CaringforCommunities Grants recognize that developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a lifelong process and our communities play an integral role.
Successful grant applications:
A Letter of Intent (LOI) is not required to apply for CaringforCommunities Grants. There is no deadline to apply. Applications are accepted year-round.
Walsh County Food Hub
The Caring Foundation partnered with the North Dakota Rural Electric Cooperative Foundation to bring accessible and healthy food options to Walsh County through the Rural Access Distribution Cooperative. They scheduled expanded delivery throughout the county and installed climate-controlled grocery locker systems in Fordville and Adams. Now, community members can buy local products by ordering online using a secure purchasing platform.
Feeding the Hungry
North Dakota’s only food bank, Great Plains Food Bank, serves more than 100,000 clients a year – in normal times. But when the COVID-19 pandemic began, these numbers quickly increased between 30 - 50%. Melissa Sobolik, head of the Great Plains Food Bank, says much needed support came from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation at just the right time: initial emergency funding to buy an entire truckload of food.
Healthcare Workforce
Bismarck State College is home to the only Surgical Technology program in North Dakota, as well as being one of two EMT/Paramedic Tech and Medical Lab Tech programs in the central and western regions of North Dakota. Through a three-year grant from the BCBSND Caring Foundation, Bismarck State College will be able to increase student enrollment and integrate state-of-the-art health equipment and technology into its curriculum in order to meet the healthcare workforce needs of North Dakota.
Suicide Prevention
BCBSND Caring Foundation provided funding to schools in North Dakota to implement the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program, which uses an evidence-based approach that is designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying and substance abuse.
Transportation Assistance
Funding was provided to the Native American Development Center (NADC) by the Caring Foundation to assist with transportation needs for Native American families seeking to rebuild their lives. Without reliable transportation they might not be able to go to work, support groups or even see their families. By providing transportation to resources, they can be more successful in their transition from a life of addiction, domestic abuse, prison or other situation to a better life.
