A window to the lakes and a door to the prairie—this is why I love where I live. It’s one of the many reasons to love our irreplicable region here in west central Minnesota.
We have clean lakes and rivers, ample hiking and biking, fertile farmland, and destinations drawing visitors interested in fishing, hunting, and swimming. We have people and communities caring for these incredible resources and amenities. And, furthermore, we’re caring for each other.
During this season of giving, I’m asking you to find that place in your world.
Find the joy in giving, something that helps to take care of others. Here are a few ways you can do that:
- Give of your time. Help a neighbor with snow removal. Kids can help too!
- Give of your special skills. Knit someone a hat or mittens.
- Offer your expertise. Teach breadmaking, or piano, or a language, or accounting, or all of the above.
- Give that jar of change you’ve been saving to someone in need.
- Donate to your favorite cause.
Visit our online giving portal to find more than 200 ways to take care of those who call our region home by giving to West Central Initiative or through West Central Initiative.
The desire to promote the welfare of others, this is the definition of philanthropy.
When we adopted our strategic plan, we made a promise to continue to protect our region, our state, our country, and our globe—which translates into caring for each other and the land that shelters and feeds us. This all starts right here in our own backyard.
Imagine this: no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible production and consumption, peace and justice and strong institutions. In partnership, we can achieve these things.
This season, experience the joy of caring for others.
Rebecca Lynn Petersen
