Want to spend some time on the water this summer?
–Fishing and boating means so much to thousands of people in the Detroit Lakes area every year. But what about those who do not have ready access to the water, either due to decreased mobility, or a lack of someone to take them there? Since 2008, the Detroit Lakes Area Chapter of Let’s Go Fishing has been filling that gap, serving over 6,874 seniors, veterans, youth and physically challenged people of all ages.
“We just launched our 10th anniversary season,” says Dave Hochhalter, one of the chapter’s founders, and its current treasurer. “It snuck up on us fast… I can’t believe it (that 10 years have passed).”
Normally they might not have scheduled a trip quite so early, Hochhalter noted, but the May 5 Hospice of the Red River Valley excursion was a last-minute addition to the schedule, to honor two of their longtime volunteers — one of whom is currently a Hospice patient.
Willmar Chapter Launches their 2017 season
SPICER — Let’s Go Fishing launched its 15th season in a big way this week, and appropriately so. The Willmar chapter has already seen a 41 percent bump in registrations from last year, and it is usually in the next couple of weeks when most of the registration calls will come in, according to Jim Gauss, president of the Willmar chapter. “We’re getting calls from all over the place,” he said.
The calls are welcome, as the chapter is ready for a big year. It has a good group of both new and returning volunteers on deck for the season, although new help is always welcome, he said. The volunteers launched the season Monday and Tuesday by hosting approximately 300 elementary students from the Willmar Public Schools on Green Lake. Three pontoons made a total of 18 trips to give the young students from Kennedy Elementary an opportunity to enjoy time on the water.
They tried their hand at fishing, too. “Not a lot of fish caught, but they had fun,” Gauss said. The volunteers will be hosting elementary students Thursday from Central Minnesota Christian School in Prinsburg and next week from the Prairie Woods Elementary School in New London. Read the full story here…
11th Annual Waffle Feed April 29
Willmar Area Chapter of LGF will have its 11th Annual Dad’s Waffle Feed on April 29.
All you care to eat of waffles, sausage & beverages.
Time: 8:00-11:00 am
Where: Willmar Community & Activity Center, 624 Highway 71N.
Suggested donation: $10/person; $8 children 6-12; children 5 and under, Free.
Carry-out available.
Since 2002, the chapter has served over 19,000 seniors, youth, the disabled and military veterans.
Reeling in good health
LGF seeing first hand the benefits of a boat ride
Studies have shown that nature has beneficial effects on mental and physical health.
And Let’s Go Fishing’s many chapters in Minnesota are stressing the importance of those outdoor attributes in its mission statement: “Bringing Nature’s Healing and Well-Being to Seniors, Veterans and the Disabled.”
Let’s Go Fishing is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was established by Executive Director Joe Holm and his wife Carolyn, of Willmar, in 2002.
“LGF liberates people from isolation, loneliness and depression – by giving them boating day trips, and sometimes even fish to catch,” said Holm. “Healthier and happier people are the result.”
Let’s Go Fishing now has 25 chapters throughout Minnesota, as well as one in Wisconsin. Read the full article at Senior Perspective…
Hospitalized Fargo Veterans go fishing
Detroit Lakes, MN (WDAY TV) – Finally a wind-less day. And with a lake full of fish, Big Detroit Lake played host to a special kind of “day on the water.”
A few times a summer, the Fargo VA takes some of its veterans for an afternoon of fishing. Volunteers from the non-profit group “Let’s Go Fishing” provide the pontoon, the rods, and the memories.
“Ready to catch fish?” said Tim Miller.
“We are ready to catch fish,” said Gerry Gronvold.
The veterans arrived from Fargo. Watch the full story from WDAY here…
Snowbirds Flock to Willmar
Ann Patrick and Terry Dinderman of the Orange Grove RV Park Picnic Group from Edinburg, Texas, wave Tuesday as they leave a public dock to cruise Green Lake courtesy Let’s Go Fishing.
The migratory, mostly Midwestern flock, spend winters deep in the heart of Texas and hold a reunion picnic each summer in a different home town, this one headquartered at the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds for three days with about 150 attending. Watch the full story on WCTRIB.com…