Happy Holidays!
Make a Scene Kids' Theatre Grant
Make A Scene Kid’s Theater (MASK) was established in the Fall of 2015 with the purpose to provide cultural enrichment and education to the children of the Minot area through enjoyable, exciting and creative theatrical experiences. MASK provides classes in which students learn the fundamentals of theatre through creative dramatics, movement, storytelling, design, and scene work. The program has grown since its’ inception and was in need of a larger, more permanent space.
Our Arnold I. Besserud Fund provided MASK with a grant for $5,000 that has enabled them to occupy a larger space in Downtown Minot. We presented them with a check at their new location on December 15th.
Soup Kitchen Christmas
With the help of the Minot Area Community Foundation, St. Leo’s Catholic Church began serving an evening soup kitchen in Minot in April of 2015. In the time since then, the soup kitchen has served over 100 people each Monday night. Because of the generosity of many in our community and with the membership of the Great Plains Food Bank, the financial need for food has been minimal.
This year, for the second year in a row, St. Leo’s was able to host the Soup Kitchen Christmas which provides families who attend, a Christmas food basket complete with meat, cheese, fruit, beverages and more. The Minot Area Community Foundation’s Arnold I Besserud Fund was again able to fund $2,000 towards the Christmas Food Baskets. It is estimated that 130 Christmas Food Baskets were distributed on the evening of December 19th at St. Leo’s Church.
Frozen Turkeys for Food Pantries
For the last 12 years, the Souris River Basin Longbeards have provided frozen turkeys to Minot and surrounding area Food Pantries for the Holiday season. Each year the program has grown and last year over 700 frozen turkeys were distributed. Our Arnold I. Besserud Fund provided The Longbeards with a grant for $1,000 to go towards the purchase of frozen turkeys. Most of the turkeys are distributed through Community Action of Minot and were distributed on Deccember 19th of this year.
Wreaths Across America
We presented our year 2 check to Wreaths Across America- $1,500 which covers 100 veteran graves with Christmas wreaths. A 5 year grant was made for $7500 ($1500 a year) from the Roush fund.