WDIO Creating Change | www.WDIO.com

The Northland is a beautiful place to call home, but just like any community, we have our share of problems. Who do you see as the face of Homelessness in our community? Of Mental Health, Poverty, or Hunger? It may not be who you think.

At WDIO, With You For Life means celebrating the good times and helping with the serious issues. We are partnering with local organizations to tackle these issues head-on, to improve and coordinate our community response.

We can accomplish great things when we come together as a community. Be part of the solution to create change.

CHUM

CHUM is Duluth's primary safety-net organization where people who are homeless or who have very low incomes can come for assistance and a welcoming, safe community. It was founded in 1973 when 10 churches from Duluth's Central Hillside came together to meet the needs of the neighborhood, and now has 43 member congregations. CHUM offers emergency food, shelter, advocacy, support, and outreach throughout Duluth.

Community Action Duluth

Community Action Duluth (CAD) is a nonprofit organization taking action to fight poverty through economic and asset-building programs, education, advocacy, anti-racism work, community engagement, and public policy advocacy. It is the mission of Community Action Duluth to empower and engage our community to eliminate poverty.

Life House

Life House provides critical basic needs and support for young people who have been left to fend for themselves. Life House provides a place of acceptance, safety, and belonging where youth can reclaim a positive, healthy and hopeful future.

Second Harvest Food Bank

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank is a charitable non-profit and is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Northland. Each year we rescue and distribute over 6.1 million pounds of nutritious food, enough food for 4.9 million meals, to approximately 44,000 people in need. We are committed to providing nutritious food to our Northland neighbors in need, supporting their healthy lives and our healthy communities.

Creating Change Stories

Group visits Nyansakia in 2019 to examine water quality.

UMD's Engineers Without Borders fundraise to bring clean water to Kenya

UMD's first Engineers Without Borders group is a month away from beginning their mission to bring clean water to the village of Nyansakia in Kenya.

The Ashland High School Oredockers for Life are spreading love to the community by making care packages for cancer patients.

Amazing 8 Under 18: Oredockers for Life

Ashland High School's Oredockers for Life group spread love to their cancer patient neighbors by making them cancer care-packages.

Community Action Duluth is seeking volunteers to help at their free tax site.

Volunteers needed for Community Action Duluth's free tax sites

Community Action Duluth is looking for more volunteers to help them at their free tax clinics coming up. Every year, about 1000 families have their tax returns prepared by these volunteers.

Best Christmas Ever: emotional surprise for Northland family

After battling two rounds of stage four brain cancer, one Northland man and his family was surprised with bags of gifts and a number of donations Sunday evening as a part of the Best Christmas Ever campaign.

18th annual "Have a Heart, Help a Neighbor" fundraises thousands for Northlanders need

It was another successful year for WDIO and Second Harvest Norther Lakes Food Bank's "Have a Heart, Help a Neighbor" fundraiser, raising nearly $10,000 in donations and over 160 pounds of food.

As supply chain issues persist, Northland food banks persevere

Organizations like Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Banks have been feeling the impact of supply chain shortages for the past two years now - each year bringing with it different obstacles.

Bus drivers bring music to assisted living facilities through annual Christmas choir

Voyageur Bus Company Christmas Choir has been rehearsing for the last seven weeks to bring music to assisted living facilities in the Northland this December.

CHUM Food Shelf receives large donation for their Thanksgiving Food Drive

CHUM Food Shelf received a large donation for their Thanksgiving Food Drive on Thursday. This donation was enough to help cover the cost of 300 boxes of thanksgiving dinner.

Coats for Kids distribution underway in Superior

Colder weather means the need for cold weather gear, and 1455 coats were up for grabs during day one of the Coats for Kids distribution.

It's distribution day for Coats for Kids in Superior, and continues Friday.

Community Action Duluth's Mobile Market making a difference

Community Action Duluth's Mobile Market is making it easier for some folks to get healthy food, right in their own neighborhoods.

Community Action Duluth's Mobile Market is still going strong.

Second Harvest navigates through supply chain issues

Second Harvest gets creative and adapts to the ongoing supply chain issues, to make sure people can still get food they need.

Second Harvest has learned to be creative during the pandemic due to supply chain issues.

CHUM expanding delivery services, gearing up for Thanksgiving

CHUM is expanding their CHUM2GO delivery services, as well as making preparations for Thanksgiving. They are asking for monetary donations to help fill the food boxes, which are costing more this year than in previous year.

CHUM changing focus of back to school campaign

Instead of money for school supplies, CHUM is seeking donations to help keep the food coming in the door.

CHUM is changing the focus of their school supply campaign, to address rising food costs.

Life House steps up to run Neighborhood Youth Services

Life House is stepping up to run Neighborhood Youth Services after The Hills reaches financial struggle.

Life House taking over Neighborhood Youth Services

Ohio man kayaking Mississippi for mental health

Joe Solomon of Cincinnati, Ohio, is paddling the entire Mississippi River on a kayak to start conversations about mental health.

Joe Solomon has paddled about 200 miles so far. He leaves Grand Rapids Friday morning.

AEOA Arrowhead Transit hands out hundreds of free food boxes

On Thursday, the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency handed out 1,300 free boxes of food to nine communities in the Northland.

Duluth Inn converting to housing for those experiencing homelessness

For people experiencing homelessness, the Duluth Inn is going from motel to housing. The Duluth HRA and CHUM partnered to purchase the building, which will also have specialty mental health and chemical dependency services.

The Downtown Duluth Inn will be converted to housing for people experiencing homelessness.

Ruck March will help veterans recondition

Saturday, March 27, is the Nearly Naked Ruck March to support 23rd Veteran. There will be staggered start times on the course on Skyline Parkway. Registration is $39.

People march with flags during the 2019 Nearly Naked Ruck March. It will be back on Skyline Parkway in 2021.

Community Action Duluth launching mobile market to help with food insecurity

Community Action Duluth is launching a new service to help those struggling with food insecurity called the Mobile Market. It's described as a grocery store on wheels. The refrigerated truck will be stocked with fresh produce, pantry staples, dairy products and more.