A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Mickey Nelson crossed the finish line near his church in Clarks Grove in southern Minnesota on Aug. 5, marking his 100th mile in walking for a food drive cause since May.
A Minnesota man walked 100 miles to raise funds for Covid-19 food programs. Mickey Nelson crossed the finish line at his church in Clarks Grove in southern Minnesota on Aug. 5, just three blocks from the house he was born in - and still lives in.
A veteran of World War II, Nelson served in an armored division maintaining tanks. As a businessman, he founded and operated a successful bus business for 58 years. Now, he is serving in another role - as fundraiser. He decided back in May he would walk a mile or two every day until he reached 100 miles to raise money for hunger relief. The pandemic has put 700,000 Minnesotans out of work, and 40 percent of those visiting food pantries during the pandemic are doing so for the first time.
"I grew up during the Great Depression and, living on the farm, we always had enough to eat, Nelson said before his walks began. "But I remember how people who were struggling were lined up in bread lines. With coronavirus, I was seeing so many people laid off from their jobs that I thought there must be something I could do to help."
When he started his 100-mile trek back in May, Nelson was thinking he might raise $5,000 for his local Salvation Army's feeding programs. As of today, Nelson's efforts have raised nearly $110,000.
Nelson is hoping people will support his effort to help others. He selected The Salvation Army Northern Division to benefit from his fundraiser because they supply food and emergency assistance throughout Minnesota and North Dakota.
"Mickey's fundraiser has been an enormous gift. Because of Covid-19, our staff is working overtime and our resources are being stretched like never before," said Lt. Colonel Dan Jennings, commander of The Salvation Army Northern Division, which includes the food shelf in Cloquet. "Mickey's selfless effort is helping an incredible number of people."
Nelson was joined by more than 100 people on his final stretch to the finish line. To support Nelson on his initiative to provide hunger relief during the pandemic, please visit SalvationArmyNorth.org/mickey.
