08/28/2026
Community Steps Summer Edition
As we wrap up another incredible Community Steps Summer Edition, our hearts are full.
This summer, more than 500 students received new shoes — shoes chosen to fit their growing feet and help them step confidently into the school year. Together, we also served more than 1,000 meals, created opportunities for families to connect with community resources, and surrounded students with caring community members and first responders.
But Community Steps has never been just about shoes.
It’s about reminding young people that their community sees them, believes in them, and is willing to show up for them.
It’s about a firefighter sitting beside a child while they pick out their shoes.
It’s about a police officer having a conversation that turns into a relationship.
It’s about a volunteer making a family feel welcomed.
It’s about a meal shared, a haircut received, a cupcake enjoyed, and a resource discovered.
It’s about creating moments where a child gets to experience something simple but powerful:
“My community cares about me.”
And we could not do this without an incredible community.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to every organization, business, first responder, volunteer, donor, and community member who helped make this possible:
Advocates for Family Peace
Thank you for being part of a community that supports families.
Chisholm Community Foundation
Thank you for your generous funding and investment in local youth.
City of Mountain Iron
Thank you for showing up and helping make Community Steps a community effort.
Clinton Township Fire and EMS
Thank you for showing up and helping.
Eveleth Elks Lodge # 1161
Thank you for your funding and support.
Family Services Collaborative of St. Louis County
Thank you for providing the majority of the funding that made this summer possible. Your investment in our youth and families made an incredible impact.
Famous Footwear
Thank you for helping us stretch every dollar with more than $6,000 in discounts! Your partnership made it possible for us to provide even more.
Gilbert, MN Fire Department
Thank you for being there for our students and families and for the memorable fire safety talks.
Great Clips
Thank you for donating 150 haircut gift cards and helping students head into the school year feeling fresh and confident.
Hibbing Police Department and K9 Dottie
Thank you for building relationships with our young people and being part of their Community Steps experience.
Mountain Iron Fire Department
Thank you for continuing to champion Community Steps and for all the countless hours, energy, and heart you pour into this program.
Mountain Iron Public Library
Thank you for helping create opportunities for connection, learning, and community.
MIB Speech
Thank you for helping during the events!
Pizza Ranch
Thank you for helping keep our families fed and making mealtime part of the Community Steps experience.
St. Louis County Sheriff's Office - MN
Thank you for showing up, connecting with families, and helping strengthen relationships between first responders and the community.
Thro Dough Bakery
Thank you for filling our events with sweetness — more than 2,000 cupcakes and cookies, including treats made with dietary restrictions in mind. You helped make sure there was something for everyone.
Thro Kindness
Thank you for believing in the vision of Community Steps and continuing to build the ripples that make this program possible.
Thirsty Moose
Thank you for supporting our students and families.
Thrivent Financial
Thank you for helping keep little feet comfortable and ready for the year ahead with your generous sock donation.
Village Inn
Thank you for your generous support and for helping us care for our community.
And to our volunteers — the people who greeted families, walked beside students, helped with shoes, served meals, handed out resources, packed treats, answered questions, and did whatever needed to be done — thank you. Community Steps simply would not be possible without you.
Most importantly, thank you to the students and families who trusted us to be part of their summer.
We hope you know that these shoes, meals, haircuts, treats, and resources are more than things. They are small reminders that you matter, your family matters, and your community is cheering you on.
That is what happens when a community decides that every child deserves to feel supported.
And we're not done.
As we begin looking toward our Community Steps Winter Edition, we know there are more young people who will need warm winter attire, meals, connection, and a community willing to stand beside them.
If you are a business, organization, first responder, volunteer, donor, or community member who would like to be part of the next step, we would love to have you join us.
Because Community Steps isn't one organization doing something for a community.
It is a community coming together for its children.
Thank you for helping us create ripples of kindness, connection, and possibility.
Until the next step…
