Community Aid Of Elk River

THE MISSION OF CAER IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RELIEVE HUNGER, TOGETHER.

CAER HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN AND OTSEGO SINCE 1979 THROUGH THE COLLECTION OF FOOD AND PERSONAL CARE ITEM DONATIONS. ADDITIONAL ITEMS ARE PURCHASED BY CAER WITH CASH DONATIONS RECEIVED. EACH DONATION DOLLAR PROVIDES THE PURCHASING POWER TO PROVIDE THREE MEALS TO CLIENTS. TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS IN STRETCHING THEIR FOOD BUDGETS TO INCLUDE FRESH PRODUCE, CAER FORGED ALLIANCES WITH SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND, THE FOOD GROUP FOOD BANKS, AS WELL AS LOCAL GROWERS AND GROCERS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FRESH PRODUCE OFFERED. IN TOTAL FOR ALL PROGRAMS IN 2022, CAER PROVIDED 815,313 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE COMMUNITIES OF ELK RIVER, ZIMMERMAN, OTSEGO AND SURROUNDING AREAS. IN 2010, CAER IMPLEMENTED A SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED "KIDZ KITZ". THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL KID-FRIENDLY FOOD, PRODUCE, MILK AND BAKERY ITEMS AS WEEKLY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PACKAGES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN 2020, WITH THE SUDDEN SHIFT TO DISTANCE LEARNING, THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENTED FROM MARCH TO AUGUST. CAER RENAMED THE KIDZ KITZ PROGRAM TO THE KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE IN APRIL 2021. IT WAS RESTRUCTURED TO PROVIDE WEEKEND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES YEAR-ROUND. IN 2022, 2,481 CHILDREN (DUPLICATED/APPROXIMATE 1,239 UNDUPLICATED) RECEIVED A KIDS WEEKEND CAER PACKAGE. ADDITIONAL FOOD OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN 2022 INCLUDED PROVIDING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO OPEN DOORS FOR YOUTH, (A DROP-IN CENTER FOR HOMELESS AND AT- RISK YOUTH), THUMBS UP, ELK RIVER HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE AND SPARK2HOPE TOTALLING OVER 5,100 POUNDS. WE ALSO PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 60 EMERGENCY FOOD BAGS (791 POUNDS)TO SHERBURNE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. CAER SERVES LOW-INCOME SENIORS IN ZIMMERMAN AND ELK RIVER BY DELIVERING BOTH PERISHABLE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO SENIOR HOUSING UNITS. IN 2022, WE PROVIDED 23,277 POUNDS OF FOOD TO 111 SENIORS. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHURCH OF SAINT ANDREW, IN 2022 WE PROVIDED PRODUCE DISTRIBUTIONS TOTALLING 26,005 POUNDS OF FOOD FOR 491 HOUSEHOLDS.

IN 2022, CAER HELPED OVER 200 HOUSEHOLDS WITH MISCELLANEOUS NEEDS INCLUDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND 23 GAS CARDS.

CAER PROVIDES EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE MAINTAIN OR OBTAIN HOUSING, GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES. WE SEEK TO PREVENT EVICTION AND UTILITY SHUT OFF ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS. OUR SERVICE AREA IS EXTENDED FOR THIS ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS IN THE CITIES OF ELK RIVER, BIG LAKE, BECKER, OTSEGO AND ZIMMERMAN. IN 2022, 94 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HOUSING OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

CAER INITIATED OUR "CAR CAER" PROGRAM MORE THAN 15 YEARS AGO AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO HELP CLIENTS REMAIN MOBILE SO THEY CAN WORK OR LOOK FOR WORK. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE BY HELPING INDIVIDUALS WITH VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. WE PARTNER WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT PROVIDES FACILITIES AND VOLUNTEER MECHANICS WHO PROVIDE THE EXPERTISE AND LABOR TO FIX OR MAINTAIN A VEHICLE. CAER PAYS FOR THE NECESSARY PARTS OR SUPPLIES. THESE PARTS AND SUPPLIES ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THE SHOP OWNER AT WHOLESALE PRICES. IN 2022, 11 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HELP THROUGH CAR CAER.