The Lamberton Area Community Foundation has awarded $6,000 in grants to three local projects in 2026. Thank you to everyone who applied. Every application showed people committed to community improvement, and we encourage eligible community groups and nonprofits to apply for our next round of grants in 2027.
The following grants have been awarded:
New Pagers for Ambulance Responders – $2,500
This grant supports the purchase of new EMS pagers for the City of Lamberton Community Ambulance Service, replacing aging units and equipping new responders. Kim Mittelstadt, Ambulance Service Director and EMT, applied for the grant. The service’s call volume from 2024 to 2025 doubled, and dependable communication has never been more important. The new pagers will make sure every responder gets reliable call notifications, improving response times and helping the service recruit and retain volunteers. Lamberton’s ambulance service covers 3 cities and 11 townships and approximately 2,500 residents across a large rural area.
IT Career Training for High School Students – $3,000
This grant will help fund a new Digital Skills and IT Career Pathway program at Red Rock Central High School. Tiffany Batalden, Technology Coordinator at Red Rock Central, applied for the grant, which makes it possible for juniors and seniors to work toward real IT certifications, like those from Google and Microsoft, during their 4A period. Students in the program will also provide school-based tech support and take on project-based work that puts their skills to use. The program is built around the kind of IT careers in demand across rural Minnesota, giving students a path toward employment, technical training, or continuing their education after graduation.
Imagination Play Area at the Library – $500
This grant will help the Lamberton Public Library create an Imagination Play Area, with hands-on stations that extend reading into imaginative play. Library Director Alicia Vogel plans a set of stations, each with its own theme, like a kitchen, a garage, a doctor’s office, or a campsite. As kids invent and act out stories inspired by the props at each station, they’re learning new vocabulary and practicing skills that support reading. The library is a gathering place for kids and families all through the year, and the Imagination Play Area makes it a place where kids learn through play as well as books.
Thank You to Everyone Who Supports the Foundation
These grants are only possible because of the people who support the Foundation. Every one of them started as a gift from someone who cares about the Lamberton area community. Thank you for making this work possible.