As of 2024, the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program, also known as BTYR, has grown to include 87 companies and organizations, and 53 community networks. Their combined efforts make an impact on the lives of Minnesota’s Veterans, service members, and military families in the places where they live, work, and serve.

BTYR had another busy year filled with events, support opportunities, and achievements.

“I really enjoy what we get to do,” said Stefanie Hurt, BTYR community outreach coordinator. “It truly is a blessing to be able to support Minnesota’s military community.”

According to the BTYR team, one of its most memorable moments of the year was providing holiday food for military community members in need through the annual effort known as Operations Turkey Drop and Merry Meals.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, with the help of BTYR partners and volunteers, Operation Turkey Drop moved an estimated 1,000 items, weighing approximately 10 tons. Five hundred meals kits (300 from Meals from the Heart and 200 from the United Christian Academy) filled with groceries were packed at Meals from the Heart. The Minnesota Department of Transportation moved the meal kits to Thomson Reuters, where, the kits, along with turkeys (200 donated by the Minnesota Wild and approximately 300 donated by Thomson Reuters), were loaded onto vehicles and delivered by BTYR volunteers to armories and air wings across the state. There, family readiness teams distributed the food to those who registered to receive them.

“Moving 10 tons of food with volunteer support to armories and air wings was amazing!” said Hurt, who served as project lead for Operations Turkey Drop and Merry Meals.

In December, and in time for the winter holiday season, Operation Merry Meals gathered, packed, transported, and distributed an estimated 300 meal kits filled with groceries, along with approximately 600 packs of assorted meats donated by Hunter’s Harvest, to help those in need in the military community.

Taylor Kristoffe-Jones, the BTYR corporate outreach coordinator, said it has been great to see both efforts grow and help those in the military community.

“It’s so heartwarming to know that we were a small part in making our service members and their families’ lives a little bit brighter this holiday season,” Kristoffe-Jones said.

BTYR had even more highlights in 2024.

Community network

In 2024, community networks coordinated 313 events, served 11,050 volunteer hours, sent 2,544 packages to deployed service members, and provided $380,361 in assistance to veterans, service members, and their families.

The Watonwan County BTYR helped a veteran who was moving for a job. The Isanti County BTYR network participated in an elementary school event to honor Veterans. Farmington, Rosemount, Burnsville, Big Lake, and Lower St. Croix Valley BTYR networks honored high school students joining the military and awarded scholarships to children of Veterans. The Hibbing-Chisholm Area BTYR cleaned veterans’ headstones at a local cemetery. The Owatonna BTYR hosted 50 women Veterans and service members at a retreat. During the holidays, more than 600 bags of groceries, along with a variety of meats, were packed and delivered for families in need at armories and bases statewide. 

In the fall, Taunja Moe Forbes joined the BTYR team as a community outreach coordinator. Forbes said being part of BTYR allows her to give back to Veterans, service members, and their families.

“I’m proud and grateful to have a chance to be part of such a worthy cause,” Forbes said.

Forbes looks forward to continued engagement, outreach, and relationship building.

“As I immerse myself deeper into the program, I would like to increase and deepen connections with both community networks and company partners,” she said. “I would also like to help my team and the BTYR program work as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

Corporate network

In 2024, the corporate network supported 92 events, served 3,378 volunteer hours, sent 743 packages, and provided $305,637 to assist those in the miliary community.

Donaldson Company, Inc. donated $6,250 to the Bloomington Veterans Memorial and Thomson Reuters donated more than 300 turkeys to military families for the holidays. The Minnesota Building & Construction Trades’ Ribfest raised an estimated $27,000 to fund its military community support efforts. U.S. Bank donated a vehicle to two Gold Star daughters. Tokyo Electron donated to a clothing drive and Fairview Health Services donated 200 books for the 133rd Airlift Wing’s Family Day. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities participated in Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program events and 3M participated in the Team Red, White, & Blue Walk/Run.

In addition, the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Wild hosted military appreciation events. Through the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Orange Overwatch, department trucks and snowplows escorted buses of 500 deploying soldiers to the airport. Medtronic hosted 300 service members at the Women’s Leadership Forum while Boston Scientific hosted BTYR’s first community and corporate conference. 

The network also welcomed eight companies and organizations. They included Children’s Minnesota, the City of Minneapolis government, Medica, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Replenex, Slalom, Travelers, and U. S. Steel.

Into the new year

In 2025, Hurt and Forbes plan to increase volunteer support and collaboration within the community network. They also look forward to hosting the BTYR spring workshop at Camp Ripley for community and corporate networks.

Starting in January for the corporate network, Kristoffe-Jones plans to launch the bi-monthly Lunch and Learn series, in which subject matter experts will discuss topics, such as how employers can support deploying service member employees and their families.

BTYR’s mission is to establish and sustain a comprehensive community and corporate support network that connects and coordinates agencies, organizations, and resources to meet the needs of Minnesota’s Veterans, service members, and families in all military branches. Visit the BTYR website and follow on Facebook and X.

By Cristina Oxtra

Minnesota National Guard Public Affairs