Photo courtesy of Bremer, United Way Earlier this month, Bremer Bank and United Way employees gathered in the Twin Cities to assemble kits of household supplies like soap, plates and silverware, toilet paper, toothbrushes and blankets. The kits will be distributed to families around Bremer’s service area — including five Marshall families — to help them transition from homelessness into secure housing.

MARSHALL — Five families in Marshall will have an easier time moving into permanent housing, thanks to a statewide collaboration between Bremer Bank and the United Way. The Bremer Home For Good initiative is providing a total of 1,500 kits of household supplies to families and individuals who are transitioning out of homelessness.

“It’s a very great help for people,” said Angela Larson, coordinator at Marshall area shelter program The Refuge. Homelessness is an issue that continues to affect southwest Minnesota residents, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Larson said.

“It partly is employment issues,” Larson said. With businesses being affected by shutdowns and economic changes due to the pandemic, an increased number of people may be out of work and may not have permanent housing. In addition, the eviction moratorium put in place in Minnesota means there aren’t as many affordable and family housing units available to place people in, she said.

In the Marshall area, Bremer and United Way reached out to the Refuge to distribute five “Welcome Home Kits,” containing essentials like plates and utensils, paper towels, toilet paper, toothbrushes and homemade blankets. The fleece tie blankets were made by Bremer employees, including local employees, said Marshall branch President Chad Drake.

“We have some people who are very talented,” Drake said. He said it was good to be able to bring extra personal touches to the Welcome Home Kits in addition to pledged giving from Bremer, Bremer employees and United Way.

One of the helpful things about the kits, Larson said, is that the items are things people can’t buy with SNAP benefits, and might otherwise have had a hard time getting as they moved into new housing.

Bremer spokespeople said Welcome Home Kits will be provided to families and individuals in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Earlier this month, a small, socially-distanced group of Bremer and United Way employees volunteered in shifts to assemble 650 kits at the Greater Twin Cities United Way headquarters. The kits were then distributed by local Bremer branch leaders to organizations that serve community members in need.

Drake said the Home For Good initiative was a way for Bremer to help support its mission to invest in the communities they serve.

“People can’t thrive in their communities if they don’t have safe, reliable housing,” Drake said. He said Bremer was grateful for its partnership with United Way. Area United Way ambassadors were able to help identify organizations that could get the kits where they’re most needed.

“Reliable housing is a crucial part of strong and thriving communities,” said Bremer Bank President and CEO Jeanne Crain. “Since its founding, Bremer Bank has been committed to making real-world differences in our communities so they can flourish and thrive. The Bremer Home For Good partnership is a tangible opportunity to support our neighbors as they settle into safe, stable housing. We are proud to partner with the Greater Twin Cities United Way on such a meaningful initiative.”