Bemidji Community Groups Focus on Local Aid After Severe Storm

Bemidji community organizations Face It TOGETHER and The Recovery Space recently joined forced to provide picnics and other resources for residents after a severe storm hit the area on June 21st.

The Recovery Space, which is focused on harm reduction and helping those with substance use disorders, has plenty on their plate for community aid. But when Bemidji was rocked by the June 21st storm and thousands suddenly found themselves unprepared and in need, the organization turned their attention elsewhere.

“We’ve been really focused on feeding people,” said The Recovery Space owner Isabella Schaefer. “People are hungry, and there’s no better way to serve the community and meet mutual aid needs than to feed people.”

These efforts to feed people came in several different fashions, from home delivery to collecting food donations. And then, the biggest challenge – setting up massive free community picnics last week with recovery support services group Face It TOGETHER.

“We served probably 350 people that first night, and we served over 500 the second night, contained of all community donations,” explained Rayne Heck, The Recovery Space marketing and outreach coordinator Rayne Heck.

Food came from food banks, churches, big corporations, and community members pitching in as much as they were able.

“I could light up all day long,” said Schaefer with a smile. “It was so amazing to see the community come together, especially in ways that, you know, we wouldn’t see on a daily basis. Sometimes it does take a disaster or something to really put it into perspective just how important our neighbors and our community members are.”

“Showing up to the picnic and seeing elected officials and city officials and those who are leaders in our community also showing up to both provide support and receive services, it was a really powerful thing.” added Heck. “It was a great reminder that we’re all facing something right now and no matter where we sit normally.”

And while performing these services, The Recovery Space found more long-term issues.

“We are one disaster away from a lot of people being without a lot of things,” Schaefer observed. “And so this disaster did a phenomenal way of highlighting where we still have some needs to improve, but also the things that we’re excelling at.”

They’ve have also seen an increased need for safe use supplies in the community, showing that even during disaster, harm reduction is still as important as ever.

“Our naloxone box that sits on the steps of the Wolfe shelter, and that is always stocked with safe use supplies, Narcan, intramuscular and nasal Narcan,” said Heck. “That continues to stay active at all times, that is always stocked in our community for anyone to come take from.”

One other thing that The Recovery Space has been working on is connecting people who they can get storm relief assistance from, such as pointing them to Community Resource Connections or the United Way.

Correction: The original version of this story did not mention Face It TOGETHER’s involvement with organizing the picnics. We regret the omission.