January 2024 – Minot, N.D. – INSPIRITUS Community Health Foundation distributed more than $1 million from its 7th Annual Twice Blessed Program at a ceremony Wednesday.
The Twice Blessed program is a matching gift program to double contributions given between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31 to predetermined grant-approved organizations. Checks were presented for projects that impact the mental, physical, spiritual and/or emotional well-being of people in the counties of Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, McLean, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Sheridan, Ward and Wells. Another $185,000.00 was donated to a variety of agency endowments within the foundation.
Gifts were matched by predetermined amounts up to a grand match total of $393,000 provided by INSPIRITUS Community Health Foundation.
Area food pantries received a record high of $147,236 through this year’s Twice Blessed. In Minot, recipients are the Salvation Army, $16,266; Our Lady of Grace, $37,247; The Lord’s Cupboard, $22,613; and Lutheran Campus MInistry, Minot State University, $2,259.
The Mountrail Community Food Pantry in Stanley received $7,091. Other pantries receiving grants between $1,015 and $4,710 are located in Berthold, Bottineau, Burlington, Harvey, Drake, Makoti, Underwood, Rolla, Dunseith, Garrison, Glenburn, Kenmare, Lansford, Granville, Washburn, Mohall, Rugby, Powers Lake, Max, Turtle lake, Belcourt, Velva, McClusky, Bowbells, Towner and Wilton.
Organizations receiving $809,922 in grants are: American Red Cross for service to the Armed Forces in northcentral North Dakota, $5,830; Bottineau Area Christian Ministerial Association for Community Caring Program, $13,234; Companions for Children in Minot, screening and match support, $15,348; Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Minot, wildlife club, $32,712; Dakota College at Bottineau, nursing scholarship, $2,700; Dakota Hope Clinic, Minot, pregnancy and parenting services and support, $88,555; Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Minot, general operating, $40,372; Kalix/Minot Vocational Adjustment Workshop, Community Connection program, $26,135; Kenmare Fire Department, personal protective equipment, $24,709; Lutheran Campus Ministry, MSU, spiritual wellness and dinner church, $6,298; Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Minot, Senior Companion program, $9,942; Minot Area Homeless Coalition, direct services, $58,868; Minot Area Men’s Winter Refuge, general operations, $42,615; Minot Area Recovery Community Organization, substance abuse recovery services, $5,009; Minot Curling Club, safety measures, $1,100; Minot Family YMCA, inclusive playground enhancement, $12,150; Minot Optimist Club, children’s library play area, $3,790; Minot Public School Foundation, Back 2 Basics Hybrid Pantry Program, $10,050; Minot Social Club for Exceptional Persons, Community Connections program, $25,699; MSU nursing scholarships, $11,716; MSU communication disorders scholarship, $2,616; MSU social work scholarship, $2,515; Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center, Minot, recovery services for abused children, $41,575; On the Water, outdoor recreation for military veterans, $16,869; Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports, Minot, sports wheelchairs, $31,230; Project BEE, Broadway Circle, $19,150, and general operations, $52,285; Riverdale-Pick City Ambulance, training and equipment, $36,372; Rolette Rural Fire Protection District, breathing equipment for firefighters, $13,900; Ronald McDonald House Charities of BIsmarck, Minot, Care Mobile Program for Children, $12,410; Safe Alternatives for Abused Families, Harvey, advocacy program, $12,700; SMP Health-St. Aloisius, Harvey, wellness center and cardiac rehab equipment, $11,499; SMP-St. Andrew’s, Bottineau, wheelchair accessible picnic furniture, $6,689; Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Minot, services for people in need, $17,998; The Sanctuary-Sober Living for Women, Minot, shelter services, $39,829; Trinity Hospital, new chapel, $20,882; Vincent United Methodist Church, Minot, blessing boxes, $5,210; Washburn Senior Center, doors and windows for senior center, $10,049; and Youthworks, Minot, short-term care, assessment center and transitional housing programs, $19,299.
The foundation distributed $48,594 in grants to youth camps. Receiving grants are Camp Bentley, Drake, $6,715; Camp of the Cross, Garrison, $8,283; International Music Camp, near Dunseith, $4,900; Metigoshe MInistries, Bottineau, $9,355; St. Ann’s Summer Camp, Belcourt, $5,602; Shepherd’s Hill at the Crossroads, St. John, $4,475; and Triangle Y Camp, Garrison, $9,263.