“Give Back” drive raises $5,496

Minnkota employees have opened their hearts and wallets to support those struggling from the effects of the pandemic, donating nearly $5,500 in a first-of-its-kind fundraising effort.

Early in May, Minnkota CEO Mac McLennan proposed a special monthlong “Give Back” drive to bolster the Grand Forks employee Jeans Day Fund amidst the region’s COVID-19 crisis. He announced he would personally match a substantial amount of the donations submitted before the start of the next Jeans Day cycle on June 1.

“As I look at today’s circumstances, there has never been a greater need to help people in our community,” McLennan told employees. “If we all give a little, we can help others who are less fortunate.”

The $5,496 raised in the “Give Back” drive will be distributed to the following organizations supporting coronavirus-related needs:

• United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Area (One Fund)

• United Way of Cass-Clay (Coronavirus Response Fund)

• United Way of Bemidji Area (Emergency Response Fund)

• Larimore Food Pantry

• Rural Enrichment and Counseling Headquarters (Hawley, Minn.)

• Initiative Foundation, Emergency Relief and Recovery Fund (Little Falls, Minn.)

• Bemidji Community Food Shelf

• Fargo Emergency Food Pantry

• Great Plains Food Bank (Fargo, N.D.)

• St. Joseph’s Food Pantry (Grand Forks, N.D.)

The Jeans Day program provides an opportunity for employees to pay $45 a year (or $1 a week) for the ability to wear jeans on Fridays. The funds raised through Jeans Day are dispersed to area nonprofit and charity organizations suggested by Minnkota employees. Since 2011, more than $55,000 has been provided to worthy causes.