Small town, BIG impact
You’ve probably heard of Lawler, Minnesota. In fact, it’s probably just a few miles up the road from where you live. But have you heard of the Lawler Area Community Club (LACC)? And do you know how powerful it is in supporting the citizens of this entire area?
You can see for yourself on November 14 by attending the next LACC fundraiser, the Fall Community Breakfast from 8 till 11 a.m. at the Salo Town Hall. There’s even a raffle drawing at 11:00. Why should you go? Read on.
The Lawler Area Community Club (LACC) was established in 2013 by concerned citizens residing in the area, and this is how it happened. A group from Lawler was helping a local wildlife organization raise money to help those in need. In 2013, the Lawler group attended that organization’s banquet. After the banquet, some of them talked and became curious about how much of their money served the local folks. What they found out was the impetus for a whole new effort in Lawler.
It turned out that a very large percentage of the funds they had helped the other organization raise was distributed on a national level and did not serve their neighbors much at all. Loving their community as they do, this was not the impact they envisioned. So, this small group immediately started to investigate how they could raise money for worthy causes but distribute the funds in our area.
Initially, funds came from individuals in the group who donated whatever amount they could to the LACC, since there was no large-scale fundraising involved at that time. Then, gradually, over the next couple of years, the cause was built into a non-profit, which was founded in 2015. That’s when the fundraising began in earnest, including several annual events.
Since that time, the LACC has served the area according to its stated mission: “to provide educational opportunities for area youth, preserve and promote area culture, provide assistance to the community in need, provide habitat for wildlife, among other services.” And they do all of this in a BIG way, impacting countless individuals and local causes, over 50 of them in 2025, to the tune of over $24,000!
The efforts of the LACC are widely varied and include helping fund McGregor school initiatives and students, preserving cemeteries, providing funding for local community events, supporting community improvement projects, and helping area charities. The LACC also hosts several annual events such as a vintage ATV ride and a family ice fishing day.
Join in the fun and support the community on November 14th. You can not only enjoy the pancakes, but you might win the first raffle prize, a Tikka T3X Hunter .30-06 walnut rifle or $400 in cash (second prize). Raffle tickets are $5 each and available from any LACC member, at Fireside and Mark’s Bar, in McGregor, and at the Village Pump, in Tamarack. Also, for raffle tickets or to get in touch with the LACC, you can send an email to laccmn@gmail.com.
Want to be part of all this? The LACC welcomes new members and new ideas. When you join, your membership dues go directly back to the community, and you’ll receive emails about how the club is supporting people, projects, and organizations in our area.
And all this rose from a tiny former railroad town that was nearly wiped out by the Cloquet fires in 1918. You just can never overestimate the power of people who care!