Finding Help & Hope

[Lend A Hand Up]

Story by Jeana Peinovich, with Tracy Nicholson
Photography provided by Lend A Hand Up, DMF

Since 2008, Lend A Hand Up has been partnering with caring community members to host fundraisers for families battling tough medical challenges. While this pandemic has tragically succeeded in stopping all gatherings and benefits, it didn't stop their team from finding creative (and remote) ways to support the families they've pledged to help. This month, we're asking our readers to rally together (online) with three fun ways to "lend a hand up". ​

Five Families Who Need Our Help! 

One-Year-Old, Jay Fischer

With all benefits canceled until further notice, the Help and Hope Campaign is working feverishly to help these deserving families in need.  

Diagnosis: Diamond Black Fan Anemia
[Benefit scheduled for May 2nd at the Bowler in Fargo has been postponed indefinitely.]

What is Diamond Black Fan Anemia?
Jay has a rare genetic blood disorder that he was diagnosed with at two months of age. Since then, he has endured multiple blood transfusions, medical procedures and surgeries. He is awaiting a stem cell transplant which will require the family to be with him in the cities for a minimum of six months. The Fischer family, Melissa and Johnathon Fischer, and Jay's five-year-old brother Miles reside in Barnesville, Minn.  

Beverly "Bevy" Peters

Diagnosis: Rare form of cancer – Angiosarcoma
[Initial Benefit was slated for December 28, 2019. A major storm required it to be postponed to this spring. It was rescheduled to May, then canceled again.]  

“Mother to Many, Bevy to All”
"Bevy" was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Angiosarcoma, in November of 2019. Her care and treatment in Rochester caused her to shut down her daycare business that she has run for 40 years. Bevy lives in Horace, N.D., and is married to Lee Peters. They are parents to seven children, including three foster children who are still at home. 

Nancy Erdmann

Diagnosis: ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
​
Nancy, also lovingly nicknamed "The Pants", is a former NICU nurse who worked at Essentia Health for many years. She resides in Fargo and is appreciated for the skill, kindness and compassion she has shared with all of her tiny patients. Due to her diagnosis of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, her physical limitations have forced her to retire. She is currently wheelchair-bound.  

Julian “Duane” D. Elofson

Diagnosis: Corticobasal Degeneration
[Benefit scheduled for May 14 at Shotgun Sally’s has been canceled.]

What is Corticobasal Degeneration?
Duane has a rare and progressive disease that causes parts of the brain to atrophy and die. It manifests itself in loss of coordination, making it increasingly difficult to walk, lift one’s arms, chew and swallow. Duane has made many friends through his experience as a member of Overland Stage Bank and as someone who enjoyed serving his Tasty Freeze customers. He seeks financial help to gain assistive devices such as a wheelchair, chairlift and adaptive equipment allowing him to stay in his Fargo home and transport to appointments.  

Fred & Anna Lassonde

Diagnosis: Post Concussion/mild TBI (traumatic brain injury)/PTSD

Fred and his wife Anna are residents of Detroit Lakes, Minn., with their two children, ages nine and six. Their troubles began in 2017 while Fred was working as a police officer for the Fargo Police department and suffered an injury while working on his truck. He was a mechanic prior to being a police officer, so he initially brushed off the injury. As time went on, Fred became progressively worse until he was no longer able to converse, drive or take care of his family. He quit his job to focus on rehabilitation, and the family sold their home in Lake Park, moving into a small two-bedroom home in Detroit Lakes. They put most of their furniture and household goods in storage, which was then destroyed when the storage unit’s roof was ripped off by a storm. Anna became the primary wage-earner for the family through her job as a caregiver at Ecumen nursing home in Detroit Lakes until she fractured her pelvis and lumbar spine. Since both are currently unable to work, they are in an ongoing struggle to support their family. 

3 Ways to LEND A HAND UP! 

[ Extend help & hope to our neighbors in need ] 

“The new Help and Hope Campaign, hosted by Lend A Hand Up, provides three easy ways for individuals and businesses to lend a hand up. Helping a family from the comfort and safety of one’s home is as easy as buying t-shirts, forwarding gift cards, or making an online donation to a Lend A Hand Up individual or family benefit fund,"

• Jeana Peinovich, Program Director, 

1. Help & Hope Team T-shirts

Ease the hurt and buy a shirt!
​
When you buy a Team Tee through the Lend A Hand Up Shirt Shop, $10 from every shirt will be donated to a local family in medical crisis through Lend A Hand Up’s partnership with S & S Promotional Group. Select a family to designate your gift - or give to all. Shirts include super-soft t-shirts and Sport-Tek athletic wear. There are multiple sizes and colors for adults and youth.
All shirts are under $20 and that includes mailing costs. Look good and do good!

Now through May 25, view family campaigns and shop: 

• ​www.lendahandup.org/events 

2. Help & Hope Gift Cards

When times are hard, extend a card!

Buy a gift card – or share one on hand to help a family with groceries, gas or supplies. Feel free to share a personal, uplifting message, with or without your name. Designate your gift card to a family listed on the Lend A Hand Up Give page, or let us help you determine the best fit/family for your caring gift. Let’s come together to share Gift Card Mayday Baskets to our neighbors in medical crisis.

Forward your gift card(s) now or anytime:

• Lend A Hand Up
• Dakota Medical Foundation | 4141 28 Ave. S., Fargo, N.D. 58104

3. Help & Hope Donations

It’s easy to uplift, make an online gift! 

Through Lend A Hand Up, your gift will increase in value by 20% through the program’s unique boost platform. And, since Lend A Hand Up's operational expenses are covered by Dakota Medical Foundation, all gifts directly help families. 

Make an online gift: 

• give.lendahandup.org

Get to Know Lend A Hand Up

Lend A Hand Up is on a mission to raise financial help and hope for local families experiencing a medical crisis. Launched in February of 2008, they provide fundraising tools, personal coaching, online donation capabilities, gift cards and boost grants up to $5,000 per family. All resources are free to eligible fundraisers, and a committee meets weekly to review applications. Resources are currently limited to fundraisers that help residents of Cass County (ND), Clay County (MN) and the cities of Lake Park, Audubon and Detroit Lakes. 

“Since Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) funds Lend A Hand Up’s operational expenses, all gifts benefit families,” said Peinovich. “Unlike GoFundME platforms, donors are not charged fees, nor solicited tips when they make a gift. Plus, donations are boosted 20% through Lend A Hand Up’s unique boost platform made possible by program supporters."

Since 2008, Lend A Hand Up has partnered with caring community members to raise more than $18 million to uplift 540 local families through a medical crisis.”

For more information, contact: 

Lend A Hand Up
Dakota Medical Foundation

• 4141 28 Ave. South, Fargo
• 701.356.2661
• lendahandup.org