MOHR member organization Ita Bel Koo DAC is about an hour south of the Canadian border in Northome, Minnesota. The town doesn't have stoplights, public transportation, or fast food restaurants. But they do have great opportunities for the people with disabilities supported there. Ita Bel Koo DAC helps the people they support work around town for the city, the school, places of worship, and locally owned businesses.
Volunteering in the local communities is also very important to the people at Ita Bel Koo. For example, they volunteer at the pop-up food pantry once a month, working alongside other volunteers to distribute food to those who need it.
Last year, they worked on a big volunteer project throughout the whole summer. Every Thursday, a group of four or five people climbed into the van with their lunches, bug spray, and sun block and a staff person drove them 40 miles to Bigfork, Minnesota. They were there to renovate the old Bigfork Hospital.
The building started out less than glamorous, but with the work of volunteers throughout the community including those from Ita Bel Koo, it became a new residential housing building for folks with disabilities called Sam's Place.
People supported at Ita Bel Koo are so glad they can contribute to the community through volunteer projects, both big and small. Great work!
