2026 is a special year for the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota as we will be celebrating our 60th anniversary.

In the past 60 years we have grown from one person in a single office to a nine person staff in our own building complete with two warehouses. 

We are no longer an organization that solely raises funds on behalf of other organizations.  We also operate our own programming that directly impacts thousands of people across our service area.  

It’s been more than 15 years since a meeting between former United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) executive director Shelley Valentini and former Mesabi East school nurse Shelly Whiting was continually interrupted by students complaining of stomach aches.

“Every Monday that happened,” Whiting recalled. “My first question was always, ‘When is the last time you ate?’”

Following the meeting, Valentini called Whiting and said UWNEMN wanted to pilot a program to help prevent those Monday stomach aches.

As the year draws to a close, it's a great time to review your financial plans and consider the impact of charitable giving. 

Donating appreciated assets, such as stocks or mutual funds, can offer tax advantages while supporting causes you care about. 

In the past five years, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s Comforts of Home program has helped stabilize nearly 8,000 people from across the region recovering from crises.

by William Lien, WDIO

Having access to dental care is necessary for health and wellness. With the higher costs of living, local dentists say it’s becoming more difficult for people to afford oral healthcare. United Way of Northeastern Minnesota announced their Smiles United Crisis Dental Fund is now closed to non-veterans.

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) has closed its Smiles United Dental Crisis Fund to non-veterans - for now.

Applications remain open with limited funds still available for veterans and servicemembers across the Iron Range, Koochiching County, and Lake of the Woods County, but UWNEMN is hoping to raise enough funds on this Thursday’s Give to the Max Day - Minnesota’s statewide “day of giving” – to reopen the fund to all who need it.

by Megan Buffington, KAXE

by Lee Bloomquist for Mesabi Tribune

The first Wednesday is always the busiest day of the month at Quad City Food Shelf.

But this Wednesday could be busier than ever.

As the federal government wrangles with a loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to some 41.7 million Americans, other local food sources like the Quad City Food Shelf may have to pick up the slack.