During this unprecedented time, various parts of the retail and fashion industry are stepping up to fill the alarming deficit of personal protection equipment (PPE) required for not only those individuals putting their lives on the line in our hospitals, but now for everyday citizens. We are all feeling the strain of this scary period in our history, but it is important to highlight those that are doing everything they can to keep everyone safe. Many big businesses have gotten a lot of press and attention for their amazing support of those on the front lines and monetary donations to disaster relief, but what about the little guys? So many local makers in the fashion industry have stepped up to make professional masks both to sell and to donate all over the country, and they deserve just as much recognition as the big businesses do because we are #inthistogether.

Julie Meyer Handbags is a local designer company based in Minneapolis, MN that creates handcrafted leather goods such as bags, wallets, and belts. Every piece is made with the highest of quality in both production and materials and the designs are somehow both innovative and beautifully classic. Recently, she has shifted all production from her normal leatherwork to creating reusable cloth masks (as recommended to be worn by health professionals and the CDC). For every mask she sells, she will be donating a mask to a healthcare professional in need on the front lines, and she is donating 10% of all sales to the Artist Personal Emergency Fund through Springboard for the Arts, which is providing COVID-19 related emergency relief for artists. For a small local artisan company to be so dedicated to doing what they can to help the community is a big deal.

Here in the Midwest we are all about community and will always support each other through emergencies; if there has ever been a time for us to come together it is now.

Local Leather-Goods Maker Shifts Production to Help Combat COVID-19 was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Anyone can think back to a teacher in high school who touched the lives and hearts of their students. At Fargo North High School one of these teachers was Rod Capistran, a veteran math teacher and student favorite who sadly passed away last week. The news was heartbreaking to his students, past and present, and especially to his family and close friends.

In these tough times of social distancing coming together to grieve can be tough, and can impose an undeserved hardship on those grieving their loved ones, but a group of Mr. Capistran’s colleagues and students organized a gathering outside his house to celebrate the life of Rod Capistan and to comfort the family of the great husband and father. Rod’s family looked on as a group of well wishers sang amazing grace accompanied by a small band all staying six feet apart.

A teacher at the school, Keith Lehman, posted on Facebook.

Students also created a memorial outside of the entrance to the now closed FNH leaving flowers and signs to remember their teacher Mr. Capistran.

It’s a beautiful thing to see a community come together to help others get through tough times.

Do you have a story of North Dakotans coming together during the COVID-19 pandemic? Share it on Facebook or on this form.

North Fargo Community Grieving Together After the Passing of High School Teacher was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Hooligans, West Fargo is normally a dine-in eatery and bar! In light of social distancing Hooligans has been presenting drive in movies at their location every Friday and Saturdays. They want to help out the community by showing these movies, and support their business at the same time. They are showing movies to individuals who reserve a spot by ordering take-out meals. This gives an activity for families to participate in to get out of the house! Hooligans has also adapted to a food delivery business model for these times, as well as carryout. They are providing a short intermission in the middle of the movie for people who need to run home to use the restroom as public facilities will be unavailable. Hooligans started off by taking reservations for these nights, and after this they take your number as you drive in, and once your food is done they bring it out to your vehicle! They are keeping up with social distancing codes, while being innovative!

Hooligans is truly “in this together” hats off to this Midwest nice business!

Do you have a story of North Dakotans coming together during the COVID-19 pandemic? Share it on Facebook or on this form.

Dine-In at a Drive-In Movie While Social Distancing was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Covid-19 has drastically changed the landscape for many businesses in the Fargo-Moorhead area. It has left retail stores without customers, educators without students, and growers without buyers. But in the midst of this, there is an opportunity that all businesses are offered. Going digital.

In response to Covid-19, The Nice Center launched an initiative involving digital support for local businesses. They set out to use the digital marketing skills they have to help local businesses adapt their businesses to the new reality. They came together as a team with a variety of skills and backgrounds to create a truly remarkable opportunity for the community. The icing on the cake is, these services are completely free to the business.

Two weeks after launching the initiative, The Nice Center had successfully implemented digital support for 42 businesses throughout our region, and that number is continuing to grow. Artists, bars, crafters, clinics, and a game store are just a few of the businesses The Nice Center has helped digitally support.

The Nice Center is doing what they can to help North Dakotans get through this time. The Nice Center is happy they could have a small part of something much bigger, a community that supports it’s people.

Do you have a story of North Dakotans coming together during the COVID-19 pandemic? Share it on Facebook or on this form.

Digital Support for Local Businesses was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

North Dakota State mechanical engineering graduate students are helping in the fight against the Covid-19 virus. Joe Fehrenbach, graduate student and researcher, is putting his research knowledge to the test, in order to create and perfect a prototype N-95 mask that healthcare workers can use in order to work safely and effectively. He is teaming up with another graduate student, as well as test engineer Rob Sailer in order to achieve this task.

This group of students and researchers is partnered with ComDel Innovation out of Wahpeton, ND. This company is known for its injection molding and their rapid development of products. They are using a brand new 3D printer located in one of the mechanical engineering labs in order to produce these masks, as this printer can handle much larger jobs and uses a quality plastic resin that can hold up in tough conditions. As well as making the mask, this group also attached a filter to the mask with a clip to hold it on there.

After being able to find the right material to make the masks disposable, they knew this design was going to be put to good use. They are working closely with ComDel to discuss the possibility of making the design cheaper. Once the mold is made, ComDel would be able to produce thousands of masks a day, which in a situation where time is of the essence, is a very good thing. There will be both a reusable mask that can be cleaned and sterilized with alcohol, while the disposable mask can just be thrown away. Knowing these guys working on this project, in conjunction with Dr. Chad Ulven, who has years of experience with materials science, it is incredible to see the resources that the university offers is being put to great use.

Mechanical Engineering Grad Students Help Make Health Care Masks was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

So many lives across the world have been impacted by COVID-19. Now, more than ever it is essential to share and spread hope. Everywhere, around the world, everyone has had to make several adjustments to their daily lives. Including losing their jobs, incomes, pay cuts, and for many, their loved ones. When unpredicted situations happen like this fear and panic can be spread quite easily, resulting in unnecessary amounts of essential protective items being sold out. These items are needed to aid the front lines of healthcare workers who put their lives at risk to assist those in need during these times. People across the nation have pitched in to assist by homemaking masks and surgery caps to help health care workers to stay protected. Some of the few sacrifices healthcare workers endure are limited time with family members, pay cuts, and not receiving the essential proper protective gear.

David Covington, a critical care physician in St. Cloud, Minnesota, took the initiative to provide needed surgery hats for those in the emergency department. His daughter, Brynnan Covington, wanted to be a part of this, and assist him with this influential project. So she set forth with materials and tools needed, and sewed over thirty hats for the nurses and doctors.

I am so fortunate to have had an opportunity to do something to help those risking their lives on the front lines. — Brynnan Covington

This pandemic has led to difficult times, everyone has had to make sacrifices, and if we all do a small part we can get our lives back to normal faster.

In This Together was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Minnesota nice”? If so, how would you define “Minnesota nice”? This saying was illustrated through an action that happened in the town of Rogers, MN that lightened up a woman’s day during this pandemic.

In the town of Rogers, MN, like most cities and states, businesses are only offering curbside pick up or drive thru options. Additionally, being in lockdown is causing people to experience many emotions. For example, one day a resident of Rogers, MN was having a day full of frustration where everything seemed to be going wrong and found herself going through the Caribou drive thru. After waiting several minutes to get to the window, she saw a tanish rock with the words, “I have big plans for you! xoxo -God,” on it. Needless to say, she drove away with a smile on her face.

But the compassionate notes did not stop there. Next she went to the gas station and noticed something on the ground by the pump. She knelt down to see what it was and it was another tanish rock. This time the rock said, “You are beautiful! Xoxo -God.” This time she not only drove away with a smile on her face but with lifted spirits. A few days ago that same resident saw another rock. This time it was painted blue and said the words, “We’re all in this together” on it.

These rocks are a great example of something small that individuals can use to create an impact on strangers’ lives, gives them an excuse to get outside, and does not require socializing. Do you have any spare rocks in your front yard that can be used to bless someone?

The Gift of Community was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Kent Kolstad started Livewire when he was just 11 years old. He always had a passion for computers, audio, technology, and video and quickly became known as the “the kid that could run sound” in his hometown of Alexandria, MN. After he graduated from Concordia College, he decided to jump into Livewire full-time with his friend Jordan Green. What started as one kid with a passion, is now a well-known live event production company with 24 people on their team.

About Livewire

Livewire, provides live event production for events of any shape, size, and style throughout the country. They have been in business since 1999 and provide technology for live meetings, events, and conferences such as TEDxFargo. They have offices in Fargo, North Dakota but have a presence in cities such as Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, Bismarck, St. Cloud, and Alexandria.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, their company’s live event production schedule was entirely wiped out. They quickly realized that this wouldn’t only interrupt their business but local musicians and artists would be suffering in a similar way.

They quickly brainstormed a solution to support them during this pandemic and are now offering LIVE@Livewire, an online, live-streamed concert from their facility in Downtown Fargo. Not only are they providing a platform for musicians and artists to play on, they open a GoFundMe during the live stream session so the public can donate money. 100% of those funds go towards the musicians playing that evening’s show.

Their first stream on March 17 had over 9,100 unique stream views, with a majority of the viewers watching for over an hour or more. They raised just shy of $1,000 for the musician’s performance that night. To date, they have raised over $1,000 on each of the following shows.

We’ve also been extremely grateful to see businesses step up to support this work by means sponsorship, so that the Livewire team is sustained and engaged throughout the pandemic, as well. — Livewire Team

The makeup of our community and our wider region is absolutely phenomenal in that countless individuals have stepped up to support these musicians in need. Similarly, many of our own corporate and non-profit events clients have helped us ensure our business can continue to operate in the face of three to four months of lost work. We have always been proud to live and work in Fargo, and this only cements that further. — Kent Kolstad

Do you have a story of North Dakotans coming together during the COVID-19 pandemic? Share it on Facebook or on this form.

Livewire Moves to Live-Streamed Concerts to Support Musicians During COVID-19 was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A community leader in Fargo, North Dakota helped Soma Employment Solutions reorient the business for job recruiting abroad while nobody is hiring here. This has allowed them to work from home and pay the bills! They are very thankful to that community leader.

Abdi, CEO of Soma Employment Solutions, has paid that thanks forward by leading efforts to share the message about social distancing. He is using Facebook and Instagram to encourage people to follow the CDC guidelines and stay home.

In addition, he is making posters with different languages like Somali and Arabic. He thinks it’s a responsibility to educate everyone on what is going on right now and how we can each play a part to reduce risks and follow health and safety guidelines. Through connections and culturally relevant messages, he is helping his community stay home and save lives.

How a Fargo Community Leader’s Kindness Influenced a Business Owner to Pay it Forward was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

During the Virtual Coding Club kids will learn about game design, coding, and putting everything together in a final video game. There will be at least one game per week.

They wanted a way for kids to keep busy and allow the parents to get some free time as well during this time.

Do you have a story of North Dakotans coming together during the COVID-19 pandemic? Share it on Facebook or on this form.

Code Bootcamp School Offers a Way to Keep Kids Busy While Not in School was originally published in InThisTogetherND on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.