EERC on a mission for the Mission

Research center collects more than $10,000 in supplies for Northlands shelter

Staff members of UND’s Energy & Environmental Research Center recently held a donation drive to provide much needed supplies for residents of the Northlands Rescue Mission.

The resulting totals surpassed those from a similar benefit held by the EERC last year.

This year’s supply drive was supported by a fun competition among teams of EERC staff. Over the course of the eight-day competition, more than $10,000 worth of necessities were collected.

The Mission’s new director, Sue Shirek, accepted this year’s donations on Friday May 12, during a visit to the EERC on the UND campus.

“People often ask me if their small contributions can make much of a difference,” Shirek said. “The answer is – absolutely. It may not seem like it when you’re donating a few cans of food, but you can see those individual donations add up to a lot to benefit the community.”

Much generosity

The effort was spearheaded by the EERC’s Social Cause committee, a group of employees who volunteer within the community. The committee selects a charity each year and raises money, donates goods or volunteers their time at that organization. This year’s work at the Northlands Rescue Mission includes assembling meals for the Backpack Program, sorting food and clothing donations and working in the Mission’s store, where residents can get personal care and other items.

Last year, the committee raised more than $5,400 for the Altru Health Foundation through their Spin for Kids fundraiser, which was the second-largest amount raised by a team in 2016.

“It is amazing to work at a place with people that have this much generosity,” said Amanda Livers, an EERC research scientist in geophysics and chairperson of the Social Cause committee.