Souris Valley United Way

09/01/2026

You don't have to give a lot to make a big difference.

A few dollars each paycheck can help provide weekend meals for children, connect a senior with companionship, support families through difficult times, and so much more.

When thousands of people choose to give what they can, those small gifts become something extraordinary.

Your donation changes lives in this community.

💙 Together, we make it possible.

08/31/2026

The Airstream Club International Rally rolled into Minot this August and chose Backpack Buddies Minot as their local charity partner. They showed up in a BIG way!
At their rally, Airstream Club members packed 2,300 bags of food for local students and raised $30,330.49. Then the Minot Area Community Foundation stepped in with a $10,000 match, bringing the total impact of this incredible effort to $40,330.49.
We’ve had the privilege of spending time with the Airstream Club members over the last few months as they planned for the rally. They are truly some of the kindest and most generous people you will ever meet. They didn’t just write checks; they rolled up their sleeves, packed bags, and became part of the Backpack Buddies program.
We are especially grateful to Minot Area Community Foundation for continuing to believe in Backpack Buddies and the children we serve.
And to our friends at Airstream Club International, thank you for bringing your incredible giving spirit to Minot!
Special thanks to our board members, Minot Hot Tots staff, MACF, Marketplace Foods, Independence, Inc., a Resource Center for Independent Living, Minot Commission on Aging, and all others who volunteered their time to help with this project. Preparing, packing, and moving 2,300 bags of food takes a lot of help. We are thankful to have amazing people like you to call!

08/26/2026

Souris Valley United Way is proud to serve as the local Champion for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, helping give local children the best possible start in life.
The program was inspired by Dolly's own father, who was unable to read or write. His story reminds us of the power of literacy and the difference a book can make in a child's life.
While our hearts are incredibly heavy today, we are more inspired than ever to continue this important mission. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library will continue. Together, we can build a brighter future for our children, one book and one child at a time.
Thank you for supporting our work and Dolly's legacy!

08/21/2026

We are happy to share that our Executive Director, Christy Miller, was recently honored as the 2026 Advocate of the Year by Independence, Inc., a Resource Center for Independent Living. Congratulations Christy! We are grateful for your leadership and your heart for our community.

🎉 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿! 🎉

At our annual Celebrating Independence Picnic, Independence, Inc. was proud to recognize Christy Miller, Executive Director of Souris Valley United Way , as our 2026 Advocate of the Year.

Christy understands that strong communities are built through collaboration. She encourages nonprofits to work together rather than operate in silos, but she is also willing to ask difficult questions and hold all of us accountable for doing better. She does not accept “that’s the way we’ve always done it” when people in our community are still being left behind.

Christy has become one of our community’s strongest voices in addressing homelessness. She has helped lead local Point-in-Time Counts, advocated for emergency housing during North Dakota’s dangerous winter months, provided supplies and resources to people experiencing homelessness, and challenged community organizations to work together to find better solutions.

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩, 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩.

Christy Miller does all of those things.

Congratulations, Christy, and thank you for helping make our community stronger, more inclusive, and a place where everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity and independence.

You are truly deserving of the 2026 Advocate of the Year Award! 💙

08/20/2026

What started as an idea for this year's PIT (Point in Time) Count became an incredible night!
Last night at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, we were able to provide free showers, a hot dinner, clothing, and other essentials to those experiencing homelessness in Minot. Local nonprofits and community organizations were there to offer resources, answer questions, and connect people with services.

It was a powerful reminder that when we work together, we can do so much more than any one organization can do alone.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make last night possible:
Cornerstone Church
First District Health Unit
Community Action Partnership - Minot Region (CAP)
Men's Winter Refuge
Independence, Inc., a Resource Center for Independent Living
F5 Project - Minot
Pathfinder Services
Youthworks
Ward County Human Services
Legal Services of North Dakota
North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Community Options of North Dakota
Gate City Bank
Town & Country Credit Union
*And a special thank you to everyone who donated towels for showers and clothing to give away.

08/17/2026

See you at Cash Wise on Friday! 🛒🎒

We're continuing Backpack Buddies Kick-Off Month with a community food drive at Cash Wise this Friday! 🛒

📅 Friday, August 21st
⏰ 4:00 - 6:00 PM
📍 Cash Wise Foods, Minot

Cash Wise will have our most-needed Backpack Buddies items stocked and ready to go, making it easy to grab a few extras while you shop. Pick up an item (or a few!), drop it off with our team, and help make sure local kids have food to take home on the weekends.

We're especially grateful to Airstream Club International Rally for sponsoring this food drive as they prepare to welcome thousands of members to Minot! We're excited to have them join us in giving back to our community.

Plus, we'll have a live radio remote at the store, so come say hi! 🎙️

We'll see you Friday! 🎒

08/12/2026

Thank you for showing up for local kids. 💛🎒

08/07/2026