United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s second Born Learning Trail on the Iron Range was installed along Silver Lake this summer, and on October 2nd the supporters who made the trail possible united for a ribbon cutting to officially recognize the new community resource.

United Way organizations across the United States utilize Born Learning Trails – a series of 10 interactive signs that transform everyday moments into fun and engaging learning opportunities for young children – as community engagement and improvement tools. 

It has been two years since United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) united with United Way organizations across the state to bring the United for ALICE dataset, which highlights the growing financial strains on the demographic known as ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), to Minnesota.

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s first Born Learning Trail on the Iron Range was installed along Longyear Lake Park in June during UWNEMN’s Day of Action, and this month the organization brought together the supporters who made the trail possible to see the finished product during an official ribbon cutting.

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) joins families, children, and music lovers across the world in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton.

The organization has particularly close ties to the iconic singer as the local affiliate of her Imagination Library program. UWNEMN has been operating the program, mailing books to children under age five at no cost to their families, in communities across the Iron Range, Koochiching County, and Lake of the Woods County since 2008. 

Ninety-four Koochiching County students will start the school year equipped with new properly fit athletic shoes, school supplies, and haircut certificates thanks to the community’s support of United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s Step Into School program. 

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) has collected and reinvested nearly $300,000 in donations to help residents and small businesses mitigate the financial impacts of this summer’s wildfires.

The Chisholm-based organization began fundraising July 14th and opened applications July 31st to small businesses and individuals located in Babbitt, Buyck, Cook, Crane Lake, Ely, Embarrass, Nett Lake, Orr, Soudan, Tower, Winton, and townships between any of the aforementioned communities. 

While northern Minnesota communities are grateful that wildfire conditions are gradually improving, residents and small businesses who have lost income for weeks as a result are struggling to regain their footing.

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) has been raising recovery funds since July 15th to prepare for this moment; funds are still being raised for communities regionwide as well as specific to the Ely area. Anonymous donors are adding an additional dollar for every $2 donated to the Ely community up to $50,000.

In response to growing concerns surrounding Ely area businesses impacted by the ongoing wildfire and related closures, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) has established an Ely-specific wildfire fund that allows donors to designate their gifts to small businesses. 

Applications for United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s Step Into School program are due July 24th.

The back-to-school celebration takes qualified students shopping for new properly fit athletic shoes for the coming school year.

As crews battle wildfires spreading in the Ely area, nonprofit and government entities have been working hard behind the scenes to provide for the crews, care for evacuees, and prepare for what’s to come next.

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) is in close and regular contact with the American Red Cross, St. Louis County, and Ely Community Response to ensure clear communication and coordinated relief.