Welcome to our new Quarterly Volunteer Newsletter!

As United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)'s Volunteer & Engagement Coordinator, I have the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated, generous people in our communities: our volunteers.  

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and it’s time to celebrate all of you who show up in big and small ways.

From longtime volunteers who have supported this work for years, to those just getting started, to youth discovering the value of giving back, each of you plays an important role in strengthening our communities.  

We see the families who volunteer together, the student groups and teams who jump in to help, the coworkers who spend a day serving side by side, and the individuals who quietly give their time week after week.

We see you, and we appreciate you.  

Volunteering looks different for everyone, but the impact is always meaningful. Whether it’s one hour or many years, your time, energy, and care make a lasting difference across our region.  

To every volunteer who has been part of this work, thank you. You are the heart of what we do, and we are so grateful to be part of a community that shows up for one another.  

-Emily Unhjem
emily@unitedwaynemn.org | 218-215-2425

You're Making a Difference

Our community members united to volunteer for a collective 4,175 hours through UWNEMN's Volunteer Center over the past year.

Your time is valuable in more ways than one. According to the latest "Value of Volunteer Time" report from Independent Sector, with the Do Good Institute, the time you spent volunteering over the past year was valued at $159,318!

This first-ever UWNEMN Volunteer Newsletter is dedicated in memory of longtime volunteer and board member Dan Kotnik who touched many lives and is greatly missed by all who knew him.