Fargo pays top sandbag volunteers

FARGO — Fargo paid credit where it was due Thursday, handing out checks to the top sandbagging volunteer groups in the “Denny’s Bucks for Bags” program.

Topping the sandbag-making list was the Fargo School District and its hundreds of middle- and high-school students. Their 2,048 volunteer hours earned $1,636.

The program, named after Mayor Dennis Walaker, was instituted to spur volunteerism. City leaders worried that after 2009’s record flood, fatigue might delay preparations for this year’s major flood. In 17 days, volunteers produced 1 million sandbags,

“We’re very proud once again” of the community’s youths, Walaker said. “They did a magnificent job.”

The top 31 groups earned $7,700 in donations by volunteering 9,791 hours. Altogether, 125 groups put in 16,447 hours.

Organizations earned $75 for every 100 sandbagging hours. Other bonuses were also available.

Rounding out the top five:

* Salvation Army, 735 hours, $625.

* Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, 569 hours, $475.

* United Way of Cass Clay, 561 hours, $475

* Theta Chi Fraternity, North Dakota State University, 381 hours, $325. The group said it is giving the funds to YWCA of Cass-Clay.

The Spirit of Fargo Flood Fund was credited with 2,498 hours and received $1,800. A full list is online at www.inforum.com.

Winners were announced at the daily flood briefing at City Hall.

Helmut Schmidt is a reporter at The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, which is owned by

Forum Communications Co.

Tags: north dakota, news, fargo, flood, volunteers