Free food distribution

WILLMAR — The Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland will have a free food giveaway beginning at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 4, at the YMCA in Willmar.

Pre-packaged boxes of meat, dairy and produce will be distributed to anyone who needs it on a first-come, first-served basis until it is gone.

Enter the YMCA parking lot from Olena Avenue Southeast. A volunteer will load the boxes into your vehicle. Exit onto Lakeland Drive with a right turn only.

For more information, call the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf at 320-235-2641.

Charity walk/ride/bike

Charity events such as walkathons, funs, motorcycle rides and bicycle rides in the area are listed here, including event details, where it will be held, how to register and fundraising events associated with it.

Hawk Creek virtual walk, run: Through June 1, a one-mile or 5K walk, run or bike ride for people and dogs. Register at www.pets2therescue.org and choose Hawk Creek Animal Shelter. Fee is $13.25 with $10 going to Hawk Creek. Download the "IYR Virtual" mobile app, choose "Pets 2" and then choose Midwest, submit your time on the app under Tracker.

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 St. S. 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 .

COVID-19

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 financial 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 Office. 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 .

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 .

CenterPoint Energy announced through its foundation the company will contribute $1.5 million to nonprofit organizations, agencies and causes that are committed to supporting those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. CenterPoint Energy’s COVID-19 Relief Fund will include $1 million in direct contributions, as well as up to $500,000 in matching gifts for employees’ contributions to qualifying 501(c)3 organizations. It is Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility, serving more than 860,000 residential and business customers. Organizations that are interested in applying for a CenterPoint Energy COVID-19 Relief Fund grant should visit www.centerpointenergy.com/cnpgives . CenterPoint Energy continues to provide additional support to customers regarding their utility service. As previously announced, the company will support customers who may need payment assistance, arrangements or extensions during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, the company has temporarily suspended natural gas service disconnections for nonpayment.