The Department of Social Services at Gundersen Health System supports patients and families throughout our Tri-State region of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa during the most difficult times in both the hospital and clinic settings.  Social Workers help patients and their families on a wide variety of needs including transportation, financial/insurance concerns, crisis intervention, short term counseling and referral and treatment of Trauma and Emergency patients 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

For some families, a medical situation can create many hardships which Social Services can offer some assistance.  Gas cards, bus tokens or cab rides are given to patients or family members to offset the cost of frequent trips to our medical center.  Meal cards are provided to those who are here for an unexpected medical crisis.  Medication co-pays are paid for those who are in need of financial assistance. Rental fees for medical essentials such as toilet risers, crutches or walkers are also covered for those who are financially unable to cover these costs and would be unable to return to live in their homes without them.

To raise funds for the costs associated with these valuable services we are planning for our 10th Annual Gundersen Health System Chili Cook-off and Raffle.  Although we had to forgo the Chili Cookoff portion of the event last fall due to COVID, we are hopeful to once again gather November 2nd for this friendly competition!  We will, however, for sure be holding the Raffle portion of the fundraiser as we did last year.    We are in need of Raffle Prizes to be used for this fundraiser so that all of the money raised can go to our patient’s needs and humbly request a donation of your choice.  Any gift certificates should be valid for 2022 since the event is not until November.  We are a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.