UNITED WAY OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA INC

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) works to unite and focus our communities to create measurable results that improve lives and strengthen families. When a need arises, UWNEMN mobilizes volunteers, donors, and community partners to support local agencies or develop programs that address gaps in services.

We invest in nonprofits, programs, and cross-sector collaborations that equip and empower individuals and families to thrive. We focus our efforts within four key areas: Youth Opportunity, Healthy Community, Financial Stability, and Community Resiliency.

Much of our recent work centers on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households, working families who earn above the federal poverty level but below the cost of living. In many communities across northeastern Minnesota, nearly half of working households fall into this category. These families are employed yet remain one unexpected expense away from financial crisis.

We provide funding to nonprofit organizations creating positive impact in these areas. In addition, we operate our own initiatives to help children and families:

Buddy Backpacks - Children most at risk of hunger 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. During the school year, enrolled students also receive two full-size hygiene kits as well as monthly $5 Produce Passes to redeem at local grocery stores for fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. Buddy Backpacks continues throughout the summer months at our free summer lunch sites, with meal kits given to kids on Thursdays for the weekends.

Meet Up and Chow Down - UWNEMN's free summer lunch program that currently operates at multiple sites throughout our region. Lunches are available any child aged one to 18 and are served Monday through Thursday.

Imagination Library - As an affiliate and partner with the Dollywood Foundation, UWNEMN provides this early literacy program that delivers monthly age-appropriate books to children birth to age five for FREE in our region! There are no income guidelines to this program.

Smiles United - UWNEMN coordinates the NE MN Dental Task Force to help increase providers in the region along with operating the Smiles United Dental Crisis Fund to help those most in need access funds for dental bills.

Comforts of Home - Retail stores donate products throughout the year to United Way of Northeastern Minnesota. In turn, we make this product available to our agencies and individuals and families in need across our service territory at no cost through referrals.

United for Veterans - A program designed to address the issues and gaps in services for local veterans in our service territory. Examples of services provided include annual veteran retreats, holiday meal baskets for homebound and low-income veterans, publishing and distribution of a Military Connections Directory, quarterly Veterans Connections networking and wellbeing activities, and more.

Lunch Buddies Mentoring - One-on-one mentoring program for elementary school students to be matched with caring adult mentors over the lunch break during school once per week.

Crisis and Disaster Recovery - UWNEMN raises funds to help support those most impacted by disasters in our region. We have supported wildfire relief in 2025 in Brimson and 2026 in Ely, Boundary Waters, and surrounding communities. We have also supported flood relief efforts in 2021 in International Falls and Ranier and in 2024 in Cook and Virginia.

Step Into School - A back-to-school celebration for qualifying Koochiching County K-12 students that provides shoe shopping, community dinner, school supplies, and more.

Winter Warm Up - Program to provide new hats, mittens/gloves, and snow pants to children in Koochiching County.

Day of Action - Annual one-day community revitalization program engaging hundreds of volunteers to transform one community per year.

On the Iron Range, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota provides funding to support the following agencies: Boys & Girls Club of Hibbing, Camp Chicagami, Ely Community Resource, ServeMinnesota Reading Corps, Volunteers In Education (VinE), Girl Scouts of MN & WI Lakes and Pines, Care Partners, Ely Community Health Center, Northwoods Partners, Project Care, Advocates for Family Peace, American Red Cross, Food Shelves Area Wide, Justice North, Children's Dental Services, North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity, Range Transitional Housing, Salvation Army-Hibbing, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County, Support Within Reach, and United Way 2-1-1.

In Koochiching and Lake of the Woods Counties, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota provides funding to support the following agencies: Falls Hunger Coalition, Salvation Army-International Falls, Friends Against Abuse, Backus Community Center, Lake of the Woods Food Shelf, and Koochiching Aging Options.