These are hard and sad times for our community and our state of Minnesota. But people continue to take care of each other, and we look out for our neighbors. St. Mark’s Foundation is helping community efforts by providing grant monies to community organizations, individuals and worldwide projects. Food is a basic necessity for everyone. The foundation has provided grants to our local Food Shelf to help with this need.  The North St. Paul Food Shelf continues to be a vital source of support and compassion for our community. Having previously served 4,500 families, the food shelf has recently welcomed an additional 1,000 new families—an increase that reflects both growing need and an extraordinary commitment to helping neighbors. Last year alone, more than 635,000 pounds of food were distributed to local families. Through strong partnerships with local supermarkets and convenience stores, the food shelf’s Food Rescue Program donates over 40,000 pounds of food each month, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy products, baked goods, and canned and dried groceries.
This remarkable effort ensures that families receive not just food, but nourishment, dignity, and
hope. We are deeply grateful to the staff, volunteers, and community partners who make this
work possible and who continue to strengthen North St. Paul through generosity and care.
The food shelf is run completely by volunteers, who all donate their time and expertise to help
continue this service to the community. The Food Shelf welcomes volunteers. If you are unable
to volunteer, there are still ways you can help. Donating to the St. Mark’s Foundation helps not
only the Food Shelf, but also other community needs. Contact a Board of Trustees member if you have questions.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Pastor David Bjorklund, Barb Michel, president, Kathy Hanon, vice
president, Tom Michel, treasurer, Karyn Mikel, secretary, Dave Benck, Mike Ericson, Ken
Indrelie, Jason Lamers, Rod Larkins, Steven Linder, Carolyn Newell, Betty Wolf, Jim Wolf, .

February 2025
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Recapping 2024:
The Board of Trustees implemented a new policy for the grant process, enabling the Foundation to seek out and help many programs within the church and out into the community. These grants helped support the focus areas of mental health ministry, music ministry, and children, youth, and family ministry.

A highlight of 2024 was the “Sharing Your Legacy of Faith” brochure that was sent out to the St. Mark’s Church congregation. The brochure highlighted the wide range of people and groups within our church and community who have been helped by The Foundation. This help was possible because of the generous giving response from people who are “sharing their legacy of faith.” Of particular note was the support of family, friends, the congregation of St. Mark’s Church and the Foundation that made a trip to the ELCA Youth Convention in New Orleans possible for 10 youth, several chaperones, Pastor David, and Deacon Kate.

Foundation Week occurred the week of October 6 with the theme of “Sharing Your Legacy of Faith.”
​Highlighted were the many grants given out that supported programs both within the church and out into the community. Rory and Jason Lamers spoke about how much of an impact the generous giving through the year had, especially for the youth trip.

The Foundation helped the following with grants during 2024:

• KidsFest 2024, hosted in September, invited everyone at no cost to attendees.

• The North High School band program will be helped to continue one-to-one or small group          lessons at North on specified instruments with highly qualified professional teachers and            musicians.
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• Hope for The Brave, housing assistance for victims of domestic violence, and help for rental       needs for families.

• Helping North High School families, a grant was given for food gift cards during the recent           holidays.

• St. Mark’s youth were recipients of two grants to fund their transportation to the ELCA Youth       Convention.

• The North St. Paul Area Food Shelf received help for the overwhelming food needs of the             community.

• The Foundation helped fund the entertainment and pay for new members to attend the annual     Progressive Dinner.

• Continued support was given for the Tanzania Secondary School Student sponsorship during     2025.

• Restocking supplies will be available for the first responders who use space in Fellowship Hall
   for much-needed breaks for a meal or respite.

• The mental health group used its grant to encourage mental health wellness within our church    and the greater community, to help end mental health stigma, and to support mental health        education.

• Beautiful music was added to both Easter and Christmas services thanks to a grant.
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Thanks to the generous donations during 2024 from both our congregation and he larger community, the Foundation was able to provide more than $22,000 in grants, which will impact many people’s lives in a meaningful and impactful way now and in the future.