Kandiyohi Power Cooperative

SPICER — The Kandiyohi Power Cooperative’s Operation Round Up program awarded $11,700 this quarter to benefit 14 local organizations. It is a volunteer community support program that is funded when participating cooperative members round up their bill to the next dollar. At their April meeting, the Operation Round Up Trust Board awarded donations to New London Ambulance, Spicer First Responders, Prairie Woods Elementary STEM Program, Mill Pond Mile, Kandi Works Developmental Achievement Center, Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, Atwater Historical Society, New London-Spicer Trap Team, Kandiyohi County Public Library, Kandiyohi Relay for Life, Lullaby Quilters, Toys for Tots, Let’s Go Fishing and AB Vacuum for its mask effort.

Relay for Life

WILLMAR — Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Relay For Life of Kandiyohi County will be participating in a statewide “Stronger Together” alternative campaign with others from across Minnesota in fundraising and activities from June 8 through Aug. 1.

On Aug. 1, participants will “gather” for an online celebration to honor survivors, recognize sponsors and participants, and the other ceremonies typically held at Relay events.

Register online for your local Relay For Life between today and Monday, June 8, at www.RelayForLife.org . If you are already registered, you are already entered. Everyone who is registered by the end of June 8 will be entered into a drawing for a Relay swag item to be mailed. The five winners will be drawn and announced on Facebook on June 9.

Kandiyohi County is still hoping to have an event on Sept. 19 at the Kandi Mall in Willmar, but in a more "non-traditional" sense.

Rice Health Foundation and Redwood Hospital Foundation have established a COVID-19 Emergency Fund to receive monetary donations for Carris Health locations. Gifts to this fund will be used to purchase COVID-19 supplies and medical equipment, provide meals for staff who remain on campus to provide care and meet other high-priority needs identified to support the direct care of COVID-19 patients and others in our community.

Monetary gifts can be given online to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund (Carris Health – Rice Memorial Hospital or Carris Health – Redwood Hospital) or mail checks designated for COVID-19 to Rice Health Foundation, 301 Becker Ave. S.W., Willmar, MN 56201 or Redwood Hospital Foundation, 100 Fallwood Rd., Redwood Falls, MN 56283.

Individual county emergency operations centers are coordinating all non-monetary donations for CentraCare and Carris Health facilities. Do not deliver donations to local hospitals or care facilities. To donate supplies in Kandiyohi County, call 320-214-6780 (collecting homemade PPEs as well as other supplies) and in Redwood County call 507-637-4035 (collecting new, manufactured supplies only – no homemade PPEs).

Willmar Area Community Foundation, in partnership with CommunityGiving, has received a grant of $22,900 through the Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund for coronavirus relief. This funding, along with contributions to the Willmar Area Response Fund, will be used to support local relief efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic which will include wide-scale initiatives to help meet critical basic needs as well as sustaining local organizations providing critical services through recovery. The Willmar Area Response Fund had raised $77,415 as of April 1.

Grant opportunities through the Willmar Area Response Fund are now available. Eligible organizations must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit, school or governmental entity that serves Kandiyohi County. Initially, the fund will focus resources toward efforts focused on helping meet basic needs for area residents and critical services. For additional information, visit https://www.communitygiving.org/grant/willmar-area-response-fund-grants/37 .

Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is accepting applications from Minnesota Veterans who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The department will be awarding one-time financial relief grants in the amount of $1,000.

Eligible applicants must be: a veteran as defined by Minnesota Statute 197.447, or the surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a deceased veteran, a Minnesota resident, and have been negatively financially impacted by COVID-19. Funding is available for both Disaster Relief Grants and Special Needs Grants.

Both grant applications may be submitted through your County Veterans Service Officer. The Disaster Relief Grant may also be submitted directly online by a veteran or surviving spouse. For more information or to apply, visit MinnesotaVeteran.org/COVIDRelief . To contact your local County Veterans Service Officer, visit MACVSO.org .

Habitat for Humanity

WILLMAR — Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota ReStore is accepting donations of building materials, large appliances, furniture and more. All donations must be approved by staff before acceptance. Donations can be brought to 2424 First Street South in Willmar between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information contact 320-235-9000 or www.habitatwcm.org .