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Hello,
Right now, many young people in our region are living in a world that feels unpredictable and adults who care for them are feeling it, too. When children are exposed to stress and disruption, they don’t just “bounce back” on a timeline. They need adults who stay close, notice what’s changing and keep offering safety and consistency. Thank you for the ways you are doing that for the young people in your lives every day. What may feel like small moments of support, like welcoming, routine and reassurance, can mean everything.
For 40 years, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) has supported Early Childhood initiatives by partnering with people and organizations who lead with compassion. Capstone Publishing has donated books through SMIF since 2002, joined later by another Mankato-based company, ABDO. Their ongoing generosity, along with the work of grant awardees, has helped strengthen early literacy for children across our region. SMIF’s Early Literacy Grant is now open, and we will be prioritizing proposals that intentionally include and uplift communities most impacted by the crisis.
We’re also sharing resources below in hopes they bring you support and options for the families you walk alongside. Even as we hold what’s hard, we also believe celebration can be a form of community care. These moments are an opportunity to reconnect, honor what’s working and recommit to one another. Please join us for SMIF's 40th anniversary in gratitude of the strength of our partnerships and with reflection on how we continue to move forward together with compassion and care.
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