The first point
of contact
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
FirstLink History
1967 -
Volunteer Community Service begins
1968 -
Volunteers for Community Services incorporated.
1971 -
HotLine incorporated
1973 -
First organized Holiday Clearing Bureau effort.
1976 -
First collaborative effort with the American Legion Toy project and the Holiday Clearing Bureau.
1981 -
HotLine, Inc. became a 24-hour program following the merger of the Suicide Prevention Line previously
answered at St. Lukes Hospital (now Meritcare) and Southeast Human Service Center.
1983 -
Volunteers for Community Service and HotLine merged - became HotLine Community Services.
Programs included:
HotLine (24 hrs) telephone listening and support, crisis intervention,
information and referral.
Comprehensive Information and Referral program
Volunteer Center
Holiday Clearing Bureau
Emergency Services (This N That Shop, Emergency Food Pantry, Inc.)
1984 -
HotLine Community Services merged into United Way of Cass Clay - became
Community Resource Division.
1990 -
HotLine accepted responsibility for the YWCA Phone Friend telephone warm line.
1991 -
United Way’s Community Resources Division became a not-for-profit subsidiary of
United Way of Cass Clay - became Community Resources, Inc. The Volunteer Center created.
Programs included:
Coats for Kids
Phone Friend
Gifts in Kind
Management Assistance Program
Holiday Clearing Bureau
Volunteer Center
HotLine
1993 -
Community Resources, Inc. reorganized. Full-time director hired. Community Resources, Inc.
programs included:
Coats for Kids
Holiday Clearing Bureau
HotLine (initiated CARRIER ALERT and Suicide Survivors Support Group;
Phone Friend merged into HotLine telephone lines)
Volunteer Center
PEW Cultural Diversity Project (Fiscal administration)
United Way maintained the Gifts in Kind and Management Assistance Program
HotLine began sponsorship of the Suicide Survivors Support Group
1994 -
Community Resources, Inc. discontinued their partnership in the Coats For Kids
program (October)
United Way of Cass Clay and Community Resources, Inc. dissolved their parent/subsidiary
relationship (January). Community Resources, Inc. became its own free standing non-for-profit
organization. Programs included:
1995 -
Holiday Clearing Bureau
HotLine
Volunteer Center
PEW Cultural Diversity Project (Fiscal administration)
1996 -
HotLine reorganized positions, eliminating the Program Assistant position and creating the
HotLine Volunteer Coordinator.
1997 -
The Volunteer Center initiated the Nonprofit Board Development Training (January)
Community Resources changed its name to FirstLink and reorganized.
Departments included:
1998 -
Department of Information and Crisis Services
Department of Volunteer Services
Department of Community Outreach
Holiday Clearing Bureau
Experienced Parent Project
2000 -
Hired a full-time Director of Fundraising (January)
2002 -
Reorganized; eliminated departments
Crisis and Suicide Intervention Services
Listening and Support Services
Information and Referral Services (including volunteer resources)
Holiday Clearing Bureau
Experienced Parent Project
Reduced the Volunteer Center Director to part-time
2003 -
Eliminated the Volunteer Center Director position (effective January 2003)
Discontinued Disaster Volunteer Coordination
2004 -
New Executive Director was hired. Director of Fundraising resigned. Board decided not to rehire for this position.
Director of Volunteer Center was hired and Disaster Volunteer Coordination is re-established. Community Emergency Response TEAM (CERT) training is established under Volunteer Center. FirstLink moves to new office space on 13th Avenue, in Fargo.
2005 -
Linking People & Resources
24 hours a day!
701-293-6462, Phone
4357 13th Ave. S, Ste. 107L Fargo, ND 58103
Administration Offices
888-293-6462 Toll Free
P.O. Box 447 - Fargo, ND 58107-0447
701-235-2476, Fax
Season of Hope
701-293-6462
4357 13th Ave. S, Ste. 107L Fargo, ND 58103
24 Hour HOTLINE
235-7335
235-SEEK
232-4357
232-HELP
SUICIDE Line
701-293-6462
Volunteer Services
4357 13th Ave. S, Ste. 107L Fargo, ND 58103