With escalating socioeconomic issues, teen referrals have outpaced Elk River Timber Bay resources. A TRCF grant has enabled it to expand its much-needed mentor services to help disadvantaged youth build critical life-skills for successful adult living.

About 17% of students in the ISD 728 school district live in poverty, and some go through the school day without eating breakfast or lunch. With help from a TRCF grant, the school district has established an “angel” fund to ensure all children get a warm meal at school.

Open Doors for Youth serves area youth ages 16 to 23 who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. A TRCF grant provided essential support for its drop-in resource center, located in downtown Elk River.

For the past 5 years, this run, walk, bike, blade event has been offering a day of family fun, while raising money for mental health, suicide awareness and prevention. They have used TRCF grants to provide emotional support dogs for people and families devastated by suicide, or suffering from PTSD.

Reel of Hope used a TRCF grant to produce video profiles of kids waiting for adoption. The videos share kids’ faces, laughs and personalities—encouraging prospective families to step forward to care for these incredible kids.