MUCH OBLIGED

Thank you so much for the wonderful article in the Brainerd Dispatch about the Kiwanis Club of Brainerd regarding their 50th year anniversary. As past president of the club, I know of the big hearts of the men and women in our club and Warren Murphy is our "big hearted" treasure. Thanks Brainerd Dispatch for the help in allowing people to know that the Kiwanis Club of Brainerd has been in Brainerd for 50 years servicing the children of the community.

Brian Lehman

Kiwanis Club past president

Family Safety Network

Family Safety Network employees and board of directors are most appreciative of the generous response to our fish fry and silent auction held Oct. 17. Donors included: EconoLodge, Lakes Area Pharmacy, Al's Bakery & Coffee Shop, Mary Ann Kline, Hanneken Insurance Services, U S Bank, Dondelinger's Pine Motor Co., Pine River Dairy Queen, Shamp's Meat Market, and Houston Ford - all of Pine River; Godfrey's True Value of Backus; Lucette's Pizza & Pub, Ellie Nelson, Dee Anderson, Jane Baker, River House Restaurant and the Union Congregational Church, all of Hackensack; Kent & Gina Reeve, Walker Dry Cleaners & Woolens, Heather Doughty, Independent Beauty Sales Director, and Virginia and Leonard Zimmer, all of Walker. We thank all of them for their donations. Also, to all the volunteers who worked on the event - before, during and after, and the people who enjoyed our fish fry and bid on our auction, Thank you for supporting our program during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Judy Mechura

Family Safety Network Board Member

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army would like to thank the Boy Scouts of America in the Brainerd area for the fantastic job they did during their food drive in October. They collected over 4,600 pounds of food for our food shelf. This food was very much needed as this summer has taken a toll on our food supply. Food shelf usage is on the rise. Without the support we receive from sources such as the Boy Scouts, we wouldn't be able to meet the increasing need of our growing community. We also want to thank the following businesses that helped with the Boy Scout drive: Wells Fargo, Cub Foods, BL Broadcasting, Brainerd Dispatch.

Thank you again for a great job well done.

The Salvation Army

Diabetes Walk

The Brainerd Lakes Area Chapter of the American Diabetes Association would like to thank the local businesses and individuals making this years diabetes walk a great success.

This year's honorary walk marshals were Brainerd Major James Wallin and Miss Brainerd 2004, Quinn Nystrom. Walk volunteers include Dick and Florence Keller, Al and Susan Rogers, Ole and Susan Halvorson, Steve and Iris Shivley, Michelle Burris, Barb Risnes, Michelle Pelkey, Teri Veith, Laura Shively, Katie Paine, Gerry Altrichter, Don and Sandy Raisanen, Joseph Paine, Jerowen Look, Bob and Rachel Nystrom, Will Nystrom, Dave Hughes, Deb Lasher and Ali Dosh. Their dedication made this event possible.

Local sponsors of the Diabetes Walk were Brainerd Eyecare, Brainerd Hardwoods, Chippewa Water, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, St. Joseph's Medical Center, B 93.3, WJJY, The Power Loon 107.5, and US Link. Apples were donated by Schaefer's Foods, water from Culligan, and coffee from Caribou Coffee.

Door prizes were donated by Eagle's Landing, Pine Meadows, The Legacy, Salon El Rio, Photo Center, Quality Vacuum Center, It Figures, Triangle Stores, 371 Diner, Ace Hardware, Service Drug, Applebees, Comfort Suites, Prairie Bay, Black Bear, Trust Joist, Nappa Auto, Hirshfields, Bonanza, Fantastic Sam's, Memories for the Making, Nissan, Mary Tuomi Art Gallery, Country Inn Suites, Gear for Health, Poncho and Lefty's, Great Clips, Lonesome Cottage, Little Dukes, Paul Bunyan Bowl, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Grab-a-Java, Pet North, Floor to Ceiling, Moreys, Arbys, Grizzlys, Life Preserver Health Foods, Brainerd Medical Supply, Valvoline Oil, Adirondack Coffee, Culvers, Lakeland Vet, Computer One Plus, TV Service Center, Christmas Point, Batteries Plus, House of Flowers, Cellular One, Sears Portraits, Mary Kay Cosmetics and McDonalds.

We would like to extend a big thank you to all of the walkers and sponsors for their generous support. Funds raised will support ten research projects in Minnesota. We need to find a cure for diabetes that affects 16 million Americans.

Mary Paine

Brainerd Lakes Chapter

American Diabetes Association