It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Waterford Historic Bridge gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Northfield, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Riverside Lions Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Ole Store Restaurant or visit Historic Ames Mill, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Northfield, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Northfield, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Northfield, MN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
A Northfield, Minnesota, family has been searching for their missing singing dog for eight weeks.Arrow, a New Guinea singing dog, took off on May 27, and the Nelsen family has been on the hunt for him ever since.Christaina Nelsen said there are roughly 200 to 300 singing dogs in the United States. They're a unique kind of wild dog, like a dingo."What we've learned is that they were an ancient dog that came over with man, maybe thousands of years ago, across the ice bridge into New Guinea," said Buck Nelsen. &qu...
A Northfield, Minnesota, family has been searching for their missing singing dog for eight weeks.
Arrow, a New Guinea singing dog, took off on May 27, and the Nelsen family has been on the hunt for him ever since.
Christaina Nelsen said there are roughly 200 to 300 singing dogs in the United States. They're a unique kind of wild dog, like a dingo.
"What we've learned is that they were an ancient dog that came over with man, maybe thousands of years ago, across the ice bridge into New Guinea," said Buck Nelsen. "And then were basically just stranded there, and there's pockets of them still left there."
The Nelsens say that since Arrow, the 1.5-year-old pup, took off, it's been a struggle.
"But, you know, I think we still have faith that he's out there, he's alive, and we just want him home so he can be with us again and go camping, do all the things that we did before," said Buck Nelsen.
The family says they're hoping to lure Arrow home.
"If we can get close enough for him to hear some of this howling, maybe he'll be able to come to us," Devon Thomas Treadwell, founder of The Retrievers, said.
The Retrievers is a volunteer group based in Minneapolis that helps people find their dogs.
The Nelsens are hoping he comes home soon, as after eight weeks, they feel as if something is missing from their family.
"It's still hard to think about him not being here," said Buck Nelsen. "The house is a lot quieter."
Tony Peterson is a multi-skilled journalist at WCCO-TV.
Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes interdisciplinary artist and independent filmmaker Wendy Placko to share the story of her new documentary Down to Zero: Net Zero Transitional Housing at Hillcrest Village. The film highlights the team that imagined and built this Northfield neighborhood of townhomes designed according to sustainable Passive House building standards and the issue of housing insecurity.https://wen...
Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes interdisciplinary artist and independent filmmaker Wendy Placko to share the story of her new documentary Down to Zero: Net Zero Transitional Housing at Hillcrest Village. The film highlights the team that imagined and built this Northfield neighborhood of townhomes designed according to sustainable Passive House building standards and the issue of housing insecurity.
https://wendyplacko.com/events/down-to-zero-film-premiere
Down to Zero Documentary Film Premiere
A Film by Wendy Placko
The Grand Event Center 316 Washington Street South, Northfield, MN.
Sunday 29 June 2025 3:00pm – 5:00pm & live-streamed on ZOOM. To register for the ZOOM event: https://wendyplacko.com/events/down-to-zero-film-premiere/
Down to Zero: Net Zero Transitional Housing at Hillcrest Village is a new documentary created by Northfield filmmaker Wendy Placko. Down to Zero shares the story of the team who imagined and built the neighborhood of townhomes, which offer transitional housing options to Northfield residents and were designed according to sustainable Passive House building standards. This film addresses more than sustainable energy — it addresses housing insecurity.
Wendy Placko is an interdisciplinary artist, creating projects that honor multiple art forms coming together to create a more meaningful piece. She is a trained musician, visual artist, actor, dancer and writer, and director and producer of independent film. She received grants from SEMAC in 2017 and 2020 and received a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board in 2021 and in 2024 she received a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes actors Kyle Roth, Greta Porath, and Jenna Schlatter from the Northfield Arts Guild production of Flora & Ulysses. This play takes us on a zany adventure that begins with Flora, a cynical girl and reader of The Illuminated Adventures of the Amazing Incandesto! comic book and the special issue bonus comics entitled TERRIBLE THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU! She and her super-hero squirrel Ulysses seek to explore his powers and travel the neighborhood to make sense of their situation. It’s a fun show for the whole family!
FLORA & ULYSSES
By John Glore, based on the award-winning novel by Kate DiCamillo
Directed by Patsy Dew
Set in 21st century suburbia, Flora, a self-proclaimed cynic and avid comic book reader, is jolted into action when the neighbor runs over a squirrel with a vacuum cleaner…and that’s where her epic journey starts. From there it’s a ton of laughs, tender moments, and action! Based on the book of the same name by the much-loved author Kate DiCamillo.
PERFORMANCES: July 11th – 20th, 2025
Fridays and Saturdays @ 7:30 PM
Sundays @ 2:00 PM
Produced by special arrangements with Plays for New Audiences.
TICKETS available:
by phone 507-645-8877
or at the shop during business hours (Tues – Fri noon- 5; Saturday 11 – 4)
$20 general admission; $16 seniors and students
Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist previews the Paradise Center for the Arts show Assassins with the director Eric Parrish, Will McIntyre, Performing Arts and Education Director of the Paradise and actor in the show, and actress Elin Odegaard. Discover Assassins, a multiple Tony Award-Winning show by Stephen Sondheim that delves into America’s fascination with celebrity and the extreme lengths some will go to achieve it.
Paradise Community Theatre Presents: Assassins
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Director: Eric Parrish
Discover Assassins, a multiple Tony Award-Winning show by Stephen Sondheim that delves into America’s fascination with celebrity and the extreme lengths some will go to achieve it. This bold musical intertwines the stories of nine individuals linked forever to presidential history, as “Everybody’s got the right to their dreams…” Don’t miss this riveting journey through America’s past, presented with humor, empathy, and insight.
July 11, 12, 18, and 19 at 7:30 PM
July 13 & 20 at 2:00 PM PCT
Season Sponsors: The Bahl Foundation & Quality Appliance
Tickets:Paradise Center for the Arts – 321 Central Avenue North, Faribault, MN
Member: $19.50, Non-Member: $21.50, Student: $15.50 (Includes a $1.50 Processing Fee)
*ASSASSINS contains scenes and references involving violence, including the use of firearms, gunshots, depictions of death, and suicide. It also includes mature language, historically racially sensitive terms, and other adult themes. As such, this production is not recommended for children.
Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Elizabeth Olson from the Northfield Garden Club and photography artist Gail Gates to preview the Northfield Garden Tour. Each of the six sites for this public garden tour is hosted by members of the Northfield Garden Club and features amazing local gardens for self-guided tours and each site is paired with a talented artist showcasing their works.
2025 Northfield Garden Tour
Saturday, 12 July from 11 am to 4 pm
Sunday, 13 July from 11 am to 4 pm
https://www.thenorthfieldgardenclub.org/2021-garden-tour
Visit the website to view the addresses for the six garden sites on the tour this year. Look for the pink banners at each location. Tickets for the entire tour are available at each garden. Proceeds from ticket sales support the grants program and other charitable activities of the Northfield Garden Club
The purpose of the Northfield Garden Club is to advance and promote the art and science of horticulture, and to encourage all forms of home and civic gardening projects in the Northfield area.
Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist previews the next Vintage Band Festival with board members Paul Beck, Vicki Scott, and Randy Ferguson. The 2025 Vintage Band Festival in Northfield, MN will feature 13 hours of music and 11 bands!
Vintage Band Festival
Saturday, 2 August 2025 from 9AM – 10PM
Bridge Square, Northfield, MN
Family Friendly. Free Admission. Donations accepted.
Since 2006 the Vintage Band Festival has presented fantastic wind band music from across the region in Bridge Square along the banks of the Cannon River. The Vintage Band Festival has become a cherished tradition in the region by featuring compelling history, interesting music, and diverse culture to make a magical experience. The many bands traveling here from all over continue to see Vintage Band Festival and Northfield as a special destination. Come and join the joyful, fun, and family-friendly atmosphere with eclectic brass music played live by phenomenal bands!
Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes visual artist Mark Daehlin to share his artistic journey and the stories behind his Freedom Road Heroes series. These paintings are a vibrant, visual tribute to the courageous people who have worked for human rights, civil rights, abolition, and an end to the subjugation of oppressed minorities in the United States and beyond. The Freedom Road Heroes are on display at the Northfield City Hall and Fifty North through August 2025.
Freedom Road Heroes
FiftyNorth Gallery, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield, MN
Artist Reception: Thursday, 7 August 2025 from 4-5PM
Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington Street, Northfield, MN
Thursday, 14 August 2025 through Saturday, 16 August 2025
from 9AM to 1PM each day
Local artist Mark Daehlin will be painting a portrait in his “Freedom Road Heroes” series live in the Library Atrium over the course of 3 days. Daehlin’s bold, brightly colored portraits celebrate the legacy of leaders who have shaped the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. “Freedom Road Heroes” honors their courage and invites reflection on the journey toward civil rights. Prints of the portraits can be viewed on the first floor of City Hall until the end of August.
For more information about the artist and his project, visit: https://www.freedomroadheroes.com/about.
The Northfield City Council will hold a regular session tonight with a full agenda, including several infrastructure projects and a formal acceptance of the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.In partnership with the Northfield Public School District, the city will consider renewing a recreation services agreement through 2028. The agreement outlines shared support for youth and community recreation programs. The program “shall include, but not be limited to, opportunities for leisure, recreation, enrichment and other...
The Northfield City Council will hold a regular session tonight with a full agenda, including several infrastructure projects and a formal acceptance of the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
In partnership with the Northfield Public School District, the city will consider renewing a recreation services agreement through 2028. The agreement outlines shared support for youth and community recreation programs. The program “shall include, but not be limited to, opportunities for leisure, recreation, enrichment and other activities that promote the health, safety and welfare of the community,” according to the official agreement.
Elsewhere in the consent agenda is the formal approval of the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which outlines the city’s fiscal position at year-end.
Other items include:
Bond Sales for Streets and Ice Arena
The Council will vote on two bond-related resolutions tonight. The first would authorize the sale of $4.44 million in general obligation bonds to fund street reconstruction and equipment purchases.
The second resolution under consideration outlines the parameters for issuing lease revenue bonds through the Northfield Economic Development Authority (EDA) to help finance the new Northfield Ice Arena.
Administrators Update
To wrap up the meeting, City Administrator Ben Martig will deliver a quarterly update, which includes the City of Northfield’s Q1 2025 Report and Quarterly Investment Report. These documents provide insight into the city’s financial performance and investment activity during the first three months of the year.
Public Comment and Meeting Details:
The public is welcome to attend in person or watch online. To watch online, go to northfieldmn.gov and click the “Agenda & Minutes” button in the middle of the home page. From there, find tonight’s meeting date to watch, as well as a copy of the agenda and other meeting documents.
The meeting starts tonight at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Northfield City Hall.
Newscasts on KYMN air on weekdays at 6am, 7am, 8:30am, Noon, 3pm, and 5pm. If you miss it live, you can subscribe on your preferred podcast app:> Click here to listen on Spotify> Click here to listen on Apple PodcastDo you have a news tip or press release? Send it to us email: [email protected]
NINA MOINI: Time for a new episode of our series called "Thank You, Stranger." It's about the small acts of kindness that make a big impact. MPR News Producer Ellen Finn talked to people who have been touched by a man they call the Northfield Angel.[SOFT MUSIC]ELLEN FINN: If you live in Northfield, Minnesota, you've probably heard of him, or even seen him around at the grocery store or gas station. And there's certainly a lot of chatter about him online. I'm talking about a man known to the town simply as Daryl....
NINA MOINI: Time for a new episode of our series called "Thank You, Stranger." It's about the small acts of kindness that make a big impact. MPR News Producer Ellen Finn talked to people who have been touched by a man they call the Northfield Angel.
[SOFT MUSIC]
ELLEN FINN: If you live in Northfield, Minnesota, you've probably heard of him, or even seen him around at the grocery store or gas station. And there's certainly a lot of chatter about him online. I'm talking about a man known to the town simply as Daryl.
SUBJECT 1: I definitely had seen people post about interactions with him on the Northfield Facebook group.
SUBJECT 2: People would post and say, I met Daryl. I met Daryl.
SUBJECT 3: I've seen many posts about Daryl and the blessings that he gives to community members.
SUBJECT 1: I'm sure he's helped countless people in town.
SUBJECT 2: I had heard about Daryl for over a year. I think he's apparently quite a legend in town.
ELLEN FINN: Why a legend? What does Daryl been doing around town? Turns out a lot of the same thing, over and over and over.
SUBJECT 5: He approached me and asked me if I would like some help with paying for my groceries or if I needed anything. And I had said no, but I had told him that I was excited because I had heard about Daryl.
SUBJECT 1: It was something like, would it help you if I paid for your groceries today? I don't know. It's just like a really nice way where it's easy to say yes or no.
SUBJECT 3: I took my nieces and nephew to Cub to get groceries and let them pick out some treats and things for the week, and encountered Daryl. He offered to purchase our groceries. I'm not sure how he chose us.
SUBJECT 2: And I'm in the frozen food section and I realize someone's coming up to me and he's in a scooter, and he had a dozen roses in the basket. He's got one in his hand, and I realized immediately, this must be Daryl.
SUBJECT 1: And he said, can I give them money to buy them a toy? And so he gave them a $20 bill and told them what aisle to go find the toy. They were so excited. To this day, it's still my son's favorite toy. I'll ask him, I'll be like, do you remember where you got that stuffed animal. And he said, yeah, that nice man at Cub Foods gave me money to buy it.
SUBJECT 3: It was just exciting, almost, to have encountered him in the wild.
SUBJECT 2: He said, Miss, if I offered you a rose, would you accept it? It was like The Bachelor. It was so sweet. And I'm 65 years old, so to be called Miss was really nice. I met the famous Daryl. And he said, "And do you need any help with your groceries?" I said, oh, no.
SUBJECT 1: That's his MO. He goes to Cub Foods, and he either buys a little kid a stuffed animal, he offers groceries, or he goes to QuikTrip and he offers to pay for gas, or ask people, hey, how are you?
SUBJECT 4: We started chatting, and that's when he gave me that piece of paper that I showed you.
ELLEN FINN: If you're lucky, Daryl might give you a piece of paper that helps explain his quest to hang around grocery stores helping people out.
JASMINE PAMULA: Daryl kind of had a fast lifestyle when he was young. And when he got older, he had a series of unfortunate events.
ELLEN FINN: That's Jasmine Pamula. She's a massage therapist in Northfield who has worked with Daryl. Daryl didn't want to talk about himself, though he said it was OK for Jasmine to tell his story. He wrote that he regrets some of the ways he used to live his life, and he wishes he had started a family of his own. He wants to spend his time now helping other families feel supported and connected.
JASMINE PAMULA: He came in one evening. He was talking about who he can help in our community. And I have a friend of mine who's been struggling with an IVF journey.
ELLEN FINN: Jasmine's friend, who wanted to keep her identity private, said she had suffered multiple miscarriages and was struggling to stay positive during the IVF process. Jasmine mentioned her friend to Daryl and at the end of their appointment, Daryl handed Jasmine $400 to donate anonymously to her friend.
JASMINE PAMULA: I sat down with them and I was so excited. I was so giddy. I told the couple, I said, do you remember or have you seen on the Northfield Happenings page about the Northfield Angel? Because that's Daryl's nickname. I said, the Northfield Angel wants to help you. And I slid $400 across the table.
And my very hormonal, broken-down, sad friend just starts wailing in the middle of the restaurant. It was so weird and comical, because she's wailing and I'm giddy, laughing, because I'm so happy for her to just give her a little bit of reprieve and a little bit of wiggle room financially. Because a hormone and pregnancy journey is expensive and it's emotionally draining, and it had been three years, right?
Their hormonal treatment per month was exactly $400. So she was like, did you know that my treatment was $400 a month? I'm like, no, I didn't know. And the month that Daryl gave them the $400, they got pregnant.
It gets me teary-eyed every time I tell it because it's just like, what are the chances? What a miracle, right? Because it was a three-year pregnancy journey for them. And just the month Daryl paid for that hormone therapy was the month that they got pregnant. And so now they're going to invite Daryl to their baby shower. He's a really good man.
ELLEN FINN: Whether it's helping completely change the course of a family's life or just lifting someone up at the grocery store, many Northfield residents want to thank Daryl for spreading kindness.
SUBJECT 4: If we could all just be someone a little bit like Daryl. He's changed my life. I really think that he did.
SUBJECT 2: You know It feels good when you can make somebody's day or do something very-- you know, do a mitzvah for somebody. I think he does it because he must have a really big heart.
SUBJECT 4: He certainly left a lifelong impact on me.
SUBJECT 3: Sometimes in hard times, it's hard to see the good in others and the world. And so I think Daryl is spreading that around Northfield.
NINA MOINI: A special thanks to Northfield resident Mary Hillmann, Sam Lencioni, Susan Warrington, and Holly Natvig, who spoke with MPR News producer Ellen Finn for this piece.
Do you have a story of kindness from a stranger to share? We want to hear it. You can submit it at mprnews.org.
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