United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is the local expert in community needs. For nearly 60 years, we have connected with local citizens, nonprofits, businesses, and policymakers to ensure every person in our community has the building blocks to thrive.
In 2008, we put our expertise to work in a new way, creating our own programs and collaborations to provide services not previously available in our region.
Bright Beginnings - An initiative designed to address the issues surrounding childcare in our communities as well as early childhood education opportunities.
Buddy Backpacks - Children most at risk in our area schools are enrolled in this program and receive a backpack full of nutritious, child-friendly and non-perishable food each Friday or holiday break before they head home from school.
Comforts of Home - Local stores donate products - and local donors help us purchase products - UWNEMN provides to partner agencies and individuals and families across our service territory at no cost. Last year, more than $123,000 worth of household items were distributed to families in need.
Imagination Library - Dolly Parton's school readiness program is locally sponsored by UWNEMN and delivers monthly age appropriate books to children birth to age five for FREE! There are no income guidelines to this program. Since the inception, over 300,000 books have been distributed through this program. Sign your child up today!
Lunch Buddies - UWNEMN's Lunch Buddies program has matched volunteer mentors with elementary students in 11 schools across the region for the 2024-2025 school year. There are still students on a wait list for mentors in Chisholm, Floodwood, and Keewatin; click here to spend one lunch break/week this school year changing a local child's life!
Meet Up and Chow Down - UWNEMN's free summer lunch program serves more than 10,000 free lunches to local children each summer. To view the sites or get involved, click here!
Smiles United - A preventive dental care program that advocates for expanded access to dental care in our region, Smiles United supports Children's Dental Services' mobile dental program in schools and hosts them in our building. Through this program, we've also established the Northeast Minnesota Dental Task Force to work more directly with local stakeholders on this critical issue.
Step Into School - Annual back-to-school program takes qualified Koochiching County students shopping for brand new properly fit athletic shoes of their choosing.
United for Veterans - A program designed to address the issues and gaps in services for veterans, servicemembers, and their family members across our service area. The program is steered by a committee of local veterans and servicemembers and has grown to include crisis funding, transitional home support, a regularly updated Military Connections Guide, quarterly Veterans Connections activities, annual retreats, and the newly launch Operation: Service Story oral history project.
211- United Way has collaborated with other non-profits, government, business people, and professionals around Minnesota to bring 211, a single call that provides callers with one-stop vital information.