Zwingli United Church of Christ (Berne Church) is proud to announce this year’s Berne Wood-Fired Pizza Grant recipients. Each year, our church raises funds through the Berne Wood-Fired Pizza ministry and, in turn, awards grants to worthy nonprofits that are making a meaningful difference in our communities.
We received an exceptionally high number of applications this year, reflecting the incredible work being done across the region. Thank you to every organization that applied, and congratulations to this year’s recipients! Your dedication and impact inspire us.
2025 BWFP GRANT RECIPIENTS:
Peters Memorial Fund (Lake City) – Providing help to students/families in the community and local hospitals near Lake City.
Salt & Light Partners (Rochester)– Partnering with first responder organizations to providie emotional support to first responders.
Bundles Of Love (Rochester) – We provide families experiencing poverty with a handmade "Bundle of Love" when their newborns are born. Bundles are packed with handcrafted clothing, bedding and baby care items, but the families we serve get more than a bundle of basic needs — they receive the love and care of the volunteers who crafted them.
We Can Ride – Connects humans and horses to transform the lives of people with disabilities and meet the evolving needs of the greater community.
Aiden’s Light (Kasson) – After losing Aidan to suicide, his family turned their grief into action, working to prevent suicide, support families, and break the silence around mental health. Through scholarships, school resources, and advocacy, Aidan’s Light empowers young people to see their worth and their future.
Family Service (Rochester) – Community-based organization providing mental health, senior independence, family stability, child well-being services, Meals on Wheels, and 30 other programs. We listen to what people need and together we build better lives.
Lighthouse SE MN (Owatonna)– We serve those who are experiencing homelessness by providing support through tailored programming that fosters independence. We identify and address the unique challenges each person faces, while filling the gaps in resources to help them successfully transition to stable living.
Non-Profit Wrench (Kasson) – Handyman and mechanic help for people in need because when people’s basic mobility and home‑maintenance needs are unmet, the ripple effects reach far beyond one moment of inconvenience.
Open Table – Mobile Food Truck – Mission is simple: to feed a meal to anyone who is hungry. Meals are brought to community members in need.
Women’s Shelter (Rochester) – Committed to serving victims of domestic violence through services and supportive housing options that meet the needs of the community.
Ronald McDonald House Charities (Midwest ) - Provides comfort, care and support for families with children who are sick around the world.
The Landing MN (Rochester) – Provides a soft place to land for those experiencing homelessness in Rochester, Minnesota. From the Day Center to our Mobile Outreach Unit, we strive to make social services accessible to all.
Rochester Rainbow Choir – Members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies are invited to a safe and inclusive space to make amazing music together.
North Star Honor Flight (SE MN)-Shows veterans from southern Minnesota the appreciation and honor they deserve by flying them to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor.
