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. 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. Their mission is to empower and engage our community to eliminate poverty and create prosperity and equity in the lives of the people we serve.

Life House

Life House provides for the needs of young people who have been left to fend for themselves on the streets. 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

Local Homeless Shelters Working to Offer More Warming Center Options

CHUM and Ruth House are working on offering more warming center options to the homeless in our community. As a result, CHUM's drop in center will be operating 24/7 moving forward. Ruth House needs volunteers to help operate a warming center they want to open in Duluth's Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Second Harvest Working to Improve Food Access in Cloquet

Second Harvest is going to be conducting a survey to hear from those in Cloquet experiencing hunger about what they want to see done about it.

The Damiano Center Prepares for Winter & Holidays

It takes a team of volunteers to feed a village. As the air grows cold and the holidays grow close, the largest on-site meal provider in Northeastern Minnesota is preparing.

Northland Native's Youtube Channel Brings Hope to Thousands with OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be crippling. Duluth native, Michael Mirtica shared his story of overcoming OCD on Youtube. Since then, his channel, 'Mirtica Mindfulness' has gone viral—helping thousands of people worldwide.

One of many videos Michael Mirtica has created on OCD to share his story and help those who struggle.

Boys & Girls Clubs Receive $25,000 Donation to Address Mental Health

Rotary Club 25 of Duluth and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland are partnering to combat mental health issues among Northland youth. On Wednesday, the Rotary Club 25 of Duluth donated $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland to help fund the organization's new mental health access program.

On Wednesday, the Rotary Club 25 of Duluth donated $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland to help fund the organization's new mental health access program.

Socks Help Homeless Youth

Together, Hippy Feet and Frost River have provided homeless youth a positive way to make money through the packaging of their custom socks.

Adopting a pop-up employment process, Hippy Feet and Frost River met at Life House where they provided homeless youth the means and supplies to package their custom socks.

BackPack Program Increased in Second Harvest Pilot Project

Kids in the Cloquet School District will see an increase in their food supply, thanks to a pilot plan for the Second Harvest BackPack Program.

Second Harvest, along with Project Joy, are doubling their food supply to kids in the Cloquet School District.

Senator Baldwin Pushing for 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin is pushing for a three-digit code to help people experiencing a crisis. The FCC has found that 988 could be more effective to get people the help they need, when they are contemplating suicide.

Senator Tammy Baldwin is pushing for a three-digit code to help those in a mental health crisis.

Chum Hosts Benefit Dinner for Street Outreach Program

For nearly 5 decades now—“Chum,” a local organization—has made it their mission to be there for people who are in need of the basic things in life like food and shelter. On Thursday, the organization hosted a “Making Connections” dinner to raise money for their Street Outreach Program, specifically.

On any given night, there are 150-200 homeless individuals in Duluth and Chum hopes to reach as many as they can. At their

Remembrance & Awareness Drive 11th Annual Suicide Memorial Walk

To remember their loved ones and shed light on suicide prevention, over 200 people from around the region gathered at Carlton High School for the 11th Annual Suicide Awareness Memorial Walk.

Shedding light on suicide prevention and remembering those who have passed, individuals from around the region came together.

Minnesota Academy of Physicians Assistants Donates to Life House

A large donation of items was given to Life House by the Minnesota Academy of Physicians Assistants in honor of 'National PA Week' on Friday.

A few of many items donated to Life House on behalf of the Minnesota Academy of Physicians Assistants.

Free Mental Health First Aid Course Offered for Mental Illness Awareness Week

Northland Healthy Minds sponsored the Mental Health First Aid course at One Roof in Duluth Wednesday, allowing the class to be offered for free during Mental Illness Awareness Week.

A Beloved Brother Remembered

Dan Saker honored his brother William Saker's memory on the two year anniversary of his death by discussing the impact of mental illness and what he plans to do to combat it.

A portrait of William Robert Saker that his brother Dan had tattooed in his memory.

'Skate for 8' Raises Awareness on Mental Health in Honor of Duluth East Hockey Player

The Skate for 8 fundraising hockey event took place at Heritage Sill Arena Saturday. It raises funds for mental health and suicide prevention.

Kids in the community played hockey at Heritage Sill Arena Saturday to support the Skate for 8 fundraiser.

Maurices Gives Back to Duluth Community with Best Day Ever Effort

The Maurices headquarters in Duluth had a day of giving back to the community with their 6th annual Best Day Ever effort Thursday. Maurices employees volunteered their time to help 13 local nonprofits.

Maurices rewarded 10 local women with a makeover and free shopping experience.

Life House Wrapping Up New Building Renovations

Life House is finishing up the renovations of a building they purchased next to their current building that will offer more space for services and programs they offer to local youth in need.

Life House is finishing up renovations to an additional building they purchased that will be used as an educational space.

Couch Hopping to Home: Cheyenne's Story

All week, Life House is asking people to Clean Out Your Couch. Cheyenne Norr used to spend a lot of time there, in between couch hopping. She shared her story to shine a light.

Norr is now 24, a mom herself, and works for the 6th Judicial District.

Life House Duluth's "Clean Out Your Couch" Happening this Week

Life House Duluth is asking people to donate spare change and money to help support their mission. The "Clean Out Your Couch" campaign kicked off Monday. Bring your spare change and drop it in the couch outside of Life House Duluth each morning from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Life House Duluth works with homeless youth from the ages of 14 to 24.

11th Annual Tribute Fest Helps Veterans in Need

Great music and a great cause brought rock and country lovers to Bayfront Park for the past 3 days for the 11th annual Tribute Fest.