Who We Support
Adopt a Highway Project
Part of being a Soroptimist is helping to improve our communities by donating and our time and energy. In the fall of 2005, SI Virginia adopted the portion of Highway 53 just north of the Laurentian Divide. We gather every fall to ensure that stretch of the Iron Range is as clean and lovely as we can keep it. Despite one year when we were pelted by hail (!), these days of service are a fun way to increase our impact on our communities while deepening our friendships with each other. Everyone is welcome to join the fun! Look for announcements on our Facebook page this autumn and come and join us!
United Way of Northeast Minnesota
For many years, SI Virginia members have volunteered at least twice a year to help United Way of Northeast Minnesota with their Buddy Backpack program, which provides nutritious, non-perishable and child-friendly food for area children at risk of going hungry over weekends and holidays. Children benefit greatly from this program and have shown progress in their learning ability, attention spans and in having fewer behavioral concerns at school. Currently, Buddy Backpacks is helping to fight weekend hunger by providing these food kits to more than 1,000 children between the Iron Range and in Koochiching County each Friday or holiday break from school. The program provides nourishment for food-insecure children so that they can come back to school on Monday mornings ready to learn, grow and thrive. This is also a great opportunity to join with us and learn more about our club while helping area families in need. Look for announcements on our Facebook page!
Meals on Wheels
Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency’s (AEOA) Senior Nutrition Services offers services that support older adults (60 and over) to live healthier, more active and independent lives, and make eating healthy and easy. These meals are developed and approved by a licensed, registered dietitian to ensure that they are healthy and nutritious. Among the options for our area seniors is Meals on Wheels to the homebound. SI Virginia has proudly partnered with AEOA to deliver these healthy and delicious hot meals to members of our community who otherwise would not have access.
Salvation Army
Our Salvation Army has been there for our community members when hard times hit. Funds raised by the annual bell ringing underwrite their free weekday dinner program and their emergency food shelf, among other programs. SI Virginia members have helped for years by donating a day of bell ringing. We are proud that our day is consistently among the highest revenue generating! Perhaps it is our cheer, or the fact that our Shannon Gunderson brings along her harmonium…
Service Donations
Financial Support
The mission of the Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County is to have available free advocacy services for victims of sexual violence along with their families and friends, with the ultimate purpose of preventing this type of crime through awareness and education.
BRIDGES is a program focused on 13-19 year old girls who are in risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system. County probation officers run the program; SI Virginia MN has donated $250 to the Sexual Assault Program to help BRIDGES provide incentives for the participants to fulfill the requirements of the program.
Sexual Assault team members Taylor Vagle and Jamie Koppes, Director, accept SI Virginia’s 2025 $1,000 donation from Kathy Riordan, president, and Shirley Lenci, outgoing board member
The Superior Babies Program is a collaboration between St. Louis County Public Health & Human Services and the Arrowhead Center LLC and was established to reduce the devastating effects of prenatal alcohol and substance use by promoting healthy prenatal and parenting behavior in the target population.
Shirley Lenci, outgoing board member, Julie Ebnet Kilen, nurse, and Kristin Pessenda, president-elect, with SI Virginia’s $500 worth of donated baby supplies
Drug Court is a voluntary 14-18-month program. Following the 10-Key Components of Drug Courts, the Circuit Judge leads the multi-disciplinary team of professionals to assist participants with an array of services such as emergency financial assistance, chemical dependency and mental health/trauma counseling and employment. SI Virginia has partnered with Drug Court to host events and has provided female participants with gas cards and transportation tickets to allow them to meet the Court’s requirements; SI Virginia MN donated $250 to help the women in the program again this year.
Through their network of agency and community partners, and direct service programs, the Quad Cities Food Shelf provides dignified and equitable food access to our neighbors facing hunger. This year, SI Virginia was able to raise $365 for the food shelf during our “Bring and Buy” event.
Sue Beck, parlimentarian, presents Mary Suhadolc, Quad City Food Shelf Volunteer, with our 2025 donation check. Donations in March are doubled, so we always make ours then!
Leah Stauber, assistant county attorney, Mindy Kuhl, St. Louis County Social Worker, Taylor Vagle and Jamie Koppes of Sexual Assault Program of NSLC, Kathy Riordan, president, Shirley Lenci, outgoing board member and Sam Pepin, SLC Probation Officer. SI Virginia MN was able to donate $1,500 to their programs in 2025