Homelessness in our state and region is at record levels. According to the Minnesota Homeless Study, 10,522 Minnesotans experienced homelessness in 2023, the second highest since the study started in 1991.
For those who find stable housing, the cost of settling in can be overwhelming. That’s why the Bremer Home For Good Campaign was created: to give once-homeless families all the supplies they need to feel like they are home for good.
“We’re proud to be celebrating five years of the Bremer Home For Good partnership with United Way, which allows our employees to work on the ground level and provide immediate, tangible support to families as they build their foundation for success,” said Bremer Bank president and CEO Jeanne Crain. “When every individual has access to safe and reliable housing, our communities are stronger.”
Employee volunteers worked like an assembly line, packing a total of 750 boxes, each filled with essentials like plates, silverware, cleaning supplies, blankets and towels all beneath a note that read, “We hope these items are useful as you settle in. Welcome home!”
“I work with champions at the branches who pick out where these boxes should be going,” said Allison Flaten, marketing coordinator at Bremer Bank. Flaten directed about 20 volunteers during a packing shift on Nov. 20. Each kit is earmarked for a family in need.
In its five years, the Bremer Home For Good initiative has reached 3,500 families and individuals across the Upper Midwest.
“Access to housing is a heightening concern for many across the region, and homelessness continues to grow across Minnesota, disproportionately impacting Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander and People of Color,” said John Wilgers, president and CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way.
Once packed and taped shut, the kits travel to nearly 50 Bremer locations throughout Greater Minnesota, North Dakota, and Western Wisconsin. The branch locations then partner with local nonprofits that identify individuals and families that can use the supplies most.
“I love the aspect that Bremer is owned by a charitable trust and how much money is spent in communities,” said Tim Buch, Bremer mortgage banker and volunteer. “I did it the first year I started with the company and ever since. It’s a lot of fun.”
Affordable housing is a key philanthropic component of thriving communities, a focus instilled by Bremer Bank founder Otto Bremer and core of the organization’s Welcome Home partnership with United Way.