Hospice of the Red River Valley Receives $3,368 Gift from Annual MnDOT Employee Potluck

Employees and retirees of the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety and Driver & Vehicle Services in Detroit Lakes held their 17th annual holiday potluck and drawing for Hospice on December 21, raising $3,368 for Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Each December, the groups transform their lunchroom into a workshop of handcrafted and home-cooked items. Proceeds from the event have raised a total of $17,656 for Hospice of the Red River Valley since the event’s inception in 1995.

Trudy Kordosky, Dana Hanson and Keven Meacham organized the annual event. Current and former employees donated a variety of items for the potluck and drawing, many of them handmade.

A very special entry each year is a handmade quilt, crafted by Teresa Elkin in memory of her father-in-law, E.E. Elkin, who passed away in 2000, under the care of hospice services in Iowa. Her annual quilt donation is a way to honor his memory. Ben Torgerson, from the IT Department at MnDOT, was this year’s winner of the beautiful quilt. Ann Boen also made and donated a quilt in honor of Eugene Meyer, Ann’s late father. Joe Gravelle, from hydraulics at MnDOT, won this quilt.

Border State Bank Employees Raise $700 for Hospice of the Red River Valley

The employees of Border State Bank raised $700 for Hospice of the Red River Valley. Through the Judy Dragseth challenge grant and the generosity of local donors, their contribution will be matched for a total gift of $1,400.

The Thief River Falls branch has 19 employees who raise money throughout the year through various activities. This is the second year Border State Bank chose Hospice as the recipient. The donation will be used to provide compassionate end-of-life care to those in Thief River Falls and surrounding communities.

Jessica Porter, a teller at Border State Bank, said they chose Hospice of the Red River Valley as the beneficiary because of the organization’s impact on their community. “Hospice touches so many lives. We support Hospice so they can continue serving our region,” Porter said.

The gift will have a significant impact on hospice care in the area, according to Hospice of the Red River Valley Development Officer Nicolle Aukland. “Border State Bank has demonstrated a wonderful commitment to ensuring hospice care continues long into the future,” Aukland said. “I am hopeful that several others in the community will feel inspired to give donations to be matched.”

Gifts of $500 or more to Hospice of the Red River Valley given in 2011 will be eligible for the matching funds. To learn more about giving a gift to Hospice, visit www.hrrv.org or call 1-800-237-4629.