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If you didn’t know the name behind the programs “Birthday Box Project”, “Food4KidsBack Pack”, “Community Free Meals”, or “Compassion Collection” now you do, Brandi Colberg.

Colberg has been the pillar of each of these programs, her compassion for her community is so impactful you cannot help but get caught up in the excitement she feels and she credits this all to the memory of her mother (Christine Fox) who passed of cancer in September of 2010. It was during her mother’s illness and passing that Brandi realized how one person’s time can affect the life of another. She vowed to continue giving of her time where she felt the need, and settled on volunteering for Family Pathways devoting her time and energy for children and adults in need.

The director of Family Pathways has worked with Brandi on several projects and she has creatively assisted in developing several different collection programs focusing on specific needs for the community.

Brandi credits businesses, churches, civic groups and schools for helping her to expand her ideas and fulfill the needs of the community, and the notes and numbers she keeps on these details attest to that fact. She is filled with touching stories and is very adamant that she could not achieve all this without the support of her husband Dale.

Brandi told one story of a compassion collection where it took Dale and a few other volunteers to make four trips (with four vehicles) from Chisago Lakes High School to Family Pathways.

Dale is a lifelong Chisago City resident, and in 2004 Brandi and Dale were married and together raised their four children in the community. Their family also includes a son in law, grandchild and well known pet Chico.

Dale was hesitant to be interviewed and insisted this honor was due to his wife’s achievements and that’s what needed to be highlighted, but as a team these two have proven a testament to teamwork. Dale speaks of endearing childhood memories of small town life and added if you got into trouble, by the time you got home someone more than likely already told your parents. He spoke of riding snowmobiles to school, and hunting before school started. Small town memories like these are what helped them make the choice to raise their family here. This is just a small sampling of the impact this family has made on our community, and why the 2015 Ki-Chi-Saga Days Committee is honoring them.

If you would like more information on the programs Brandi kick-started, or how you can help or donate, please contact Brandi at [email protected]. Brandi and Dale, congratulations on this honor and thank you for the volunteering you have done for our community.

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