More than 20,000 people are eligible for the annual Cares Awards from the Association of Residential Resources of Minnesota, and less than 100 are nominated.

This year, one of those nominated works right here in Bemidji.

Carrie Melbie planned to represent herself Monday morning when she showed up at the Olmsted County courthouse with an eviction notice.

Instead, she met Brian Lipford, an attorney with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, who helped represent her regarding an eviction claim by her landlord.

Camp Noah headed to Redding, California to help kids local kids who experienced the Northern California wildfires process their feelings, learn coping skills and build resiliency.

According to Katie Swartz, who oversees Camp Noah, about half the children at Redding’s Camp Noah lost homes in the Carr Fire, and about 90 percent were directly impacted by the fire.

For 66 years, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota's Camp Knutson outside of Crosslake has been known for its charitable camps for children and families in special circumstances. From heart conditions, skin conditions, autism and Down syndrome, Camp Knutson is a special place for campers to congregate for a fun time.

Nearly a year after the Carr Fire hit Northern California, people are still rebuilding and healing.

Camp Noah, which helps kids heal from trauma, came to Shasta County because of the Carr Fire.

"Without this, these kids would tend to keep it inside if they don't have a parent or loved one to talk to," said the camp's mental health professional Hal Ledbetter.

Read more and watch the video at KRCR News. 

In a recent article about the history of Minnesota’s vibrant Somali community, LSS Chief Family Services Officer Maureen Warren discussed the qualities that draw immigrants to Minnesota.

Eager cooks of all ages gather at the St. Peter Co–op every third Tuesday of the month to learn a little about healthy cooking while still being conscious about the almighty budget.

“We have four recipes that we print out and we usually cook three of them. The last one is a simple supper that you can throw together in five minutes,” said Stephanie Hailperin, founder of Friends in the Kitchen, a service by LSS and the St. Peter Co-op.

On today's menu: rhubarb thyme chicken, rhubarb lemon rosemary spritzer and apple pie tacos.

A new documentary, “A Lost Homeland,” details the history of Vietnamese refugees who fled their country after the Fall of Saigon in 1975, which marked the end of the war in Vietnam and the loss of a homeland for hundreds of thousands of people.

The Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners recently endorsed a Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota homeless prevention service, the only one of its kind in the Brainerd lakes area and surrounding region.

LSS is seeking renewal funding through the state's Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program. Lutheran Social Service has experience administering these services to Crow Wing, Todd and Morrison counties since 1999.

According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, approximately 185 children each week go into foster care. Becoming a foster parent starts with the commitment to ensure the children will be loved and taken care of.

"The plan was that we wanted to eventually adopt and we had ages and things we really wanted and then as we get calls you just feel the calling,” says Cullen Kennedy. “You don't want to say no, you take whatever the need is, you want to give them the opportunity."