Lake Nonprofits and Charities

In the depths of the Covid lockdown, I became aware of Save a Fox with a video featuring Finnegan Fox with his best friend and Save a Fox founder, Mikayla Raines. Finnegan was laughing his happy “heh-heh-heh-heh” giggle. The foxes have beautiful fenced-in acres to run free, play on trampolines, see-saws, dig numerous holes and dens and on occasions get special treats of eggs and nutritious biscuit cookies. While many wild animal sanctuaries exist, more than anything, Save a Fox exemplifies the 501 (c)(3)’s responsibility of education. In my naivety I thought we had grown beyond the primitive practice of sacrificing foxes and mink in the 1970’s. Seeing Mikayla and her husband Ethan, walk along hundreds of tiny wire cages of foxes with beautiful golden or cream fur was heart breaking. Through Save a Fox donations, Mikayla bought out that farm and all 500 foxes were saved and placed. It is my wish, to see legislation in Mikayla’s name, making fur farming illegal in all states.

The Sibley Equine Conservancy & Helping Horses Minnesota are located in Pequot Lakes, MN on land owned by Bradley & Brenda Myers. The ponies and horses that have been brought to the conservancy are now being cared for and will live out their lives in a natural environment that consists of pastures and a wooded section that allows for natural shade and shelter

Our family made the hard decision to rehome our 5 year old Australian Shepard. I reached out to the rescue and within minutes I received a response from Char. I sent pictures and info on my Assuie to Char and she took care of the rest. Within about a week and half we had found someone who we both thought was a perfect fit for our Aussie. He was successfully rehomed to a great home where he is able to thrive. Char was absolutely amazing through the entire process. Very communicative, quick responses and extremely helpful which made this entire process painless and very easy. If I could give more stars I would. I cannot express the gratitude I have for the effort and work she put in to help us. Thank you!

Every single time I step foot in this barn, you can just feel the overwhelming love that's put into it and the horses and the kiddos every single time! Charlotte is one of the kindest, loving, bubbly people I've ever known. The love she has for the whole program is so apparent. The horses are well cared for and it shows because they show up for the kiddos and are able to do their jobs (making kids laugh and learn along the way and stay safe). I cannot say enough great things about Starz equestrian. It's magical.

My 20-year-old daughter, Ruby, is blind and has cognitive disabilities that make many daily tasks challenging. In my search to help her live as independently as possible, 7 years ago, I began exploring the idea of a service dog. But time and again, I was told that because Ruby couldn’t care for a dog independently, a partnership wouldn’t be possible.<br><br>That changed when I met Hero, one of the incredible school resource dogs trained by PawPADs. After seeing how Hero supported students, I reached out to PawPADs to see if they might consider a handler team model where Ruby and I would work together. Unlike other organizations, Linda didn’t shut the door. She took the time to understand Ruby, our unique needs, and whether a dog could truly enhance her life.<br><br>PawPADs doesn’t place dogs to meet quotas—they are deeply committed to finding the right match. Linda was honest with us from the start: there was no guarantee a dog would be placed, and she encouraged us to keep exploring other options while we waited.<br><br>In June 2020, we got the call—Ruby was invited to Partner Training Camp. We were thrilled, though prepared that a match might not happen. But during the first couple days of camp, it quickly became clear that one dog, Charlie, was attuned to Ruby in a way that felt magical. They were a perfect match.<br><br>Since then, Charlie has been Ruby’s constant companion and quiet protector--picking up dropped items, comforting her during difficult moments, and navigating life by her side. He understands her in ways no one else can. He’s changed her life, and our whole family's.<br><br>Because of the impact PawPADs has had on our family, I joined the board in 2020. I’ve seen firsthand the love, care, and integrity this organization brings to every partnership, not only for the people they serve, but also for the incredible dogs they place.<br><br>What sets PawPADs apart is their commitment to doing what’s right. They prioritize the wellbeing of the dogs, honor the uniqueness of every client, and build partnerships that truly last.

These people at GCOM in Six Lakes, MI believe it ok to be treated like crap by a store that is supposed to be doing outreach for people who need food. Instead of siding with the people they are supposed to be outreaching they deside to take the side of the store saying the customer was rude. This store that is called Our Family in Edmore, MI if you look at their reviews they have many reviews of how the staff at the store are rude and untrustworthy. My brother in-law is the store owners relative and he refuses to shop there due to their rude behavior. If you as an outreach program and church believe that people should be treated like less than by people that own a store than you are not worth anything at all. I see reviews for GCOM overcharging people as well. This is very shameful. My Uncle Bob McParland was a part of this Church and outreach program and it seems since he has passed this place has become trash. At this point if I could give you 0 stars I would and I will be having my sister and everyone else I know who has influencce online let everyone know just how GCOM and Our Family Foods operate

This non-profit does a fabulous job of educating children living in extreme poverty in Nicaragua. We visited several of their schools when we traveled to Nicaragua. Each time we were very impressed with how clean and modern they are despite being in a third-world country. <br> <br>The people who operate this non-profit area are hard-working, dedicated individuals who are passionate about education and helping families escape the cycle of poverty through improved literacy, education, and practical skill training.

This rescue organization did an awesome job helping me with adopting my puppy. They were so quick to respond to every text. I dealt with Michelle, Stephanie, and Casey and they were all great. My puppy is adorable and such a good boy. No complaints whatsoever.

excellent rescue organization <br>the vetting was a bit much but that's probably a good thing

My several trips to Honduras with Goodjustice taught me that success comes from opportunity. Goodjustice gives people the opportunity to chase goals by providing the things that we take for granted: food, water, education, and medical services.

This is our first year on the team and it has been incredible the commitment from not only the cheerleaders but also the coaches has been above and beyond. I am so proud of all the hard work that they have done to get to Nationals ( WOW Factor) and Quest. The Minnesota Jets are unlike any other team sport out there.

With my experience looking at and watching what they do, I give them a 5 star. The thing that I like about them is that they are providing so much fun to little kids and even adults. What could be more fun than going to a real family ran organization with WOLVES!? She is only doing this to have fun most of all, and to raise a family just like you and me. If she wants to sell bones and teeth etc... they are her animals to deal with. And they don't jut have wolves! They have foxes, prairie dogs and much much more. Plus it isn't just her that is skinning animals to have as a cool rug or wall ornament, what about the Native Americans or hunters that also do this for a living? No one gets mad at them and she is doing it to the animals that she raised. <br> Thanks For All You Do!

We love H2O for Life's commitment to inspiring the next generation of global changemakers to make an impact on the world water crisis today!

My mother was diagnosed with a mental illness many years ago. She has resided in many adult foster care facilities over the last 20 years. After a thorough search to find a new AFC home to suit her needs, we were unfortunately unsuccessful. As her legal guardian, I was struck with panic, and unsure I would find a suitable living situation to not only meet her needs, but grant me the peace of mind at the end of the day. We were truly blessed to hear of Safe & Sound Ministries. I must admit, I had doubts about whether she would do okay with more independence and responsibilities. My mom hadn’t cooked in years, had minimal household responsibilities, and struggled with managing her budget. Because of this, she struggled with creating/ following through with goals and had very little self confidence. After being with Safe & Sound Ministries for just a couple months, I have noticed a huge transition with my mom! She is learning to plan for meals, make a shopping list, manage her monthly food allowance, assist with household cleaning, make her own doctors appointments, etc. Most importantly, she wears a smile that I haven’t seen in a very long time. It didn’t take long for me to notice the monumental amount of support, respect, and care that each resident receives in the home! Many people who may not have much family or loved ones to visit, have now found a family at Safe & Sound! With the cost of living on the rise, many struggle with finding a safe living environment that is affordable for them. Safe & Sound Ministries provides a safe, loving, affordable environment for all to thrive in. I cannot speak highly enough of this organization. I am so incredibly grateful to those stakeholders who are well invested with this organization and prioritize the mental health and safety of all residents!

When I first found Reality's Chance Rescue I was looking for somewhere to volunteer and learn more about taking care of horses. I had ridden other people's horses all my life and wanted to purchase my own in the near future. I knew I needed to learn more about their care and upkeep so I signed my family up and we started helping out. <br>Helping out turned into spending many hours a week cleaning pastures, feeding, and loving on the equine residents here. I participated in clinics the founder held to educate horse lovers on the care and training of horses and found myself adopting two American mustangs who needed a home. <br>The volunteers pour their heart and souls into the care of the horses. They celebrate when things go well and victories are won for the horses and feel the heaviness of the most hard fought battles that are sometimes lost. They do it with grit and grace and for the good of the horses they love and take care of. <br>This place is amazing for people as well. It's a beautiful place, peaceful, and makes a great place to find quiet rest.

A family-run charity, T12 is hard at work to provide educational opportunities to families in need in Haiti. Every cent and encouraging word is a blessing!

So, as a program, I think you guys do great, but I also feel you need to have better training when it comes to individuals that can be combative or mainly difficult instead of wanting to seclude them from activities or not wanting them their in general. Trust me, I get it, sometimes it gets hard dealing with behaviors, but then again, you kind of signed up for it when you work with special need individuals. <br>You guys are okay. <br>But you definitely could do better. <br> <br>Maybe try treating them like family, rather than a paycheck. You might get better results. With all of them.

Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy became an accredited land trust in February 2022, a status that can be renewed every five years. Accreditation means Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate the commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. To learn more about land trust accreditation and the current accreditation status of Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy, visit http//www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.

Heartless and highly unprofessional. This organization should be ashamed. My son adopted a young dog Aug 7th from the Babinski Foundation. He purchased a collar and leash from their store for Loki and was told he would have to bring the dog back in for the remainder of his shots and to be neutered Sept 9th. He was to pay/complete the adoption following this appointment. But after dropping Loki off for his appointment on the 9th, when he went back, as scheduled, at 5pm to pick him up, he was told Loki had an adverse reaction to the anethesia and they wanted to keep him overnight for monitoring. Then when he called to check on Loki the following day, he was left on hold and then hung up on. After trying to call back several times to check on Loki (they were not answering the phone) he received a vm from the director that his application for adoption was not approved. During the month we had Loki, he bonded not only with my son, but also with our whole family and our 2 dogs as well. Loki was playful, thriving and happy, and was a delightful addition to our family. My son, myself, and my parents have all spoken to the director to ask that Loki be returned to us as it is unfair to him and our whole family to keep him from us. She said she it is up to her and she denied the application because my son had stated on the application that Loki would be kept in a chain link fence... and she said he lied because he does not have a chain link fence. Given the chance, my son would have explained that his friend has the chain link fence, and a dog - and that the plan was to bring Loki there during the day so he could be outside and with his friend's dog. Sadly, shortly after bringing Loki home, his friend's dog passed away, from his advanced age and ongoing health conditions. So Loki was spending the workdays with me and our two dogs. Then when my son was not working, Loki was with him constantly...went everywhere with him... and even slept in my son's bed with him at night. The director also stated that my son has a criminal history. Not sure how that has any bearing on adopting a dog when HISTORY is key word here... he served his sentance for his mistakes and has been doing amazing - even owns his own home now - a nice home with a big yard - perfect for large breed dog like Loki. Note that the director had also said she did a drive by my son's home and it was uninhabitable - she either lied or managed to mess up finding the correct address, because the home is nice, well maintained, with a large yard. I asked if I could adopt Loki - and with a snide and sarcastic tone she told me I could apply, but she would not approve the application. My parents were also speaking with her and she was snide and rude to my mother. To summarize, the director was extremely unprofessional in her dealings with us in this matter and clearly has no heart when she can take a dog away from an entire family of people who adored him and who he was thriving with to return him to sitting in the shelter, alone again, waiting for someone she deems acceptable, to adopt him. We are all heartbroken and still trying to figure out a way to get our Loki back.

After several failed Meet and Greets we found ourselves thinking we would not be adopting a new family member, we were actually told by one Rescue Group that our current dog would do best as an only pet even though she has had a pack her entire seven years of life. Some of the Meet and Greets failed when we found the dog to be NOTHING close to the Bio given. Best Buddy Rescue was honest and surprisingly spot on with descriptions of their adoptable pets. We met them at their Petco adoption event to meet an adoptable dog that we viewed on Petfinder. EVERYTHING they told us was accurate and we now have our precious compadre! Thank you to all the volunteers who TAKE THEIR TIME to try to make the best fit possible.

Cultivate International fills the gap that other charities have overlooked. Elaine saw firsthand the aftermath in a community when a charity leaves and the money dries up. The change doesn't last. Cultivate finds leaders in these communities, mentors them, and then supports them as they work to create lasting change. Change can be implemented and sustained by cultivating strong, community-based leaders who know the people they work with. This is precisely what Cultivate International does.

We were part of the first volunteer effort organized in Lori’s basement home to provideInc years ago. My young son had so much fun packing bags for homeless folks and couldn’t wait to do something like that again. One of the gifts of provideInc is “providing” opportunities for people to experience serving others at a young age and catch the mission! There are so many unique opportunities to serve, too- from donating supplies to filling bags with supplies to sewing- and those are just a few that I’m familiar with. Plus, once a person meets Lori, he/she wants to spend more time with her. Her heart is full of love!

The Lake Crystal Area Recreation Center (LCARC) is an amazing symbol of what a community can do when it works together for the common good. Nestled in the heart of a tiny (2,500 person) rural community stands a beautiful 64,000 square-foot multi-purpose Aquatics, Youth, Community, Recreation, Senior, Fitness, and Event Center. I had heard of it, and I know my kids had gone swimming and to other activities there for school from Mankato, but until I went myself I had no idea it was so big. The pool has 6 lanes of lap swim plus 2 slides and a zero-depth entry and a hot tub. There's a fitness center, aerobics studio, walking track, double gym with 6 hoops, and physical therapy on site. In fact, I wrecked my shoulder and ended up going to Lake Crystal for therapy. Now I lift there, swim laps, and play Pickleball. Plus, it's 24/7, which also incredible for a small community. It took me seeing it in person to get a real sense of the place, but now I'm the biggest fan!

We recently adopted a dog from Mackenzies. After 2 visits to the facility and one home visit by their staff. We found the facility to be well maintained and clean with what appeared to be more than adequate staff to care for the animals. They take the time to evaluate and work with the incoming dogs to work through any problems and make them adoptable. In cases where the dog isn't adoptable they provide it a home for the rest of it's life which includes all food, veterinary care, grooming and spending quality time with the dog just like they would with one that could be placed. There is no way that the minimal donation they ask when compared to the expenses that they incur to keep the facility open and care for the dogs at the level they do. Would highly recommend anyone looking at adoption to look to Mackenzies for a quality pet....be warned you have to meet their standards, it's not the other way around. <br>

Very disappointed about the team my daughter was put on, not sure why they even bothered having tryouts. I was told this organization is political and I didn’t believe it but now I see it. What an expensive disappointment and a waste of time.<br>Was told she’d play with girls of the same skill level. There are girls on her team that are scared of the ball, can’t throw from 3rd base to 1st base, don’t know when to run on a pop fly, don’t know you can run more than one base when the ball is hit. My daughter is miserable, we are both disappointed. If you just moved into this community and she knows how to play, don’t bother with this organization. Go play Apple Valley or Burnsville slowpitch, so much better and you don’t have to drive 1-1/2 hours to Wisconsin on a weekday night for games.