Summer of Significance

Greetings!

AS WE MEANDER... through these days of summer, we are grateful for the opportunities to indulge outdoor passions, to connect with friends and loved ones around the barbeque grill, on a hiking trail or maybe by the shores of Lake Superior. We encountered days of extreme heat and wildfire smoke engulfing our neighborhoods, throughout which Chum worked to take care of those unhoused, offering support through our outreach and shelter services.

Our Chum family has also had to deal with loss. In May, we lost former Food Shelf employee, Shaundale Jones. In July, we lost LaRell Rushing, son of Operations Director, Denine Rushing, and we also lost Jack Kemp, decades-long finance committee member and Chum supporter. They each touched our lives in unique ways. We miss them but treasure the memories and the legacies of their lives among us.

Our fiscal new year started in July with a new budget worth $8.2M that is designed to see Chum through an upcoming year of growth and transition.

We are investing heavily in our staff through economic support and retention initiatives that will be facilitated with the creation of an HR Department, complete with a professional services trainer and HR Manager.

We are investing significantly in Chum’s future services with the construction of a new facility which will usher in new levels of services for those who fall through the cracks and need to find their way back to “home”.

We are investing strategically in institutional strengthening as we continue to expand in response to community needs. Chum has grown over the years to have 11 programs in 12 locations across Duluth, employing close to 100 people.

This is all about transformation – something which started 53 years ago when those 10 Hillside congregations decided that they could do better for the community by pooling resources and working together. That motivation and spirit has persisted across five decades, bringing us to today, where we see 42 congregations and our community of goodwill and conscience, working together for a better Duluth.

For you, and for this, we are profoundly grateful.

John Cole
Executive Director - Chum

500+ Reasons The Rhubarb Festival Worked

Minnesota's largest rhubarb festival doesn't run on rhubarb alone — it runs on volunteers.

Over 500 people gave their time on June 27th, from setup at dawn to the last basket raffle drawing in the afternoon. They staffed the food tent, ran the games, drove the shuttles, sorted the recycling, sold raffle tickets, and kept thousands of guests fed, entertained, and welcomed.

But the festival doesn't start on festival day. In the weeks leading up to June 27th, volunteers logged over 2,000 hours baking, canning, and prepping — turning thousands of pounds of rhubarb into the pies, jams, and treats that make the festival what it is, long before a single guest walked through the gate.

It's not just the scale that makes this festival special — it's the spirit behind it. When we asked festival-goers this year to describe Chum in a word, the two most common answers were simple: help and care. That's exactly what our volunteers brought to Grand Avenue this year, and exactly what makes the Rhubarb Festival possible.

If you volunteered this year — thank you. If you're curious about joining the crew for 2027, keep an eye on this newsletter for signup details.

2026 Rhubarb Festival Photos

July's "Open Your Heart" Campaign

July 31 marks the end of the "Open Your Heart" food shelf campaign! Every July, when you donate to Chum's Food Shelf, your donation is proportionally matched, allowing your donation to go that much further.

Funds raised during this campaign go to support Thanksgiving boxes handed out in November.

Donate Today

Produce Fridays at Chum!

Every Friday during the warmer months, folks can stop on by to grab some fresh produce from local farmers for your table, REGARDLESS of your situation, background, or income level. The Chum Food Shelf wants to provide healthy food options to anyone who would like them! Produce can be picked up every Friday through the fall, from 10am-noon at the downtown location.

August 4th is National Night Out!

Chum invites neighbors, downtown businesses, community partners, and everyone who lives, works, volunteers, worships, or visits downtown Duluth to join us for this year's Neighborhood Night Out on Tuesday, August 4th, at the Damiano Center.

In support of the ongoing Chum Shelter Expansion, this year's event will be held at the Damiano Center. This temporary relocation will allow construction activities to continue safely and efficiently while ensuring this valued community tradition remains an opportunity to connect with one another. Neighborhood Night Out celebrates the strength of our downtown community by bringing together residents, businesses, service organizations, and public safety partners to build relationships and foster a safer, more connected neighborhood. Whether you're a long-time resident, a downtown employee, or new to the area, we encourage you to join us, meet your neighbors, and celebrate the partnerships that make our community so special.

We are grateful to the Damiano Center for hosting this year's event and look forward to welcoming Neighborhood Night Out back to the Chum campus once construction of the new shelter has been completed.

Updates from Chum's Overnight Shelter

Through the St. Louis County Coordinated Entry System, 156 people were moved into permanent housing in 2025. Chum assisted 54 people move into housing - 28 individuals/households from Chum's coordinated entry, and 26 individual/households from outside agencies and organizations working with folks residing at Chum's shelter on housing through the Coordinated Entry System.

Thank you to our local partner organizations and agencies for working alongside Chum to more efficiently help our fellow neighbors. We couldn't do it without you!

Steve O'Neil Apartment's Adrienne Brown Art Show

Come support our very own Adrienne Brown as she makes her art show debut from August 10th-14th at Zeitgeist! Reception and fundraising event will take place on August 13th from 5-7:00pm.

50% of all purchases will go towards programming at the Steve O'Neil Apartments.

St. Scholastica Occupational Therapy

Students from St. Scholastica's Occupational Therapy program did a summer semester with Steve O’Neil, teaching Occupational Therapy in a hands-on way that was accessible for beginners. Thank you St. Scholastica!

Updates from Safe Bay

The fence at Safe Bay is complete! Many thanks to Axel, Eagle Scout candidate, and his team for their more than 350+ hours of work to make this project a reality. This beautiful fence will provide additional privacy and dignity to Safe Bay's guests.

Church groups are starting to make meals for Safe Bay residents! Pictured above is volunteers from Trinity Lutheran and St. Andrews by the Lake who teamed up to serve up sloppy joes.

Updates from the St. Francis Apartments

St. Francis continues to keep busy with new move-ins, programming, and volunteers helping when things are needed! The apartments had one move-in in April, three in May, and two in July.

The interior hallways of the St. Francis Apartments received a fresh coat of paint and are looking so much nicer for residents who are coming and going. Thank you volunteers!

On July 11th, St. Francis hosted their 3rd annual summer picnic. Huge thank you to the Chum board and Duluth Bible Institute for helping us put on the party!

Wish List Items

Underwear and Socks
Towels of any size

Reusable bags (backpacks, totes,
duffel bags)
Bars of soap

Chairs (lightweight + moveable)
Folding Tables

Art Supplies, including watercolor + acrylic paints and canvases
Potting Soil

Contact marketing@chumduluth.org for additional questions.

What Type of Assets Can You Give to Support Your Favorite Charities?

What are the best types of assets to give to support the causes that mean the most to you? Read more to explore your options for tax-smart charitable giving.

Read July's Blog