News 1-25-22
Wings Grants
Women In Northfield Giving Support, aka WINGS, is beginning their grant cycle for local non-profits. Sara Swan McDonald is in charge of the grant program for WINGS. She explains what the group focus’s on when awarding grants:
7414 :23
“The first is basic needs, so addressing things like housing stability and food stability. Education, things like out-of-school programs or special needs or at-risk youth or adults. And also physical and mental health focusing on healthcare and healthy behaviors for women and children in our community.”
While the grants are awarded to only qualified 501c3 organizations, if an individual has an idea, WINGS can work with them to help find a charity they can work with, along with helping them through the grant process:
7415 22.1
“So, once an idea bubbles up, we have people that can help provide some insights into writing a grant. We have a couple of drop-in session that will be held at the Northfield Public Library on Wednesday, Feb. 9, from 5:30-6:30 and Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 5:00-6:00.”
Grant applications are due March 11. Grants can range from small to up to $15,000, and WINGS will continue to offer support after the grant is awarded:
“Those grants and grantees are passed off to our outreach committee. Our outreach committee is full of a number of volunteer women that just want to be a part of good things happening in town. So they go and visit grant recipients, talk with them, see how we can support them and see how things are going as the people carry out the project.”
For more information, visit their website at wings-dash-mn.org.
NORTHFIELD SHARES AN EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT STORY – CART #0637
Northfield Shares an Evening of Entertainment, the virtual fundraiser put together by Northfield Shares last year, has been repackaged and updated, and is now being represented as the Northfield Shares an Evening of Entertainment Reboot.
Last year, at the height of the pandemic, the local foundation took a creative route to holding a fundraiser by collecting pre-recorded performances of music, comedy – even a juggling act – all with ties to Northfield and presenting it as an online program. The event was a great success, raising thousands of dollars for the various funds administered by Northfield Shares, and so on the anniversary of its original broadcast, the decision was made to show it again.
The new presentation has not been modified very much. A few edits have been made, and a new introduction has been recorded. Sam Temple, who directed the show, has put an index on the file so viewers who have already seen it how can go directly to their favorite performances from last year. The production was filled with impressive performances by current and former Northfielders, and
performances were delivered from as far away as Latvia and Italy, as well as performances from both New York and Los Angeles. the performers included Casey Wasner, Stina Nesbitt, Ben Wang, The Over and Back Band, Sam Ryden, The Limestones and the Northfield Youth Choirs.
Northfield Shares Executive Director Carrie Carroll said the organization worked for months putting the
show together. Contacting potential performers, explaining the concept, getting them to agree, and
then asking so many of them to deliver their performances in a specific format was a logistical challenge, but in the end, she said, the final product was worth the work. And, she said, the show is still very functional as a fund raiser. The performances are every bit as good today as they were a year ago.
“It’s another opportunity to check it out. Pop a bowl of popcorn, sit down by the fireplace at home, and rewatch some amazing talent that has come out of this town, and support Northfield Shares.”
The link to watch the Reboot has been emailed to the Northfield Shares mailing list and posted to the various social media platforms. It can also be found on the front page of the Northfield Shares Website at northfieldshares.org.
Being the fourth Tuesday of the month, there will be no city council meeting this evening. However, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority will meet at 4:00 this afternoon in council chambers.
The Rice County Soil and Water district is currently taking ordersfor it’s annual tree sale. The district sells a wide variety of tree seedlings ansd shrubs, in quantities of 25, 50, etc…, to be used for conservation purposes such as windbreaks and wildlife plantings. Native prairie plants for rain gardens and butterfly gardens may also be ordered now and picked up in May. Orders can be made by calling the Rice Soil and Water district’s office or on their website at ricewcd.org. Order trees by Feb. 26 for best selection.
