Written by Megan Malugani for Rochester Magazine | Sponsored by Eagle Rock Bank

Three ways you can help: 

In 2024, 45 families accessed safe, affordable housing on Jeremiah Program’s Rochester-SE MN campus.

In just nine years, Jeremiah Program has evolved from a nonprofit newcomer to a powerful catalyst for change in our community. With a mission of disrupting the cycle of poverty for single moms and their children in Rochester and southeastern Minnesota, the program has cultivated brighter futures for hundreds of families.

Featuring two-generation programming around education for single moms and their kids, an option to access stable and affordable housing, and an onsite Child Development Center, the program is designed to pave the way to economic mobility for participants.

The idea to open a Jeremiah Program in Rochester was hatched when an Olmsted County official saw a presentation about the program’s impact in a handful of other cities and wondered, “How do I get this in Rochester?” That prompted a needs assessment, which revealed 20,000 single moms living in poverty in southeastern Minnesota alone, according to Executive Director Ally Hanten Ebert.

Believing “if we build it, they will come,” the program launched in 2016 without a physical campus, partnering with other organizations for office and programming space. In 2020, the doors of Jeremiah Program-Rochester’s 40-unit apartment and child development center opened.

The program offers a broad range of support to participants. In 2024, 45 families accessed safe, affordable housing on Jeremiah Program’s Rochester-SE MN campus. In addition, the program supported nearly 100 moms on their post-secondary education journeys and JP staff delivered over 2,000 coaching sessions focused on college and career guidance and whole-family support. Other opportunities include an empowerment and leadership program for moms, summer enrichment options for kids, and more.

Here's how you can help the Jeremiah Program

1. Donate. You can donate online at jeremiahprogram.org/campuses/rochester-southeast-mn. Or, be a part of our first annual Bullfrog Open Golf Outing on Friday, August 22, 2025 at Willow Creek Golf Course. If you are interested in sponsoring or donating to this event, contact Tamsen Leimer at tamsenl@fmcommunity.com or Steph Sawyer at sawyerfore@yahoo.com.

2. Cook for Kids. Every Tuesday night, volunteer groups prepare and serve a potluck style meal for JP moms and their kids. Contact Kallie Kieffer at kkieffer@jeremiahprogram.org for more info.

3. Stay Connected. “What we need most is champions for our program,” says Hanten Ebert. Be a champion by signing up for JP’s e-newsletter at or following @JeremiahProgramRochester on social media (Instagram and Facebook).

At a glance

  • Founded in 2016
  • Mission: “To disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time. JP believes that no mother should have to choose between investing in herself and her children.”
  • Located at 2915 Jeremiah Lane NW, Rochester, MN 55901
  • jeremiahprogram.org/campuses/rochester-southeast-mn , 507-215-8661

Transforming lives

“I am thankful for the endless opportunities, relationships, friendships, meals, encouragement, and everything that comes with being part of the JP community.”
- Miranda, JP Rochester-SE MN mom