Discover non-profit organizations in the borderland!
If you are homeless in Koochiching County, the first step is a phone call to First Call for Help, 800-442-8565, for a Coordinated Entry assessment.
Minnesota requires people seeking help because they are homeless to go through the Homeless Crisis Response System, called Coordinated Entry in Itasca and Koochiching Counties. Step one is a phone interview with First Call for Help at 800-442-8565 (218-326-8565 outside Koochiching County). Step two is a meeting with a housing service provider for a fuller assessment. Both steps are needed to reach very limited transitional housing, and being on the list does not guarantee housing. Homeless people seeking rental assistance in Koochiching County must be referred from the Coordinated Entry list first. KOOTASCA’s International Falls office, 218-283-5225 (toll free 800-559-9491),... Read more
The Northome Community Food Shelf at 12059 Main Street serves people within 20 miles of Northome. Call 218-553-1594.
The Northome Community Food Shelf is at 12059 Main Street in Northome. It is open the first and third Monday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon and the second and fourth Monday from 2 to 5 p.m., and serves people within a 20-mile area of Northome. Call 218-553-1594.
A mobile food pantry visits Birchdale and Big Falls on the third Thursday of each month. Call 218-336-2312.
A mobile food pantry visits two stops on the third Thursday of each month: Birchdale (10370 MN-11), with food at 10:30 a.m. until supplies last, and Big Falls (410 2nd St. NW), with food at 1:30 p.m. until supplies last. It serves people who meet the federal poverty income qualifications or are in crisis. Call 218-336-2312.
Koochiching County Senior Dining serves meals at 307 4th Street, International Falls, Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Koochiching County Senior Dining serves meals Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. at 307 4th Street in International Falls. United Way of Minnesota’s food help page lists the program and says its phone number is posted on the Kooch County Senior Center Facebook page.
Minnesota Aging Pathways, also known as the Senior LinkAge Line, answers questions about aging, caregiving, Medicare and aging services. Call 800-333-2433.
Minnesota Aging Pathways, also known as the Senior LinkAge Line, is the number to call with questions about aging, caregiving, Medicare and aging services. Call 800-333-2433, or chat with a Resource Specialist through the Minnesota Aging Pathways website. The Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging lists the line on its home page.
Call 911 for a police, fire or medical emergency anywhere in International Falls and Koochiching County, any hour of the day or night.
Call 911 for any emergency that needs police, fire or an ambulance right now: a crime in progress, a fire, a crash with injuries, a medical emergency or a life in danger. The call is free from any phone, including a cell phone with no plan, and dispatchers answer 24 hours a day. Minnesota’s guidance for people who cannot safely speak is “call if you can, text if you can’t.” For a mental health crisis that is not an immediate danger, 988 is the right number.
Civil legal help for low-income and vulnerable people in 33 Minnesota counties, including Koochiching. Housing, safety, health care, income and family matters. Call 877-696-6529.
Justice North is the nonprofit civil legal aid provider for 33 Minnesota counties, including Koochiching County. It helps low-income and vulnerable people with civil matters such as losing a home, safety, health care, income or family issues. It does not handle criminal cases. Apply by calling 877-MY-MN-LAW (877-696-6529), or start an application online at justicenorth.org/apply; every application is finished by phone, and anyone facing an emergency or a deadline should call. Justice North was formerly known as Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (LASNEM), and the old address lasnem.org now goes to its site.
County social services, child support, SNAP and other benefits, WIC, water testing and family home visiting. Office at 1000 5th Street in International Falls.
Koochiching County Public Health & Human Services is the county department for social services and public health. Human Services covers adult and child protection, mental health, child care assistance, foster care licensing, MFIP and child support. Public Health runs WIC, water testing, Child and Teen Checkups and family home visiting. Apply for SNAP, MFIP, child care assistance and emergency help through MNBenefits.
Call 1-800-222-1222 or use the free online tool for expert help with a swallowed medicine, chemical, bite or sting. Free and confidential.
Poison Control gives free, confidential, expert help if someone has swallowed or been exposed to a medicine, chemical, plant, bite or sting. Call 1-800-222-1222 to reach your poison center, or use the web POISON CONTROL tool at poison.org, which usually takes under three minutes. Help is available 24 hours a day. For a true emergency, such as trouble breathing or a collapse, call 911.
Dial 2-1-1 any time for free, confidential help finding Minnesota health and human services, in English, Spanish and Hmong.
United Way 211 is a free, confidential helpline that connects Minnesotans with health and human services. Dial 2-1-1, or call toll free at 800-543-7709. You can also text your zip code to 898-211. Specialists answer 24 hours a day, every day, and call menus are in English, Spanish and Hmong.
Call, text or chat 988 any time for free, confidential support in a mental health or substance use crisis, for yourself or someone you are worried about.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support from trained counselors, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call or text 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org. It is for anyone facing a mental health struggle, emotional distress or alcohol or drug use concerns, and for people worried about someone else.
Small-town cafe in Northome, Minnesota, serving breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, daily supper specials, and baked goods. Opened May 2016 by Teener O'Loughlin Swang.
Shining Light Cafe is a small-town cafe on Main Street in Northome, about 80 miles south of International Falls. Owner Teener O’Loughlin Swang opened the cafe in May 2016 after eight years of dreaming and planning. She is well known in the area for her baking and providing home cooked meals for events and gatherings.
The cafe is open seven days a week and serves breakfast all day, sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads, daily supper specials, and baked goods. The name comes from Biblical passages in Matthew, John, and 2 Peter. Teener’s vision for the cafe is to be a... Read more
Looking to kickstart a new hobby, build self-discipline, and get in shape? A Tae Kwon Do Beginners Class is held at the Falls Elementary Gym!
Looking to kickstart a new hobby, build self-discipline, and get in shape? A Tae Kwon Do Beginners Class started on September 3 at the Falls Elementary Gym. This class is open to ages 10 and up and offers participants the opportunity to learn the basics of Tae Kwon Do, improve physical fitness, and even earn a color belt as they progress.
Led by instructor Ken Krueger, the class provides a safe and structured environment to practice kicks, punches, and blocks while promoting self-discipline and focus.
When:... Read more
The Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation, established in 1964, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Ernest Carl Oberholtzer—a renowned explorer, author, and conservationist.
The Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation, established in 1964, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Ernest Carl Oberholtzer—a renowned explorer, author, and conservationist. The foundation maintains his historic home on Mallard Island in Rainy Lake, Minnesota, serving as a center for ecological education, creative expression, and cultural study.
The foundation’s mission is to “foster Ober’s legacy and North Woods island home as a source of inspiration, renewal, and connection to Indigenous Peoples, kindred spirits, and the natural world.” This commitment reflects Oberholtzer’s lifelong dedication to environmental... Read more
Scenic Rivers Health Services has been dedicated to providing quality primary care in northern Minnesota since 1979.
Scenic Rivers Health Services, a Community Health Center and Federally Qualified Health Center, has been dedicated to providing quality primary care in northern Minnesota since 1979. With a mission to serve remote, rural areas, they offer medical, dental, and behavioral health services to communities across an 8,300 square mile area, including Koochiching County.
Scenic Rivers Health Services provides a comprehensive range of services, including:
Medical Services: Chronic disease management, preventive care, acute care, gynecology, prenatal care, and emergency medical care.
Dental Services: General dentistry for all ages, focusing on... Read more
Clarity Hearing Center has been dedicated to improving hearing health since its establishment in 2011.
Clarity Hearing Center has been dedicated to improving hearing health since its establishment in 2011.
The center offers a comprehensive range of services, including free hearing evaluations, personalized consultations, and professional hearing aid fittings. Their team of specialists, each with over a decade of experience, is committed to providing tailored solutions to meet individual hearing needs.
Clarity Hearing Center emphasizes a patient-first philosophy, offering:
– Complimentary hearing tests and consultations
– A 60-day trial period for all hearing aids
– Lifetime free office visits... Read more
Life With Purpose Christian Life Coaching is a certified Christian coaching practice dedicated to helping individuals embrace and live the life they were created for.
Life With Purpose Christian Life Coaching, based in Littlefork, is a certified Christian coaching practice dedicated to helping individuals embrace and live the life they were created for. Founded by Tiffany Dobbs, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and certifications in Christian Life Coaching and mental health coaching, the practice offers affordable coaching services through an online video platform.
The mission of Life with Purpose is to “Love God, Love People,” with a vision to provide affordable coaching services to a multitude of people eager... Read more
The Littlefork Ambulance Thrift Store serves as a vital community hub, offering affordable second-hand items while supporting the local ambulance service.
The Littlefork Ambulance Thrift Store serves as a vital community hub, offering affordable second-hand items while supporting the local ambulance service.
The thrift store operates on the following schedule:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
First and Third Saturday of Each Month: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Donations of gently used items are welcomed during these hours, providing community members with an opportunity to contribute to the store’s mission.
Proceeds from the thrift store directly benefit the Littlefork Ambulance Service,... Read more
The International Falls Salvation Army is a dedicated charitable organization committed to meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals and families in the community.
The International Falls Salvation Army is a dedicated charitable organization committed to meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals and families in the community.
The organization offers a variety of programs aimed at assisting those in need:
Emergency Assistance: Providing support for rent, utility payments, and emergency lodging to help individuals and families facing financial crises.
Food Pantry: Offering access to nutritious food for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
HeatShare Program: Assisting with heating bills during the cold Minnesota winters to ensure families stay warm.
... Read more
Koochiching Health Services is a senior living community dedicated to providing compassionate and professional care to its residents.
Koochiching Health Services is a senior living community dedicated to providing compassionate and professional care to its residents. Operating through two main facilities—the Littlefork Care Center and Jackpine Chateau Apartments—the organization offers a range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of seniors in the area.
The Littlefork Care Center is a Medicare and Medicaid-certified facility that provides all levels of skilled nursing care, including short-term rehabilitative stays and long-term care. The center is staffed 24 hours a day by licensed nurses and registered nurse aides, ensuring residents... Read more
