps to fill the dire need for housing for homeless mothers in our northland communities, going beyond housing to transform women’s lives with education, holistic medical care, and comprehensive services. Donations to UWNEMN assist with food costs for mothers to have a shared family-style dinner nightly and help provide a certified evidence-based life coach, online educational video program called BrightCourse, enhanced security systems, and babysitting services.

United Way partner: Support Within Reach is the second oldest and largest stand-alone sexual violence resource and advocacy organization in Minnesota, providing 24/7 365 free and confidential services and support service to six counties: Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Clearwater, Itasca, and Aitkin and five tribal lands including: Red Lake Nation, White Earth Nation, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. Donations to UWNEMN support the agency's Victim Support Services, Coordinated Community Response, and Outreach Prevention Education & Awareness Programming in our service area.

United Way led: The United for ALICE® report was released in September 2024, and since then UWNEMN has been working diligently to get the report into the hands of key stakeholders and shed light on the challenges faced by so many local ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) individuals.

211 is a statewide service supported by United Ways across Minnesota. Donations to UWNEMN support the 24/7/365 operation of 2-1-1, through which a single call or text can provide referrals to local services that suit an individual's current unique circumstances.