The Power of 100 – Ellsworth group held its annual Spring Impact Meeting Thursday, April 9, where members voted to award $10,000 to the nonprofit group Bethel’s Basement Blessings. The other two finalists were Lost Creek Ranch and Among Friends Dementia Social Respite.

Since its inception, the Power of 100 – Ellsworth group has donated more than $100,000 to local nonprofit organizations. Founding member Kayleen Jakes, who emceed the evening with Katie Feuerhelm, said the group is about doing what women do best – lifting each other up.

“No matter who receives the donation, with community, compassion and collaboration we are unstoppable,” she said.

Prior to each impact meeting, organizations and individuals with a project or program that will impact the Ellsworth area are encouraged to apply for an impact award, given out once each spring and fall. Each member donates $100 to the winning organization at the impact meeting, which totals $10,000; the finalists are narrowed down to three by the Power of 100 core team.

“It’s one thing to write a check when you come here, but it’s another thing to see what $10,000 can do,” Feuerhelm said.

Bethel’s Basement Blessings

The Power of 100 – Ellsworth women voted and chose Bethel’s Basement Blessings to receive the 2026 Spring Impact Award. BBB gives people the opportunity to “shop” for free clothes, shoes, boots, purses, bedding, towels, curtains, linens and hygiene items each month. Volunteers take donations at Bethel Covenant Church (W8405 County Road KK, Ellsworth) and organize them for monthly shopping events.

Organizer Becky Bechel asked the audience if they know someone who has struggled to pay a utility bill or lost their home.

“It’s heartbreaking and sometimes you want to help and you just can’t; that’s where we come in,” she said.

Volunteer Sherry Marson described Bethel as a small but mighty country church, filling the gaps in the community.

“We want every person who walks through our doors to not feel alone,” she said.

Nearly 90 volunteers come together each month to set up and fill an entire church basement with items for people to take – free of charge.

“We’ve supported families who have lost everything in house fires, people who have gotten custody of their grandchildren at a moment’s notice, foster families, area schools, shelters,” Bechel said. “There’s always many neighbors helping neighbors and there are more stories every month. Some people have found closure for a lost loved one by donating items. Volunteers are getting their cup filled also.”

The group plans to use the impact award to “expand beyond the basement.” They want to help people who are facing sudden emergencies, like someone who has lost a home, families experiencing homelessness or hardship, with food, water and resources for further support. They plan to expand their Baby Bump Blessings ministry, which helps new mothers with formula, wipes, diapers and supplies. They helped their first recipient this week, a woman who had her baby at 29 weeks.

“With the closing of Ruby’s Pantry, the stories that I heard last week were just heartbreaking, how much they relied on that food that isn’t there anymore,” Bechel said. “I was able to tell them about BBB hoping they can come shop and they can get stuff for free and have more money for their food.”

BBB has no applications and no barriers. They work hard to protect people’s privacy and preserve their dignity in tough times. With this money, they hope to directly serve more families, respond faster in times of crisis and ensure that everyone has somewhere to turn when they’re struggling.

Bechel said they have served more than 5,000 people in 16 months of operation and that number keeps rising.

“Each month brings new donors, new volunteers and new stories of hope,” Bechel said.

The next shopping event will take place 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 21 and 22. People are encouraged to drop off donations from noon to 3 p.m. April 19. Besides clothes, some high demand items are bedding, hygiene products, bathroom towels, children’s games and infant clothes.

Among Friends Social Respite Care

Among Friends Social Respite Care, established in 2017, is a community-based program open to St. Croix and Pierce County residents who are experiencing dementia. Two days a week at First Congregational Church in River Falls, caregivers can drop off their family members for activities, social time and meals, giving them a much-needed break and time to do errands.

Volunteers Norma Revels and Marshall Skule were on hand to provide information on the nonprofit, which provided 4,649 hours of participant care in 2025, 16,800 hours of caregiver respite and 3,394 hours of volunteer care. About 2,400 residents in Pierce and St. Croix counties are experiencing dementia; 30% of their caregivers are over age 65 with 25% being the “sandwich generation” caregivers for both parents and children.

Revels said the group’s charter member was from Ellsworth. In a video, one woman explained what the group means to her family.

“This has been lifesaving for myself and my family,” she said. “It has been life changing for my spouse who attends. There’s no other environment where he dances, sings and engages with other members who attend and the wonderful volunteers who spend these days totally committed to our loved ones.”

Another caregiver, Pat Anderson, said her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago.

“Everything has changed. It has brought heartbreak, exhaustion and so many moments of loss, but Among Friend has been a blessing,” Anderson said. “They provide dignity, care, comfort and support to keep going. Families feel a little less alone on this difficult journey.”

Revels detailed that while volunteers go home exhausted, caregivers rarely get a break. They often have to miss cherished events such as recitals, trips, and time with friends in order to care for loved ones.

“There’s a price for them to pay. As the disease progresses, they feel increasingly isolated and they really are. Their emotional health is affected, and their physical health is affected,” Revels said.

Among Friends, which serves 10 people per day, is open two days a week and has a waiting list. It receives no government funding and relies on participant fees, donations and grants. Revels said the group received the Power of 100 – River Falls $10,000 award last week, which was a “Godsend.”

“We were getting close to shutting our doors,” Revels shared.

Their goal is to open respite care an additional day each week and to hire more permanent staff. The church provides them with free rent; the biggest part of their budget is providing participants with home-cooked, from scratch meals. To learn more, visit https://www.amongfriendsrf.com/

Lost Creek Ranch

Lost Creek Ranch, founded in 2000, helps participants discover the therapeutic and healing nature of riding horses. Their equine therapy programs help people build resiliency, empathy, lifelong connections with staff and horses and confidence, regardless of their ability to pay.

Board member Cathy Moelter shared the story of River Falls High School alumna Claire John, who was on the brink of suicide when she discovered Lost Creek Ranch.

“Anxiety was heavy, hope was fading,” Moelter said.

A fiery red mare named Bella helped John find trust and peace. She forged relationships with mentors and unexpected friendships with older women in the barn, providing her with a sense of community and belonging.

Moelter said 46% of Pierce County middle and high school students have such anxiety that they have considered suicide, while 20% of senior citizens are quietly coping with mental health challenges.  

“In a world that keeps on scrolling, we need that connection the barn brings, where people can find themselves and each other,” Moelter said.

Last year, Lost Creek served 500 community members, including teens, at-risk youth, seniors who are 50 plus and veterans. Their indoor arena needs more sand so it doesn’t flood every time it rains. The ranch also provides scholarships to youth, seniors and veterans who participate in equine therapy.

“Some horses are rescued and donated,” Moelter said. “We make them feel safe and valued and have a purpose again. They do the same for us. There’s nothing like working with a 1,000-pound animal that builds your confidence. It carries into school, into work and into life in general. We’re a team where kids, teens, adults and seniors all show up for each other and for the horses.

“They don’t judge you, they don’t label, they respond exactly what you bring into the moment. Within 20 feet of approaching a horse, they will start to match their heartbeat with yours.”

Lost Creek Ranch is located at N6842 570^th St., Beldenville. To learn more, visit lostcreekranchwi.org

Ellsworth E3

Anne Pechacek of Ellsworth E3 Community Development Corporation provided attendees with an update on how the Fall 2025 impact award has been used for the Empower Ellsworth Program at Ellsworth Community School District. Empower Ellsworth provides students who have service project ideas to apply for funding to get their projects off the ground.

Examples of service projects made possible by the money include the Ellsworth FFA Pancake Breakfast, the Ellsworth Community School District Hall of Fame, a River Bluffs Humane Society fundraiser, an Our Neighbors’ Place fundraiser dinner, a TurningPoint fundraiser and allergy-free goodie bags for children at the elementary school.

Power of 100 founding member Melissa Ryden also presented Empower Ellsworth with an additional surprise $5,000 thanks to the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. It will be used to fund Empower Ellsworth service projects in the future.

To learn more about Power of 100 – Ellsworth or to get on the waiting list, visit powerof100ellsworth.org The next impact meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8 and application forms are now available.