GARY, Minn. — Wendy Bennefeld, president of community foundation Gary Cares, said it fills her cup to see an idea become a finalized project. The idea to bring a self-defense class for women and girls, as well as new equipment, to the gym in Gary, Minnesota — a town of about 220 roughly 12 miles south of Fertile — is an example of that.
The self-defense class will be the first program in the gym and wellness center, located in an old fire hall in town, since a Just For Kix program stopped being held there.
“We have a wonderful teacher who has taught self-defense,” Bennefeld said.
The class will be taught by Penny Ellingworth, who has 30 years of police experience, as well as 10 years of experience as a firearms instructor. Ellingworth is also a hand-to-hand combat and tactic instructor who specializes in recruit officer training and in-service officer yearly recertification training, Bennefeld said. Gary Cares received a $3,000 grant from the Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund, a part of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation’s family of funds, to aid the city of Gary in making the class possible. The grant will also help purchase mats and safety gear, and the equipment can be moved if another city would like to replicate the program. The Northwest Minnesota Foundation has managed the grant process for many of the grants Gary Cares writes for, Bennefeld said.
“They are a wonderful organization that is so easy to work with,” she said.
Grant writing is part of the services Gary Cares provides to Norman County projects and organizations. The foundation acts as a pass-through for grants for area projects and has a mission of helping projects get unstuck.
“We’ll look at a community project that maybe somebody has this great idea, but they don’t know how to execute it, or they’re in the middle of the project and they’re like, ‘We’re really not sure how we’re going to get over this hurdle,’ ” Bennefeld said. “Our board is really good at helping get projects unstuck, whether that’s a financial goal and we can help through grant writing, or it’s just thinking through a process, maybe it’s helping with manpower, maybe helping organize something to help it push past the point that it’s at. And then we just give those projects back.”
The non-profit has been helping the city, which manages the gym, to update equipment through other grants when the idea was thrown out to have someone teach self-defense. Bennefeld said the idea was important to her because her sister was the victim of an assault, and her sister now advocates for self-defense and awareness for women and girls. While still being planned, the first class is expected to be held around the beginning of February, with consecutive classes being held depending on how popular it is. It could also transition to being not just for women and girls as well, but that is up to the instructor, Bennefeld said.
The new equipment being planned for the gym includes special equipment that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The gym’s equipment is for ages 15 and up, but there have been talks about getting things for younger people.
Gary Cares also has other projects it sponsors, such as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a book gifting program mailing books to children in Norman County. It also manages the grant funding for Shock & Awe Youth Philanthropy, a monthly gathering of students during the school year to discuss their vision for Norman County and plan community activities.
The foundation has also been hosting the yearly One Fund Drive for Norman County, sending out slips to residents listing non-profits people can donate to in the county. The drive began in December and will go until the beginning of February. Last year, the drive raised more than $32,000, and Bennefeld said this year’s goal is $35,000 to $40,000. One hundred percent of the donations will be given to their recipients.
“I think in these small towns, everything is volunteer,” she said. “Our rescue squad is volunteer, our fire departments are volunteer, the community club that hosts our town festivals and Santa Days and the Halloween carnivals is just all volunteers. So, obviously, a volunteer foundation just fits right in with that mix. I’m so blessed because our group right now is just so talented and creative and passionate about what we’re doing.”
Otto is the region reporter for the Obituary.