Generation raises funds, makes plans to move into new building

Mike and Wanda Jarchow sold Grand Prairie Events to Generations on July 1, but they’re leasing it through December to honor bookings.
As such, little has changed since ownership changed hands, but plans are brewing behind the scenes to prepare the facility for Generations and its associated programs.
And funds are needed to see them through.
Generations President George Bonnema laid out the numbers last week ahead of the group’s fundraising kickoff.
The Grand Prairie Events building cost $975,000. Generations paid $375,000 cash for it, so there’s a $600,000 balance left to pay.
And at 4.25-percent interest, Bonnema said the sooner donations come in, the better. “Four and quarter percent on $600,000 is $70 per day,” he said. “Seventy dollars per day.”
Generations has an account through the Luverne Area Community Foundation, which acts as an umbrella organization for many local nonprofits.
“The good news is we have close to $200,000 in pledges and cash, so that gives the numbers more of a realistic look, as far as where we’re going,” Bonnema said.
“But the new kitchen will cost roughly $200,000.”
Some of the cash used in the purchase includes grants of $150,000 from the city and $150,000 from the county for the Generations building fund.
The city is paying it over three years, and the county is paying over five years.
Bonnema said the city and county support are votes of confidence for the project and the need that local government sees for Generations in the community.
Also, Generations owns the house next door on Lincoln Street that was to have been moved to make way for new construction.
“We have renters in the house that love living there,” Bonnema said. “So that’s another source of revenue for us.”
None of these resources will pay the bills, he said, which is why he hopes the community supports the Generations project.
 
How to help
Checks to support the building fund can be written out to LACF with Generations designated as the recipient. The address is P.O. Box 623, 102 E. Main St., Luverne, MN 56156
“We’re both tax-deductible organizations,” Bonnema said. “But checks written out to Generations are just going to be deposited in our account at LACF.”
Another way for farmers to give this time of year is to donate grain during harvest. As they approach their local elevator, they can specify that the first bushels be sold for Generations.
Bonnema said giving isn’t complicated, and all donations are appreciated.
 
A.C.E. office
Meanwhile, he’s working with a contractor to plan minor remodeling in order to accommodate A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota, which has an office in the current Generations space on East Lincoln Street.
The programs and services of A.C.E. are about Advocating, Connecting, and Educating with resources that enable adults to live safely and independently as long as possible.
A.C.E. coordinator Linda Wenzel serves as the volunteer coordinator for the program once known as Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
“A lot of her programs are definitely beneficial to our members,” Bonnema said. “So that will take a little adaptation.”
The A.C.E. office space, which is funded through the county, will be on the building’s east side with its own entrance and parking available.
 
Kitchen
In addition, architect Jeff Nelson, Sioux Falls, is designing kitchen space for Generations, which houses the senior meal site for Lutheran Social Services.
The Grand Prairie Events kitchen was designed only for caterers who brought food in, so Generations will need a commercial stove, oven and hood, and large coolers and freezers.
“The coolers will be outside on the east side, with a door from the kitchen into the cooler and freezer,” Bonnema said.
“When you consider during the month of May we did 2,894 meals, that’s a lot of food.”
Over 500 of those meals were price-wavered. So we have a mission. That’s people that can’t afford food and are getting fed. Lutheran Social Services absorbs that. Who else is going to do that.”
Meals go to Worthington, Adrian and Pipestone every days. Two days a week meals go to Hardwick, Hills, Beaver Creek and Jasper (each person gets a hot meal and two frozen meals if they chose to).
After that, he said it’s meals on wheels in Luverne, and after that it’s congregate meals.
“Scheduling is tight to get everything done exactly when it has to leave,” Bonnema said.
“There’s really no room for error. They’re geniuses at it. They’ve got the system down pat, and every day it’s something different they’re cooking. It amazes me.”
Generations will officially move from Lincoln Street to the Grand Prairie Events building once all the remodeling and construction is complete.
“We can’t interrupt the meals,” Bonnema said. “Too many people rely on them.”