PRESS RELEASE
Bremer Emergency Fund Donates $613k to
The Salvation Army of MN, ND
$513k for rural Salvation Army, $100k for Twin Cities Salvation Army
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – January 27, 2009 – Bremer Bank and the Otto Bremer Foundation have together donated $613,000 to The Salvation Army of Minnesota and North Dakota through the Bremer Emergency Fund, which provides assistance to families and individuals struggling with basic needs such as food, housing, health care and transportation.
$100,000 of the total donation is designated for the Twin Cities Salvation Army.
“In the Twin Cities, we spend $100,000 in one month to provide transportation assistance, food, rent assistance and other services to thousands of people in need,” said Major Daniel Sjögren, Commander of the Salvation Army Northern Division. “Bremer Bank and the Otto Bremer Foundation have set a shining example during a time when many grant-makers are scaling back. The Salvation Army pledges to use their timely donation effectively and efficiently.”
The remaining $513,000 will be used by Salvation Army offices across Minnesota and North Dakota (list at bottom). A full $100,000 of these funds will serve 10 North Dakota counties with poverty rates of up to 51 percent. The rest will be dispersed in amounts between $6,000 – $60,000 to Salvation Army offices serving small towns and entire counties.
The funds will provide exciting new opportunities for many of these offices. The St. Cloud office, for example, will be given $25,000 that it will spend on rent and transportation assistance programs - two services that it previously could not afford to offer.
The entire $613,000 donation is part of a $4.2 million Bremer Emergency Fund grant issued to dozens of service providers in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
“These are unprecedented times and we wanted to step up with a unique response that meets the direct needs of our communities,” said Stan Dardis, chief executive officer of Bremer Financial Corp. “These grants truly represent a helping hand to those who are most in need during a very difficult time. I invite other individuals and businesses to offer a helping hand to someone who is struggling.”
Salvation Army offices receiving Bremer grant funds include:
Minnesota
Aitkin County: $6,000
Becker County: $17,000
Brainerd: $20,000
Douglas County: $49,000
Fergus Falls: $35,000
Mille Lacs County: $20,000
Lyon County: $15,000
Polk County: $5,000
Pope County: $15,000
Redwood County: $6,000
St. Cloud: $25,000
Stevens County: $35,000
Twin Cities: $100,000
Willmar: $50,000
North Dakota
Fargo: $25,000
Grand Forks: $60,000
Minot: $30,000
North Dakota Counties: $100,000
To volunteer with The Salvation Army or to make a credit card donation, call 651-746-3400 or 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Checks made out to The Salvation Army may be sent to 2445 Prior Ave., Roseville, MN 55113. Click below to make an online donation.
