Buffalo Strong Week 2024

Buffalo Landscaping & Floral

Band together on Buffalo strong week & put out as much good into the world as possible. This week when you buy one stem of these purple daisies (that are purple - contrary to the sun’s effect ) you’ll get one free to give away!

Give them to a complete stranger or someone who just needs to know they’re loved. Or give them both away! Our community may have a bad day in our history books, but now we can use it as our excuse to love our neighbors even more. We are Buffalo Strong. Let’s tap into that love and strength, and give, give, give.

Buffalo Strong Merchandise

We have a limited number of Buffalo Strong sweatshirts and tee shirts available!

Sweatshirts $30
Tee Shirts $15
Beanies $10

You can get yours at Culver's, Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau and the Buffalo Hospital, MN!

Cash or check (made to Buffalo Strong) preferred.

In 2024, all funds raised will go toward organization & individual grants to support our community in their journey toward wellness and overall mental health.

Buffalo Strong Week 2024

Feb 4th to Feb 10th
Community Submissions:

The call for submissions is now open for Buffalo's Community, a platform for individuals, businesses, and organizations to share projects, activities, and meaningful messages to the community. These submissions will be expected to occur at some point between February 4th to February 9th (Buffalo Strong Day). 

  • The community projects could be activities that people can participate in to help their neighbors such as litter clean-up, visiting isolated community members, creating blankets, and more. 

  • It could also be community activities that someone is hosting, such as a mental health presentation, an educational film, a support group, and more. 

  • Or, it could be a message to the community about mental well-being, connection, or anything uplifting.

Any submission will be considered a commitment to follow through if it is scheduled or organized. News releases and social media will be used to promote all submissions.

The first Buffalo Strong Grant application window has closed!

Thank you for your interest in applying for the Buffalo Strong community grant!

Buffalo Strong’s mission is to support the mental health and wellness needs of Buffalo, Minnesota community members. Our hope is that through this grant, individuals in Buffalo and organizations that are serving the people of Buffalo can use these funds to improve mental health and wellness in our community.

Funding is available for individuals (request up to $500) and organizations (request up to $1500). Grants will be awarded based on availability of funds.

  • Individuals in the Buffalo MN community, seeking financial assistance for mental health or wellness support.

    Organizations seeking financial assistance for supporting the mental health and wellness of the people in Buffalo.

  • Individuals or organizations located outside the Buffalo, MN community

    Political activities

    For-profit businesses

    Personal expenses (rent, groceries etc)

    Endowment funds

    Retroactive expenses

  • Applications will open May 8th, 2023 and close June 7th, 2023.

    Approved grants will be notified June 15th, and funds disbursed quickly thereafter.

    Organization grant recipients will be publicly acknowledged. Individual grant recipient names will be kept confidential.

  • Funding for Individual and Organization grants comes from the community. Funds are raised by local businesses, individuals, and events that donate proceeds to Buffalo Strong. Some of our past events include Buffalo Strong Day community events & fundraisers through Culver’s or the Street Party of Hope.

  • If you have questions, please email dani@buffalostrong.care

The Buffalo Strong Story

Catalyzed by the Allina Crossroads Clinic tragedy on February 9, 2021…

… the Buffalo Strong campaign & website emerged as an online hub and a rallying cry for a community in shock. Created by Buffalo citizens, the effort included support from the mayor, chamber of commerce, police department, Allina, local mental health and religious organizations; Buffalo Strong was built to be a central resource to find information on donations, fundraisers, events, and projects designed to bring healing to the community of Buffalo.

As businesses, churches, and citizens responded with beautiful projects to support those directly affected by the clinic shooting, Buffalo Strong received over 45,000 unique visitors to the site which resulted in:

  • 75,000+ click-throughs to victim Go Fund Me’s- raising over $450,000

  • Unprecedented community fundraisers, facilitating donations in excess of $150,000 to the Buffalo Hospital Foundation

  • Direct donations to victims, facilitated by Buffalo Strong from private individuals & fundraisers

  • Buffalo Strong raising nearly $30,000 through t-shirt, light bulb, and tote sales, which was then distributed to the physically injured victims.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Due to the outpouring of donations directed our way, Buffalo Strong became a 501(c)(3) designated charity to facilitate donations received for the Allina shooting victims.

    Looking toward the future, Buffalo Strong will be a community foundation to facilitate mental health and wellness resources that allow Buffalo to Care, Connect & Continue to be #BuffaloStrong.

  • The majority of small businesses who held fundraisers donated to the Buffalo Hospital Foundation. A few individuals and businesses desired to write checks directly to victims, which Buffalo Strong helped to facilitate. A few of the fundraisers donated to Buffalo Strong and those funds were split evenly among the 5 victims harmed in the Crossroads shooting.
    All individuals responsible for Buffalo Strong have operated as volunteers and have not received any money for their services.

  • In response for our law enforcement, health care, and community leaders’ concerns- Buffalo Strong will continue to exist as a community foundation dedicated to serving mental health and wellness needs. Buffalo Strong will facilitate events, projects, classes and resources that will support the mental well being and connectedness of all Buffalo Citizens- starting with Buffalo Strong Day on February 9th, 2022.

  • Buffalo Strong is currently run by a volunteer board of directors.

    Teri Lachermeier- Mayor of Buffalo
    Sue Olmscheid- Buffalo Chamber of Commerce President
    Lindsay Hourscht- Small Business Owner & Community Member
    Dani Palmer- Founder, Small Business owner & community member

  • Yes. Buffalo Strong is happy to serve as the 501(c)(3) partner for community events and initiatives as long as they serve the goal of bringing the community together, fostering mental health, and individual wellness. Projects will be considered on an individual basis.

  • Email dani@buffalostrong.care with questions.

Buffalo Strong Day
Official Proclamation

The City of Buffalo and Mayor Teri Lachermeier have officially declared February 9th Buffalo Strong Day in the City of Buffalo, MN.

Care | Connect | Continue


Mental Health Resources.

Adults

  • Wright County Mental Health Resource Page

  • Four County Crisis Response Team 320-253-5555

    • Toll-Free Mental Health Crisis Response Line (24 hours a day/365 days a year) 800-635-8008

  • National Suicide Hopeline Hotline 800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

  • SAVE Suicide Hotline 888-511-SAVE (7283)

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255)

    • Press “1” for Veterans

  • Crisis Text Line

    • Text “MN” to 741 741

  • Veterans Homeless Line 877-4- AID –VET (877-424-3838)

  • Any and all will be received with dignity & support in the Buffalo Faith Community.

Parents

Consider seeking extra help if your child is experiencing:

  • Difficulties with sleep, nightmares

  • Increase in anger, frustration or aggression

  • Fear or anxiety, difficulty with separation, clingy

  • Changes in attention, focus or school performance

  • Increased complaints of headaches, stomachaches, feeling ill

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Volunteer.

We are a network of "helpers" here at Buffalo Strong. If you are willing to serve your neighbor, please contact us here!

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Needs.

If you or someone you know needs support, or if there is a community initiative we should include on the site, let us know.

 BuffaloStrong.care is a caring citizen initiative in collaboration with:

BuffaloStrong.care is a volunteer run campaign.
If you would like to help, please contact Dani Palmer - Dani@PalmerCollaborative.com

The Buffalo Strong logo was generously created by ClintonLugert.com