Donations keep Willmar Child Guide Program afloat despite pandemic

Linda Vanderwerf, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·2 min read

Jul. 30—WILLMAR — Willmar's Child Guide Program is fully funded for now and looks good for the coming year.

The Willmar Public Schools program provides a child guide at each elementary school in the district. The Child Guide Program has been around since 1996 and is unique to the Willmar School District.

There is no state or federal funding source designated for a program like Child Guides.

"It's all dependent on the grassroots funding and local support," Community Education Director Scott Wallner said. "The fact that the community has continued to support this for a long period of time really says a great thing about the Willmar community."

At its June meeting, the school board accepted more than $65,000 in donations for the program. The district received nearly $60,000 earlier in 2021.

Child guides are there to be mentors and community resources for children and their families.

The guides connect children with caring adults and help them get involved in school activities. They use community resources to find what children need, whether it be school supplies or sporting equipment.

Because the pandemic threw off funding cycles for the nonprofits who support the program, Wallner started knocking on doors.

The program's benefactors have been "amazingly generous, " he said, but "it was understandable they would want to delay those funding cycles."

Because funding was uncertain for a time, "we went out and talked to other funders."

The result was donations from usual donors like Otto Bremer Trust, United Way of West Central Minnesota and Jennie-O Turkey Store and a number of others.

It takes about $110,000 to operate the program for a year, Wallner said. He'll continue to apply for grants in the coming year to keep the program going.

Donations made in the past year include: Otto Bremer Trust, $40,000; Southwest Initiative Foundation, $25,000; United Way of West Central Minnesota, $20,000; Willmar Area Community Foundation, $20,000; Jennie-O Turkey Store, $7,500; Hormel Foods, $7,500; Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, $2,000; Walt and Raeanna Gislason, $500; and Bethel Lutheran Church, $450.

Wallner said the public is welcome to donate any amount to support the program, too. Donations may be sent to Child Guide Program, c/o Community Education, 1234 Kandiyohi Ave. S.W., Willmar, MN 56201.

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