January 2025 – Minot, N.D. – Grants totaling more than $1.36 million were given to support a variety of area projects at INSPIRITUS Community Health Foundation’s 8th annual Twice Blessed grant award ceremony.Twice Blessed is a matching gift program to double contributions given between Noveember 15 and december 31 to predetermined grant approved organizations. Grants were up 27 percent over last year with a grant total of $1,365,556.70.
Grants were distributed 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. An additional $181,365.60. was donated to a variety of Agency Endowments within the Foundation.
Contributors were able to access information at twiceblessednd.com tp ;earn more about the mission and goals of participating organizations. Donations can be collected through the website, sent directly to INSPRITIUS Community Health Foundation or to the participating organizations. Gifts were matched by predetermined amounts up to a match total of $469,500.00 provided by INSPIRITUS Community Health Foundation.
Area hospitals and senior center needs, inclusivity improvements, fire department equipment, university scholarships for students of nursing, social work and communication disorders, mental health programs, food pantries, summer camp opportunities, dental mobile care for children, outdoor recreation activities for veterans, advocacy and homeless programs, and much more were impacted by the grants provided.
Thirty-one participating food pantries received a combined total of $178,464.71.
“We are extremely thankful for the many organizations, board members, staff and volunteers who work so diligently in our region to secure a better quality of life by identifying and serving the needs in their communities,” said Shelly Weppler, ICHF president. “We are especially thankful to the hundreds of donors who made gifts during the Twice Blessed program. Their gifts make a big difference to the quality of life for countless citizens in the area,” she added.
Grants provided to organizations at the luncheon are 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.
INSPIRITUS Community Health Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity community foundation formed in June of 1998.
Organizations receiving grants included:
– American Red Cross, services for military families, North Central, $9,985.
– Benedict Living Community, sensory stimulation equipment for elders, Garrison, $4,475.
– Berthold Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Berthold, $4,275.
– Berthold Zion Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Berthold, $2,150.
– Bishop Ryan Catholic School, exercise equipment, Minot, $13,072.
– Bottineau Area Christian Ministerial Association, Community Caring Program, Bottineau, $16,165.
– Bottineau Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Bottineau, $3,900.
– Bowbells Ambulance Service, new ambulance, Bowbells, $21,994.
– Bowdon Development Center, Inc., Senior Meal Program, Bowdon, $9,025.
– Burlington Community, Food Pantry Initiative, Burlington, $1,275.
– Camp Bently, Youth Campership Initiative, Drake, $7,150.
– Camp of the Cross, Youth Campership Initiative, Garrison, $9,310.
– Central Dakota Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Harvey, $1,500.
– Community Cupboard of Drake, Food Pantry Initiative, $1,000.
– Community Cupboard of Underwood, Food Pantry Initiative, $1,000.
– Community Food Pantry,Food Pantry Initiative, Makoti, $3,850.
– Community Food Pantry, pantry safety upgrades and transportation, $5,685.
– Companions for Children, youth mentoring, Minot, $16,881.
– Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Safe Spaces for At-Risk Children, Minot, $17,550.
– Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, psychiatric residential treatment facility, Minot, $36,268.
– Dakota College at Bottineau, iTero scanner for dental programs, Bottineau, $20,025.
– Dakota College at Bottineau Nursing, scholarships, Bottineau, $2,300.
– Dakota Hope Clinic, Pregnancy, parenting and sexual health services, Minot, $127,785.
– Dakota Prairie Community Action, Food Pantry Initiative, Rolla, $1,200.
– Domestic Violence Crisis Center, emergency shelter and transitional living, Minot, $62,584.
– Dunseith Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Dunseith, $1,970.
– F5 Project, transitional housing for men- Pathway to Recovery, Minot, $18,145.
– Fathers Farm, transport solutions, Wolford, $22,020.
– Garrison Area Resource Center and Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Garrison, $4,250.
– Garrison Area Resource Center and Food Pantry, emergency services for hardships, Garrison, $7,604.
– Glenburn Food Pantry/ Trinity Lutheran Church, Food Pantry Initiative, $1,800.
– Good Samaritan Hospital Association, Instant Response, Lifesaving Impact: EMS QRU, Rugby, $25,915.
– International Music Camp, Youth Campership Initiative, International Peace Gardens, $11,350.
– Kalix, Community Connection Program, Minot, $28,850.
– Kenmare Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Kenmare, $4,065.
– Lansford Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Lansford, $2,250.
– Local Motives, Citizens Alley year-round outdoor recreation, Minot, $8,020.
– Lutheran Campus Ministry- MSU,Spiritual Wellness , Minot, $3,550.
– Lutheran Campus Ministry-MSU, Food Pantry Initiative, $6,220.
– Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Senior Companion Program, $10,950.
– Magic City Discovery Center, accessibility, Minot, $23,375.
– Matthew 25 Project, shop equipment for loading, sanitation and snow removal, Minot, $25,507.
– McHenry County Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Granville, $2,685.
– McLean Family Resource Center, Food Pantry Initiative, Washburn, $1,575.
– Metigoshe Ministries, Youth Campership Initiative, Bottineau, $11,390.
– Minot Area Homeless Coalition, direct services for homelessness prevention, Minot, $68,899.
– Minot Area Men’s Winter Refuge, homeless shelter operations, Minot, $64,425.
– Minot Area Recovery Community Organization, recovery community collaboration, Minot, $6,375.
– Minot Family YMCA, pool area revitalization project, Minot, $25,777.
– Minot Public School Foundation, Back 2 Basics Hybrid Pantry Program, Minot, $18,050.
– Minot Salvation Army, Food Pantry Initiative, Minot, $22,573.
– Minot Salvation Army, Pathway of Hope, $13,085.
– Minot State University Communications Disorders, scholarships, Minot, $2,900.
– MSU Nursing, scholarships, Minot, $12,450.
– MSU Social Work, scholarships, Minot, $2,800.
– Mohall Food Pantry: Zion Lutheran Church, Food Pantry Initiative, Mohall, $2,000.
– Mountain Plains Youth Services, Youthworks short term care and assessment center, Minot, $32,900.
– Mountrail Community Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Stanley, $9,150.
– Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center, children’s advocacy services, Minot, $37,371.
– On the Water Inc., outdoor recreational experiences for U.S. military veterans, Minot, $10,225.
– Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Food Pantry Expansion, Minot, $36,931.
– Our Lady of Grace Church Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Minot, $51,203.
– Our Lord’s Savior Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Max, $1,300.
– Pierce County Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Rugby, $1,400.
– Powers Lake Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Powers Lake, $5,100.
– Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports, accessing adventure equipment, Minot, $33,752.
– Riverdale-Pick City Ambulance, ambulance services, Riverdale, $20,914.
– Rolette Rural Fire Protection District #2, gear equipment, Rolette, $20,845.
– Ronald McDonald House Charities of Bismarck, dental pediatric care mobile program, Minot, $13,085.
– Safe Alternative for Abused Families, Wells County Advocacy Program, Harvey, $10,150.
– Shepherds Hill at Crossroads, Youth Campership Initiative, St. John, $4,675.
– Sheridan County FP McClusky, Food Pantry Initiative, McClusky, $2,537.
– SMP Health- St. Aloisius, respiratory equipment, Harvey, $11,700.
– SMP Health- St. Andrew’s, bedside tables and stands for patient rooms, Bottineau, $13,720.
– Society of St. Stephen’s Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Bowbells, $2,000.
– Society of St Vincent de Paul, St John Paul II Conference, Serving People in Hope, Minot, $25,815.
– St. Ann’s Summer Camp, Youth Campership Initiative, Belcourt, $7,520.
– Stanley Area Cares for Kids, Stanley Area Community Cares for Kids, Stanley, $24,963.
– The Bismarck State College Foundation, nursing education scholarships, Garrison and Harvey, $4,900.
– The Lord’s Cupboard, Food Pantry Initiative, Minot, $22,781.
– The Lord’s Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Turtle Lake, $1,250.
– The Sanctuary- Sober Living for Women, transitional housing and program for women in recovery, Minot, $31,400.
– Towner FP Zion Lutheran Church, Food Pantry Initiative, Towner, $1,000.
– Triangle Y Camp, Youth Campership Initiative, Garrison, $9,375.
– Trinity Health Chapel, chapel, Minot, $20,625.
– Turtle Mountain Chippewa Food Pantry, Food Pantry Initiative, Belcourt, $1,995.
– Velva Community Food Pantry: Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Food Pantry Initiative, Velva, $10,120.
– Vincent United Methodist Church, Miracle of Christmas 2025 event, Minot, $10,320.
– Ward County Historical Society, handicap access to Pioneer Village buildings, Burlington, $2,054.
– Wilton Food Pantry, Sunne Lutheran Church, Food Pantry Initiative, Wilton, $1,250.