Foster grandparent program can make big impact on kids, volunteers Al Wortman, a foster grandparent from Hoover Elementary School in North Mankato is a former teacher and professor. He mostly helps students who need help in reading and math. Contributed photo Many of us grew up with our grandparents living nearby or even in the same house. Today’s young families often live several states away from grandparents, and contact is limited to holidays and other special occasions. S

When Joyce Blair Anderson was only 2 years old, her happy place was in a saddle on the back of a pony. Her family owned Blair Pony Farm north of Glenwood where they bought and sold ponies to area farmers. Joyce stops to pet Finn, a friendly dog brought in for a visit by Kay Feuchtenberger, an employee at the assisted living facility that Joyce calls home (Holly Ridge). Photo by Faith Anderson “Back in the ‘50s and ‘60s, every farm had a pony or two for the kids,” said Joyce.

In the summer of 2016, Audrey Gerhardson, of Hawley, had just lost her husband, Marv, and was still grieving. They had been married for 60 some years, raised five children together and traveled the world…50 countries exactly. After his long bout with cancer, this chapter of her life was over. So here she was, a new widow thinking, “What in the world am I supposed to do now? I need to find a purpose.” Audrey Gerhardson, of Hawley, with two of the children she has helped at Cas

Karla Dixon, of Annandale, works at a veterinary clinic in town. She is often the first person you see when you walk in or the first person who answers the phone. Her outgoing personality endears her to the many clients (both the animals and their humans) as she remembers each person and their pet without having to ask a phone number or name. After working with animals and the public all day, many people might need a break from animals and people in the evenings. But Karla us

LGF seeing first hand the benefits of a boat ride Smiles are common on Let’s Go Fishing boats. The non-profit organization has helped thousands of people get out on the water over the last 14 years Contributed photo Studies have shown that nature has beneficial effects on mental and physical health. And Let’s Go Fishing’s many chapters in Minnesota are stressing the importance of those outdoor attributes in its mission statement: “Bringing Nature’s Healing and Well-Being to S

Central Minnesota Job Transitions Group meets each Wednesday It’s not easy being laid off, fired or in between jobs, but a volunteer group based in St. Cloud can help those looking for a new job by providing them with support and networking opportunities. Sharon Sorenson and Mike Lamb are volunteers with Central Minnesota Job Transitions Group, a St. Cloud-based group that helps people who have been laid off, fired or are looking for a new job. Photo by Frank Lee meets from 1

New 2 You originally opened its doors in 2007 and has now been in the remodeled building along First Street since July of 2011. Zondervan said they’ve not only added a lot of floor space, but their entire donation center is at least six times the size of what they had to start with. “And we have everything on ground level for the shopper where in the former store we had merchandise upstairs.” Now the only thing they use the upstairs for is for storage and offices. Darci Post,