Since 2018, ElkhartCares has been a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to meeting real needs in the Elkhart Lake–Glenbeulah area. We connect resources, compassion, and local know-how to support students, families, and educators all year long—making sure no one feels overlooked and everyone has the chance to thrive.
At ElkhartCares, we believe strong communities are built through compassion, connection, and action. Our mission is to support the students, families, and educators of the Elkhart Lake–Glenbeulah area by meeting real needs with immediate, direct assistance—whether it’s a warm coat, emergency utility aid, a literacy grant, or simply the dignity of knowing someone cares.
Thanks to a grant that covers all administrative costs, 100% of your donation goes directly to community programs and services.
We are so blessed to live in this area, and it’s often difficult to recognize the need for these and other services in our community. However, these needs—and, at times, even such things as the bare necessities—are far greater and more pervasive than we want to believe, which can be hard for our community to understand.
-Deb Blain, Founder of ElkhartCares (In loving memory, her vision continues to guide our mission today.)
ElkhartCares was founded by Deb Blain (1954–2023)—a beloved local leader whose generosity touched countless lives in the Elkhart Lake–Glenbeulah community. Deb had a gift for identifying needs before they were voiced and for bringing people together to meet those needs with grace and determination. From organizing holiday giving to providing behind-the-scenes help to struggling families, her quiet acts of kindness formed the foundation of the ElkhartCares ethos.
Though Deb passed away in 2023, her legacy lives on through every backpack delivered, every scholarship granted, and every family helped. Her husband, Bob Blain, continues her work today as a guiding leader of ElkhartCares, helping ensure that Deb’s vision of a compassionate, responsive community carries forward for generations to come.
We provide direct support to families and students in crisis, as well as grants that empower teachers and enhance learning. Our programs include:
Emergency aid for housing, utilities, clothing, transportation, and basic needs.
Teacher grants, classroom supplies, field trip funding, and college scholarships.
Summer reading programs, free book distributions, and library partnerships.
Santa’s Village, winter gear drives, holiday meals, and gift sponsorships.
Elktoberfest Kids’ Area, Santa’s Village, Veterans Day Luncheon, and seasonal celebrations.
Over the past seven years, ElkhartCares has:
Since becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2018, ElkhartCares has remained rooted in one simple belief: every child deserves to be seen, supported, and set up for success.
In our early years, we focused on meeting needs quietly and directly—through grassroots efforts and generous community support. Some of our proudest early milestones include:
Today, ElkhartCares works in close partnership with the Elkhart Lake–Glenbeulah School District to identify struggling families and respond quickly, compassionately, and effectively. Together, we:
Fund classroom grants for supplies, enrichment, and learning opportunities
Support students facing food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation challenges
Provide clothing, hygiene items, and essentials—so students can thrive in and out of the classroom
Help ensure that no student is left behind simply because of financial hardship
From our earliest days to our current school-based model, ElkhartCares has always been powered by a simple mission: meet real needs, in real time, with real love.
Help us continue this mission. Give Today – Change Lives to make a local impact.
