MINOT — Nonprofit organizations all over North Dakota are busy preparing for another season of giving. Giving Hearts Day, which was founded in 2008 by the Dakota Medical Foundation, encourages people to show love to their favorite charities on February 10. In the 14 years since its founding, Giving Hearts Day has raised more than $112 million for nonprofits all over North Dakota and northwest Minnesota to continue making the world a better place.
Minot’s own Project BEE, formerly the YWCA, has big plans for Giving Hearts Day 2022. Its goal? To raise as much money as possible for their Broadway Circle Capital Campaign. Broadway Circle will be a resource hub that features a six-unit family shelter, 17 housing units, space for the Lord’s Cupboard Food Pantry and Welcome Table Soup Kitchen, as well as commercial space. Nearly 73% of the capital campaign is covered through federal grants awarded to Project BEE, but it needs the community’s help to raise the remaining 27%.
Liz Larsen, Executive Director of Project BEE, explained, “The cost of everything has gone up, so for what was originally planned even with the grant… it’s not enough. We are going to have to raise about $2.2 million to complete the project.”
Project BEE will break ground on Broadway Circle in May of 2022. Because of constraints on the federal grants, they must raise the remainder of the money and have the facility completed by September of 2023, leaving them one short year to finish the project—a daunting task, but one that Larsen says she believes is essential to the community. “The addition of a family shelter is something that our community does not have and it’s something that we need,” she said.
As Project BEE continues to expand its services, its clientele diversifies as well. Unfortunately, due to the requirements of other facilities, some families must be separated in order to be granted shelter, which is why an all-inclusive family shelter is important. “That’s why we need this family shelter, so that these families who did not fit these boxes before have a safe place to go,” said Larsen. “It is designed for families of all makeups. So maybe it’s two moms and a kid, or a single dad with three kids. Whatever that family looks like, they are going to have a safe space to address their trauma with our amazing, trained staff and overcome their barriers to get that permanent housing.” Each shelter plays a vital role in supporting the homeless community, but Project BEE plans to have Broadway Circle will be a place for everyone to go and find the help that they need.
“This winter, we have seen a lot of groups that are just meant to be served by this family shelter, and I can’t wait until we can do more. It’s traumatizing enough when you have to go into a shelter. We want to make [Broadway Circle] as nice as we can and give them dignity and respect, wrap them in love, and give them something better that they deserve,” she said.
According to Larsen, every little donation counts in a big way for nonprofit organizations. “Even if it’s only $10, donate it to an organization that you really love and let them know that you’re there, you’re rooting for them, and you believe in their mission. What if ten people donated $10? That’s our trash bill for a whole month. That’s meals for families. It has a huge impact, and I think it takes a lot of people to come together and create something big.”
But monetary donations are not the only way to contribute to Project BEE on Giving Hearts Day. Individuals can donate new and used goods, as well as their time to volunteer with diaper drives, community closet sorting, and more. “It makes a huge difference, and we are so grateful for our donors. You don’t have to donate a lot to make a big difference,” continued Larsen.
Throughout the next month, Project BEE will be doing outreach at coffee shops all over Minot and scheduling donations for Giving Hearts Day. Donors can pledge their share ahead of time to be collected on February 10. While Project BEE hopes to use monetary donations for Broadway Circle, donations can also be given to contribute to everyday operations.
With the support of the community, whether it is on Giving Hearts Day or any day of the year, Project BEE can continue to provide client-centered programs that offer dignity and respect to those in times of crisis. “This [family shelter] is not happening because of one of two people; it’s happening because of a lot of people coming together and all giving a little bit, whether it’s a little bit of time, or money, or expertise,” Larsen said.
To learn more about Project BEE and its Giving Hearts Day, visit www.projectbeend.org, go to the Project BEE Facebook page, or visit www.givingheartsday.org.
