Ellendale Foundation continues AED initiative

The chief topic of conversation during the Community Foundation of Ellendale (CFE) meeting the evening of Monday, March 10 was the “Restart the Beat” campaign, an effort by the CFE to ensure automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are readily available throughout the community, and that people are familiar with how to use them.

The initiative is to purchase four AED devices which will come with small storage cabinets suitable to be mounted on a wall.

Thanks to Restart the Beat, CFE members expect to see AEDs newly available at three churches located within the city and at the community center. Those four, to be purchased for $5,260,  join two others already located at the school and a main street store which are accessible in an emergency.

A session which will cover the use of the machines is scheduled for Monday, May 12 at the United Methodist Church. A light, free-will offering meal will be served at 5:30, the training session will begin at 6:30.

Each of the facilities will be responsible for choosing the device’s location, mounting it appropriately, and placing provided signs which notify the public there is an AED on site.

Significant funding for the purchase of the AEDs and the training is being provided by the Mankato-based Taylor Family Farms Foundation, the City of Ellendale, the city fire and ambulance departments, as well as numerous other donors and supporters.

Also on the agenda was a 2025 Annual Plan which summarized action to be taken in four priority areas. The Restart the Beat campaign and fundraising were listed as the two main topics under priority number one for the year. Board member Coleen Brekke pointed out the group has a goal to raise $10,000 each year and should consider augmenting donations with grants and other types of funds.

A second priority was to increase the number of advisory board members. Five individuals were present at the March 10 meeting: Arlen Brekke, Coleen Brekke, Jack Harpel, Allie Larson and Michelle Sletten. Also on the board are three additional members, Tiffany Krueger, Jo Lerberg and Sherry Schott. To build their numbers, board members are looking for people with a variety of skills who live in the Ellendale area.

Marketing and communication were listed as another priority; listed steps included speaking with community members and businesses about CFE initiatives and accomplishments.

Group members will also be looking to streamline elements of their grant making and scholarship applications. One priority is reviewing the guidelines for each and possibly updating the application forms. Along with these steps, the group hopes to extend its ability to give by applying for matching grants from suitable organizations.

The CFE gives two $500 scholarships each year to support the post-secondary education of selected NRHEG graduates. True to the group’s local focus, major criteria in selecting the winners are the impact they have already had through volunteerism and participation in local events and the impact they expect to have on their home community in the future.

Anyone interested in more information about the Community Foundation of Ellendale is invited to speak with any of the board members.