Rooted in our #PeopleFirst philosophy, the Wishing Well is a way for us to respond to real needs with real support. Whether it’s helping a local camp prepare for summer, honoring cultural heritage, or supporting a family through crisis, each wish granted is a reflection of the strength and resilience of our communities.

Here are three recent wishes that show just how powerful a simple act of kindness can be.

Elks Camp Grassick: A Better Night’s Sleep for Campers

Elks Camp Grassick is a summer camp serving children and adults with disabilities in Dawson, ND. In addition to recreational activities, the camp offers exceptional services, including speech and occupational therapy. It fosters an environment where individuals can practice problem-solving, conflict resolution, and forming positive peer friendships.

However, many of the camp’s pillows were in poor condition, leaving them scrambling to find replacements before the next session began.

We know how important a good night’s sleep is to make the most out of the day, so the Wishing Well gave the camp 72 high-quality pillows, just in time for their busiest sessions. We hope these pillows not only improve comfort but also help protect campers’ health by making sanitation easier between sessions.

“Something as simple as pillows really does make a difference for our campers and staff,” said Jenny Hunt, Camp Director. “These will make cleaning pillows between sessions or in case of illness so much easier and keep our campers healthier and happier, which is always our goal!”

Supporting a Volunteer Firefighter’s Recovery

On April 12, Jaiden Bauer, a volunteer firefighter and rancher from McClusky, ND, was severely injured while battling a massive prairie fire in Sheridan County. His recovery would require six weeks in the hospital and eight weeks indoors at home, away from dust, dirt, and sunlight, a difficult ask for someone who lives and works on a farm.

The Wishing Well provided funds for an air conditioning unit, helping Jaiden create a safe and comfortable environment for healing. We hope this small but vital support allowed him to focus on recovery while his community rallied around his family.

50th Hmong American Artist Celebration: Honoring a Cultural Legacy

This year marks 50 years since the Hmong people arrived in the United States, and to honor that milestone, OYO Entertainment hosted a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Hmong American artists in Saint Paul, MN. The event showcased five decades of music, memory, and cultural evolution, including performances by beloved Hmong boy bands from the 1980s and 1990s.

With over 2,000 attendees from across the country and beyond, the celebration was a powerful tribute to the creativity and resilience of the Hmong community. Choice Bank’s Wishing Well helped cover costs for artist travel and venue space, ensuring the event could go forward as planned.

“It was a beautiful evening celebrating, honoring, and seeing performances from the last five decades,” said Pang Mee Xiong, Event Organizer. “We had about 2,000 people who attended, and they came from all over the world.”

This wish wasn’t just about funding; it was about recognizing and uplifting a vibrant community and its contributions to American culture.

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post Uplifting Our Communities, One Wish at a Time appeared first on Choice Bank.

That question sparked the creation of the Choice Bank Wishing Well in 2018. Rooted in our #PeopleFirst philosophy, this initiative was designed to uplift individuals and organizations in need, one wish at a time. Since its inception, the Wishing Well has granted dozens of heartfelt wishes, each one a testament to the strength and resilience of our communities.

Here are some of the most recent wishes we’ve had the honor of granting and the incredible impact they’ve made:

Rebuilding After Tragedy

When Heather and Ian Knox of Marshall, MN, lost their home to a devastating fire in February 2025, they were left with nothing but gratitude for their safety and a long road to rebuilding their home. Temporarily living in an apartment, the Knox family faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. Choice employee Kelli Kurth notified us of the Knox family’s situation, so the Wishing Well stepped in to provide a gift card for essential home items like bedding and curtains, helping them take the first steps toward creating a new home.

Creating Accessible Outdoor Spaces at Wilson Dam

Wilson Dam is a beloved local spot for fishing, playing, and gathering. But its aging wooden picnic table was no longer safe or accessible. With help from the Wishing Well, a new ADA-compliant picnic table will soon be installed, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.

Journey to Healing

Amelie Willits has been bravely battling juvenile arthritis and uveitis since a young age. With frequent trips to Fargo and Rochester for treatment, travel costs quickly added up. The Wishing Well provided $500 to help ease the financial burden on her family, allowing them to focus on what matters most: Amelie’s health.

Safe Transport for Survivors

Kedish House in Ellendale, ND, provides critical support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. But with limited local housing options, transporting victims to safe locations, sometimes out of state, was a growing challenge. Thanks to the Wishing Well, Kedish House was able to purchase a reliable vehicle to ensure safe, secure transport for those in crisis.

Each wish granted by the Choice Bank Wishing Well is more than just a gift; it’s a message of hope, a show of solidarity, and a reminder that we’re all in this together. Whether it’s helping a family rebuild, making public spaces more inclusive, or supporting those facing medical or personal crises, the Wishing Well is a powerful example of what happens when we put people first. We’re proud to continue this journey, one wish at a time.

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post Helping Our Neighbors, One Wish at a Time appeared first on Choice Bank.

Carson Senior Meals Program

The Carson Senior Meals Program in Carson, ND, provides hot meals five days a week for the senior citizens of Grant County, serving 20-28 meals per day. Due to the high cost of purchasing groceries locally, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, the program faced financial challenges. The Wishing Well granted $1,500 to the Carson Senior Meals Program, enabling them to purchase more fresh produce and continue providing nutritious meals to the community’s seniors.

Farm in the Dell

Farm in the Dell, a non-profit organization north of Moorhead, MN, is dedicated to “transforming disabilities into abilities” by providing meaningful work and life experiences for individuals with developmental disabilities. To better support their Garden Engineers, who face various challenges, the farm has been working to improve its infrastructure. The Wishing Well granted $5,000 to Farm in the Dell for the construction of a second well, which will provide sufficient water pressure for their gardening efforts and support the installation of an ADA-accessible bathroom!

Kevin Basher

Kevin Basher, a Choice Bank customer and single father, was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. Running his own lawn and snow care business while raising his 7-year-old daughter, Kevin faced significant financial strain due to his diagnosis and the need for frequent travel for medical appointments. The Wishing Well granted Kevin $1,000 in gift cards to help cover groceries, travel expenses, school supplies, and clothing for his daughter, alleviating some of the stress during this challenging time.

Guelph Community

The Guelph Community sought to purchase playground equipment for their community center grounds, a former school used for various events. Recognizing the importance of providing activities for children during these events, the Wishing Well granted $1,000 to the Guelph Community to contribute towards the purchase of the playground equipment, ensuring that children feel valued and have a space to be active.

Lamoure EMS

Lamoure EMS planned to host a Rubber Duck Race to raise funds for building upkeep expenses, including maintaining a new USA flag, painting, and cleaning supplies. The event involves community members sponsoring ducks, which are then raced down a stream. The Wishing Well granted $500 to Lamoure EMS to cover the startup costs of the Rubber Duck Race, helping to establish a fun and engaging annual fundraising event for the community.

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post Transforming Lives, One Wish at a Time appeared first on Choice Bank.

Dickinson High School Peer-to-Peer Leadership Class

Every year, the Peer-to-Peer Leadership Class at Dickinson High School embarks on a journey that goes beyond the classroom. This year, their destination is Arizona, where thirty-one students will learn about travel, budgeting, and independence. The class, which pairs general education students with special education students, has been fundraising diligently, but they needed a little extra help. The Wishing Well gave these students a $500 donation to help cover their food expenses. This trip is a culmination of months of hard work and planning, and we hope the students enjoy it to the fullest!

Ludden Sportsman’s Club

With a donation from Choice Bank’s Wishing Well program, the Ludden Sportsman’s Club has built a picnic shelter on Dakota Lake to provide much-needed shade for visitors stopping by for a picnic or dropping in a line. The project was particularly special because it involved the local Eagle Scouts, who handled all the labor, including pouring the concrete. The future plans for the site include adding restrooms and picnic tables. We can’t wait to hear how visitors enjoy the new shelter and the opportunities it would bring for picnics, fishing, and simply enjoying the beauty of the lake.

Belfield Volunteer Fire Department

The Belfield Volunteer Fire Department relies on chainsaws for their emergency duties, but their existing ones had broken down. With a donation from the Wishing Well, the department was able to purchase two new chainsaws. Volunteer fire departments are the backbone of emergency services in small rural towns, providing critical support and safety. This donation ensured that the firefighters could maintain their readiness and effectiveness.

Redeemer Health Care Center

Choice Bank’s Wishing Well program recently made a significant contribution to the Redeemer Health Care Center in Minneapolis, donating funds to purchase a much-needed bus for the residents. For those who call a nursing home “home,” maintaining a sense of independence is crucial, yet challenging. Many residents rely on wheelchairs or walkers and often lack family support for outings. The previous bus at Redeemer, which had served the community well for years, finally became unusable in early 2023. Without it, organizing trips became complicated and costly, limiting the residents’ ability to explore and engage with the community. As a nonprofit serving an underprivileged demographic, Redeemer struggled to raise the necessary funds for a new bus. Thanks to Choice Bank’s generous donation, the center can now purchase a gently-used, low-mileage bus. This new bus will greatly enhance the residents’ quality of life, allowing them to enjoy regular outings, maintain their independence, and stay connected with their community.

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post Wishes Do Come True! appeared first on Choice Bank.

Benedictine Living Community LaMoure

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference in someone’s life. Last Christmas, the residents of the Benedictine Living Community in LaMoure, ND, went without any holiday decorations. Many of the facility’s decorations had been improperly stored and needed to be thrown away. The senior living community’s new housing manager wanted to make a new start with the residents and sent us a wish for new decorations. The Wishing Well happily obliged and gave the facility funds to purchase new decorations. We hope through this we can help lift the spirits and improve the quality of life of the Benedictine Living Community’s residents.

Learn ‘n Move Child Care

Learn ‘n Move is a local non-profit childcare in Fargo, ND, with a mission to serve children of all abilities and backgrounds to learn, move, grow, and play.

“The kiddos we serve include children in foster care, children that are developmentally delayed, and children who are at a developmentally appropriate stage,” Briana Miller, Director of Learn ‘n Move Childcare, said. “The children we serve have varying abilities to emotionally regulate. As early childhood professionals, we understand how important emotional regulation and coping skills are to the young children we serve.”

Currently, their classrooms do not have any calm-down tools for the children, so the Wishing Well stepped in to provide the supplies to create a space where children can learn to identify their emotions and identify tools to self-regulate!

“Mental health is such an important aspect for early childhood, our goal is to help our kiddos develop emotional regulation tools prior to entering kindergarten,” Briana said.

A Chance for New Memories

Four young siblings, who have faced numerous challenges including displacement and the loss of their primary caretaker, their grandmother, were given a special opportunity by the Wishing Well. After the unexpected death of their grandmother, two of the siblings’ aunts stepped up to take care for the kids, however, they’d be separated as each aunt took two of the children.

“These kiddos are very dear to my heart and it saddens me to see them juggled around and not living a ‘normal’ life,” Choice Home Loans employee Tosha Steinwand said of her cousins. “I’m very grateful for their aunts, but I am also saddened to see them separated. I’d like to give them time together”

The Wishing Well provided the resources for Tosha to give her cousins a memorable experience in Medora, which included an overnight stay, swimming, miniature golf, and attending a musical, allowing the siblings precious time together to enjoy activities they love and create new memories!

Dickey County 4-H

In many communities, a concession stand is more than just a place to get a snack under the stadium lights, but is also a fundraising opportunity for student groups. The Dickey County 4-H program in Ellendale, North Dakota, has a small stand at the Dickey County Fairgrounds they use for fundraising.

The proceeds from the concession sales are used to pay back food costs with the remainder going to the 4-H program. However, with rising food costs, that margin is getting smaller and smaller.

“Often people purchasing from the stand during the fair are not aware this is a 4-H concession stand,” Danielle Dinger, community wellness and 4-H youth development agent, said.

They have created painted signs to stand out to patrons among the surrounding for-profit vendors and are looking for other ways to attract customers. So the Wishing Well gave the 4-H group funds to purchase signage and flags to grab the interest of hungry buyers!

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post Wishing Well Roundup appeared first on Choice Bank.

The Illies Family

The Illies family are facing a challenging and uncertain journey with their one-year-old son, Gunnar, diagnosed with a rapidly growing tumor on his face. The family has been grappling with the unknown nature of the tumor, undergoing surgeries, multiple hospital visits, and dealing with the emotional toll of the situation.

In August of this year, his parents started noticing a lump on his face near his nose. Over the next month, it continued to grow and they brought Gunnar in to have it checked out after being worried about how fast it had grown. They took X-rays and he had a large tumor growing on the side of his nose. The tumor was removed, and then in a very short period after the removal it grew back and is now back to the original size it was when it was removed. The tumor has tested negative for cancer, however, it has been impacting his breathing.

Understanding the financial strain on the Illies family due to travel expenses, time off work, and the escalating costs of their two young children’s daycare, the Wishing Well made a heartfelt donation of $1000 to cover daycare expenses for the Illies family. We hope this allows the Illies family to focus on Gunnar’s medical needs and spend valuable time together during this difficult period.

The Dotson Family

Tobias is a young student who is hard of hearing in one ear and is in need of a hearing aid. With all of the background noises present in the classroom, Tobias struggled to follow lessons. Tobias’s learning and listening skills were being impacted, so his teacher Mara sent us a wish for a hearing aid for Tobias to assist with his speech, language, and academic skills.

Recognizing the significant impact a hearing aid can have on Tobias’s life and education, the Wishing Well granted his wish for a much-needed hearing aid. We hope this hearing aid will make a positive impact on Tobias’s educational journey, allowing him to fully engage and thrive in academic settings.

Cavalier City Park

City parks serve as central hubs for community engagement and play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for residents. The Cavalier City Park, with its focus on providing open-ended play for a diverse range of ages, is in the process of acquiring new equipment so the playground is up to current safety standards. The park is a gathering place for residents of all ages and is used for many community events.

In alignment with our mission to better the places we live, the Wishing Well has made a $5,000 donation to the Cavalier City Park to expand and reinforce the sandbox, emphasizing the vital role of city parks in rural communities. We hope this donation not only beautifies the park but also strengthens the sense of community and connectivity in and around Cavalier.

The Stroh Family

Bryan and Karri Stroh are devoted foster parents currently facing the challenging journey of their 19-month-old foster daughter, Heaven, undergoing leukemia treatment. Heaven’s diagnosis with leukemia came amid the holiday season, necessitating her immediate hospitalization and a prolonged stay in Fargo for six months of treatment. Despite the difficulties, Karri Stroh has been a constant presence by Heaven’s side. But their family has had limited opportunities to be together.

Having opened their hearts and home to numerous foster children, including adopting two and in the process of adopting a third, the Stroh family has been through an emotionally taxing period.

“Bryan and Karri are foster parents after raising their own five children,” Kris Stroh, Steele Choice employee, said. “They have adopted two of the foster children and are in the process of adopting a third. They have had most of these children since birth. My wish for this family is a hotel stay for the whole family so they could all be together. They have not had a chance to be together since this all started and family time is so very important.”

Moved by the Stroh family’s resilience and the importance of family unity during challenging times, the Wishing Well stepped in with a thoughtful gift. We provided the family with a hotel stay in Bismarck, complete with a waterpark to add a touch of joy, and organized a pizza party, enabling the entire family to gather and create new cherished memories with their siblings, parents, cousins, aunts, and uncles.

The Anderson Family

We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate circumstances faced by the Anderson family, who recently lost all their possessions, including their two beloved dogs, in a devastating house fire.

In response to this distressing situation, the Choice Bank Wishing Well has extended a helping hand by providing a donation of $750 to the Anderson family. This financial support is intended to assist them in acquiring immediate necessities and groceries as they navigate the challenging process of rebuilding their lives after such a tragic loss.

At Choice Bank, we believe in the power of community and coming together in times of need. Our hearts go out to the Anderson family, and we hope that this contribution provides some relief during this difficult period.

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post Wishing Well Starts the Year Strong appeared first on Choice Bank.

Waters Family Café

Cafés serve as the heart of our rural communities as a gathering place for friends, neighbors, and families. As a bank with roots in rural North Dakota, we recognize the importance of having these informal meeting spaces and supporting small businesses.

So when the Wishing Well received a wish in Walhalla, ND, from a local community member who expressed the need for an ice machine at the Waters Family Café, we stepped up to make this wish come true.

“This café is a meeting place for many,” Travis Berg, Walhalla Choice Bank Location President, said. “The owners work hard and do a lot for our community.”

The new ice machine from Choice will be invaluable to the café on busy days when there is a large influx of customers, ensuring that they can continue to provide excellent service and make a welcoming space for patrons.

20/20 Vision

Irene is an incredibly active 97-year-old member of the Steele, ND, community. She’s known for the huge garden she grows in the summer, getting up at 5 in the morning to begin working on it and then staying up until 11 to crochet blankets. Many of us wish we had the same amount of energy as her!

Recently, Irene faced a challenging decision between fixing her teeth or getting new glasses, as her budget allowed for just one of these vital needs. She chose to prioritize her dental health by fixing her teeth but expressed the desire to save up for much-needed new glasses.

Recognizing Irene’s limited budget and her need for clear vision, Choice Bank employee Val Leier stepped in to grant her wish. Val and the Steele Choice Bank location presented Irene with a pair of prescription glasses, ensuring that she can continue to engage in her active lifestyle with improved clarity and comfort.

Bringing Baby Home

Couple Jesse and Missy have been on a challenging journey to start a family and are turning to adoption to fulfill their dreams. Facing the considerable financial burden that comes with adoption costs projected to be over $40,000, their friends and family rallied together to organize a silent auction fundraiser and also sent us a wish.

Choice Bank granted their wish with a generous donation and a thoughtfully crafted grill-out basket for the silent auction.

Jesse and Missy’s determination to build their family and care for a child through adoption is a testament to their unwavering hope and resilience. We were so happy to help support them achieve their dream of bringing a baby home.

A Resilient Mother

The Wishing Well program recently extended its heartfelt support to Jayme, a courageous stay-at-home mom with two young children, aged 2 and 8 months. Jayme’s life took an unexpected turn when she was rushed to the emergency room with severe chest pain, only to discover a football-sized mass in her chest. Her journey led her to Mayo Clinic, where she received the devastating diagnosis of Ewing Sarcoma, a highly aggressive form of cancer.

Facing a grueling treatment regimen that includes 14 rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, Jayme must make frequent trips to Rochester or Fargo, with her fiancée, Cole, providing invaluable support during these trying times. To ease the burden on their shoulders, we presented Jayme with a thoughtful care package and funds to cover gas expenses on her trips for treatment, recognizing the financial strain brought about by medical appointments and the necessity of daycare for her children.

It’s important for us as community members to support individuals and families facing significant health challenges. Jayme’s journey is marked by resilience and the power of community, and we are wishing her all the best on this difficult journey.

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post One Wish at a Time appeared first on Choice Bank.

But Alex recently outgrew his stroller and needed a new one. His ability and right to be a part of the community were being hindered due to not having a suitable stroller.

“He is non-verbal and at times can be a runner,” Natalie said. “We need this stroller so that he can participate and be included in outings in a safe manner.”

To compliment Alex’s adventurous lifestyle, the Choice Bank Wishing Well got Alex a new stroller that even has all-terrain tires and floats in the water.

“He LOVES to be in the water!” Natalie said. “This stroller is great for him to have so that he can safely enjoy being in the water with his mom and siblings without his mom having to worry if something is going to happen to him.”

Alex’s siblings play soccer at the Dickinson recreational center during the summer and he likes to attend their games. The all-terrain tires will also make it so much easier for his mom, Kristy, to be able to push him through the grass and gravel to get him down to the soccer field so that he can watch his siblings play.

“This was a complete surprise for Alex and Kristy,” said Abbie Pedeliski, Choice Bank Business Loan Servicing Specialist. “It warmed all our hearts to see the excitement and pure gratitude on Kristy’s face when she saw the new stroller. Alex sat in the stroller and was immediately comfortable and did not want to get out. We know that Alex and his family will be able to enjoy a lot more time outside and have some more freedom to take some trips.”

We are so blessed to be able to give Alex the mobility he deserves to continue to get so much enjoyment from life!

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post The Gift of Mobility and Community Inclusion appeared first on Choice Bank.

From an early age, Bella loved to create and she especially enjoyed baking and decorating treats. Rosalinda uses Bella’s Dulce Sweets & Treats to give back to the Fargo-Moorhead community. The business raises money for the homeless, puts on a Christmas event that helps the very poor, and provides free gifts to families in need.

“Anything extra earned is used to give back to other causes dear to Bella’s heart,” Rosalinda said. This has also included care packages to local shelters and special cards to patients in long-term facilities.

Over the years, the Garcia family has encountered trying times with medical issues for Bella. Bella has a vascular malformation tumor on her arm that has required many costly treatments and surgeries at Mayo Clinic.

“We are no strangers to struggle,” Rosalinda said. “We realized that life is hard for everyone. Everyone is going through something, and sometimes those are far worse than what we are dealing with. Our family is committed to being a strong team and working together to support our own needs, but we will never stop giving back to the larger community in any way we can.”

Despite these hardships, the Garcia family remains committed to giving back to those in need in their community. So we wanted to give back to this generous and resilient family.

Bella recently received tickets to Legoland through Merlin’s Magic Wand Foundation, so the Wishing Well covered the travel and lodging expenses so the entire family could have a joyful, fun experience together.

While on the trip, they received the difficult news that Bella’s tumor had spread and connected to her main vascular system. Bella has a dedicated team at Mayo Clinic working on a treatment plan for her. Still, the increased medical expenses and travel and lodging to out-of-area providers have created financial hardship for the family.

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post More Than Just a Wish appeared first on Choice Bank.

Peter Boe Jr. Elementary School

Supporting youth development is a very important cause for us here at Choice Bank. So when we received a wish from Krista Hogfoss, a kindergarten teacher at Peter Boe Jr. Elementary School in Mayville, ND, to support their Literacy Night we were so excited to help financially support the event.

The elementary school invites students and their families for a group reading activity and a scavenger hunt. Students are then able to pick out a book of their own to take home.

“This project serves all 244 students and their families in our school. It increases parent/child engagement and also strengthens connections between our school and the families we serve,” Krista said about the Literacy Night program. “With the increase in books to our students and the reading incentive and extra encouragement I expect to see our students making gains in comprehension, vocabulary and context, comparing and contrasting, writing skills, predicting strategies, and drawing conclusions.”

Henry Groenwald

Henry is a young child who is living with a heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which impacts blood flow through the heart. At only four years old, Henry has already undergone three open heart surgeries.

Most of Henry’s life has been spent going to appointments for treatment for his condition. His family has to drive out of town for many of his appointments as they cannot be done locally.

When his family just returned home to Ellendale, ND, after spending six weeks at Mayo Clinic for his latest surgery, the Ellendale Choice Bank team surprised Henry and his family with funds for travel expenses and a gift box with toys for Henry from the Wishing Well.

First Congregational UCC Garden

Bettering the places we live begins with making sure our neighbors are fed. In North Dakota 42,290 people are facing hunger, that is one in every 18 people. However, there are many wonderful people and organizations that are working to address food insecurity in our communities.

Last year, the First Congregational UCC Community Garden donated 2,600 pounds of fresh produce to the Emergency Food Pantry, Dorothy Day House, and New Life Center in Fargo. Betty Pederson of the First Congregational UCC Community Garden submitted a wish to our Wishing Well for help paying for the seed for this year’s garden.

Choice is also dedicated to addressing food insecurity through our Free Little Pantry program. The garden’s mission resonated with us, and we were excited to help provide seed for the garden as well as funding for some new equipment.

Betty said the garden could always use more volunteers, to help plant, maintain, and harvest the food. Get in touch with the garden here.

Orin Soli

Orin suffered a stroke several years ago. The left side of his body has become less mobile and he has to use a cane, which makes getting out and around town difficult for him.

Since this stroke, he has been doctoring for other veins and arteries that have become clogged. He started going to the fitness center in Walhalla to use the recumbent bike, which helped his circulation and movement with little stress on his body and joints.

However, during the winter months and the hazard of slipping on the ice and snow, Orin isn’t able to get out to go to the fitness center.

So LaRae Horgan had a great idea, what if we got him a recumbent bike for his home? With funds from the Wishing Well. LaRae surprised Orin with the gift and he was ecstatic!

“This was such an amazing feeling to present this wish to him,” LaRae said. “This will greatly benefit his mobility and his mood. He is so excited to have this right in his home!”

Jill Super

Our teachers are invaluable resources to our communities, as their positive spirit encourages and supports our youth to accomplish their goals. We want to ensure our local educators have the resources they need to continue achieving this.

Jill Super is an elementary school teacher in Bismarck who wants all of her students to feel successful and express themselves through the arts. She already does a lot of personal fundraising to purchase are supplies for her students, but Jill’s aunt sent us a wish to provide a little extra support

The Wishing Well gave Jill a gift certificate to the Mandan business Art from the Heart to purchase supplies that empower her students to create. We can’t wait to see her students’ creations!

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.

The post Granting Wishes that Make a Difference appeared first on Choice Bank.