GRAFTON, N.D.—Dave Moe has seen elderly neighbors and friends
who, living on fixed incomes, have struggled to pay for weekly and
monthly necessities.
So,
the Grafton businessman is establishing a nonprofit, the Elderly Relief
Fund, and collecting monetary donations to help senior citizens pay for
food, fuel or utility bills.
"It's just something I've thought about for a long time," he said. "I've seen elderly come in, especially during the holidays. And you can tell they're just strapped financially. It breaks my heart."
Moe launched the charity program last weekend in a Facebook posting and by setting aside $250 toward the cause. Donations—cash and checks for $50, $100, $200, $250 and more—have been pouring in ever since.
He is in the process of establishing a nonprofit, and is organizing a committee, comprised of Grafton-area bankers and other officials, to oversee the fund and decide how to distribute the proceeds.
The initial goal is to identify recipients and provide them with gift cards to local grocery stores or gas stations, or to help pay winter utility bills, Moe said.
The program is not limited to Grafton residents. Moe's plan is to reach people in communities throughout Walsh County.
So far, the committee members are: Jim Dusek, Wells Fargo Bank; Ann Kohler, First United Bank, Grafton; Ryer Stark, Choice Financial; Amy Vollrath, North Star Community Credit Union; and Julie Campbell, director, Walsh County Job Development Authority.
Moe hopes to find another two or three for the committee.
Moe said initial discussion has targeted Thanksgiving for the first distribution.
"Maybe we can provide money for a full-course meal at Thanksgiving," he said.
Kate Kenna, director of Northeast Human Service Center in Grand Forks, said it's a unique grassroots program that could fill a niche.
"It sounds like a cool idea," she said. "It seems like there's a lot of self-neglect taking place, where people are not buying food for themselves."
Poverty levels
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau's Five-Year American Community Survey, 10.8 percent of people age 65 and older—or 10,112 individuals—in North Dakota have incomes below the federal poverty level.
In Walsh County, the percentage is 10.6 percent—or 227 residents.
Some 561 working age adults, ages 18 to 64, and 362 children were considered living in poverty in the county.
The 2015 federal poverty level is $11,770 annually for a household of one, and $15,930 for a household of two.
North Dakota has the nation's ninth lowest poverty rate, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report, with the state's median household income reaching $59,029 in 2014, an increase of $2,555 over 2013, the most significant rise in the nation.
However, much of that that increase is attributed to explosive growth in North Dakota's Oil Patch in recent years, according to Carol Cartledge, economic assistance policy division director for the North Dakota Department of Human Services.
Assistance programs
The stage agency administers several economic assistance programs through county offices, according to Heather Steffl, DHS public affairs officer. They include the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
In Fiscal 2014, SNAP served 138 adults 61 years or older in Walsh County, while LIHEAP served 142 households in the county.
In Fiscal 2014, the Walsh County Nutrition Program served 460 older adults at senior meal sites and 141 through home-delivered meals.
Cartledge said residents can access those programs and others through their local county social service offices.
"They may refer people to other groups, such as food pantries and other resources," she said.
Helping hands
Still, sometimes there's a need for more, said Vollrath, North Star's Grafton branch manager and a member of the new relief fund committee.
"I think it's a great cause," she said. "There's a lot of people in need of something like that, especially at holiday time."
The timing, number and amount of distributions will depend on how much money people are willing to donate—and whether the fund can be sustained over a long period of time, said Moe, who has not set a monetary goal.
"I'd love to pull in $10,000," he said, "but I don't have a clue. It could be less. It could be a lot more. Hopefully, it'll catch on not just here, but in other towns."
A non-profit account is in the process of being established at a Grafton bank. Until then, donations are being accepted at: Country Smokehouse; % Elderly Relief Fund; 115 W. Fifth St. Grafton, N.D. 58237.
"It's just something I've thought about for a long time," he said. "I've seen elderly come in, especially during the holidays. And you can tell they're just strapped financially. It breaks my heart."
Moe launched the charity program last weekend in a Facebook posting and by setting aside $250 toward the cause. Donations—cash and checks for $50, $100, $200, $250 and more—have been pouring in ever since.
He is in the process of establishing a nonprofit, and is organizing a committee, comprised of Grafton-area bankers and other officials, to oversee the fund and decide how to distribute the proceeds.
The initial goal is to identify recipients and provide them with gift cards to local grocery stores or gas stations, or to help pay winter utility bills, Moe said.
The program is not limited to Grafton residents. Moe's plan is to reach people in communities throughout Walsh County.
So far, the committee members are: Jim Dusek, Wells Fargo Bank; Ann Kohler, First United Bank, Grafton; Ryer Stark, Choice Financial; Amy Vollrath, North Star Community Credit Union; and Julie Campbell, director, Walsh County Job Development Authority.
Moe hopes to find another two or three for the committee.
Moe said initial discussion has targeted Thanksgiving for the first distribution.
"Maybe we can provide money for a full-course meal at Thanksgiving," he said.
Kate Kenna, director of Northeast Human Service Center in Grand Forks, said it's a unique grassroots program that could fill a niche.
"It sounds like a cool idea," she said. "It seems like there's a lot of self-neglect taking place, where people are not buying food for themselves."
Poverty levels
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau's Five-Year American Community Survey, 10.8 percent of people age 65 and older—or 10,112 individuals—in North Dakota have incomes below the federal poverty level.
In Walsh County, the percentage is 10.6 percent—or 227 residents.
Some 561 working age adults, ages 18 to 64, and 362 children were considered living in poverty in the county.
The 2015 federal poverty level is $11,770 annually for a household of one, and $15,930 for a household of two.
North Dakota has the nation's ninth lowest poverty rate, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report, with the state's median household income reaching $59,029 in 2014, an increase of $2,555 over 2013, the most significant rise in the nation.
However, much of that that increase is attributed to explosive growth in North Dakota's Oil Patch in recent years, according to Carol Cartledge, economic assistance policy division director for the North Dakota Department of Human Services.
Assistance programs
The stage agency administers several economic assistance programs through county offices, according to Heather Steffl, DHS public affairs officer. They include the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
In Fiscal 2014, SNAP served 138 adults 61 years or older in Walsh County, while LIHEAP served 142 households in the county.
In Fiscal 2014, the Walsh County Nutrition Program served 460 older adults at senior meal sites and 141 through home-delivered meals.
Cartledge said residents can access those programs and others through their local county social service offices.
"They may refer people to other groups, such as food pantries and other resources," she said.
Helping hands
Still, sometimes there's a need for more, said Vollrath, North Star's Grafton branch manager and a member of the new relief fund committee.
"I think it's a great cause," she said. "There's a lot of people in need of something like that, especially at holiday time."
The timing, number and amount of distributions will depend on how much money people are willing to donate—and whether the fund can be sustained over a long period of time, said Moe, who has not set a monetary goal.
"I'd love to pull in $10,000," he said, "but I don't have a clue. It could be less. It could be a lot more. Hopefully, it'll catch on not just here, but in other towns."
A non-profit account is in the process of being established at a Grafton bank. Until then, donations are being accepted at: Country Smokehouse; % Elderly Relief Fund; 115 W. Fifth St. Grafton, N.D. 58237.
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