Promote Health & Healing
Story submitted by: Cuyuna Range Food Shelf
|
 |
The Cuyana Food Shelf has been in existence for over 20 years serving the areas of East Central Minnesota. We are currently located at 302 Cross Ave., Crosby, Minnesota.
Crosby, Ironton, Deerwood, Trommald, Riverton and Crosby are the areas served by the Cuyana Range Food Shelf. The food shelf is open the second and third Wednesdays of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. We also serve emergencies as they arise.
|
 |
Each month the Cuyana Range Food Shelf serves an average of 119 households or 266 people and distributes 10,606 pounds of found. Food Shelf recipients register the 1st visit and any following visits they are required to check in. Food is given to all who visit the food shelf, no one is refused help.
|
The food shelf is staffed by all volunteers with no paid staff. We have fifteen to twenty volunteers who help on a regular basis.
|
|
Strengthen Families
Story submitted by: Bridges of Hope
|
 |
We had a call from a mother. Her fourteen year old child had been evaluated the evening before for suicide/depression at the Emergency Room. The hospital had sent the child home with recommendations that she be seen by a local mental health provider as soon as possible. Eight months ago, this child would have waited most likely four to six weeks before being seen.
|
Bridges of Hope has worked with area mental health providers to establish a calendar that has two hours Monday thru Friday for immediate mental health assessments. We were able to get the child seen that day. We were also able to discuss with the mother some of the options in the community for on-going support.
|
|
Nurturing Children
Story submitted by: PATH
|
 |
Brian was referred to the PATH after having been in 25 placements. He was asked to leave his last placement because he slammed a door and cursed at the foster parent. He had strong gang affiliations, a long criminal history, poor school attendance and performance, and inconsistent parental influences in his life.
|
After placement in a PATH foster home, he flourished and made many friends with other socially appropriate youth and became involved in a number of community activities such as: dances, a teenage club, YMCA, and community fairs. He recently graduated from the 8th grade. His aunt and grandmother traveled 3 hours to his foster home to watch the graduation ceremony. The foster family had a celebration at a local diner complete with a barbecue and cake. He stated he wants to stay at his foster home where he can continue to be empowered to achieve lifelong success, one day at a time.
|
|
Increase Self Sufficiency
|
 |
Darrel and Joanne first came to LSS Financial Counseling Office when a local bank suggested they seek help in resolving their debt issues prior to applying for a mortgage loan.
Darrel and Joanne were both employed, but in the previous year Darrel had been laid off for a long period. They fell behind on bills, and even though they now had full time income, they found it increasingly difficult to make ends meet every month. They were carrying nearly $15,000 in consumer debt, including student loans, credit cards, automobile loans and medical bills, all of which were sinking into delinquency.
|
After meeting with a Consumer Credit Counselor, it was determined that Darrel and Joanne were nearly $300 per month "short" of meeting their living expense needs and consumer debt payments. The young couple wondered about bankruptcy as a way out of debt, but were reluctant to take such a radical step. Instead their counselor offered to help them reassess the way they were spending their money, and show them how to restructure their income and debt payments.
|
