the Ely Strong Project

In July 2026, unprecedented wildfires were ablaze in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. While these fires could have demoralized the town of Ely, Minnesota, what immediately became clear was that the people of our community are strong and resilient, hopeful in the face of uncertainty, and willing to set aside differing viewpoints to be there for each other in trying times. Folks quickly went to work, seeking ways to help and support neighbors and friends. We also warmly welcomed in over 1,000 new “temporary residents” — hot shots, pilots, fire fighters, first responders, and logistics crew members working hard to protect our town from the fires.

Local graphic designer Bethany Hway created this artwork both to celebrate the strength of Ely and to benefit the community. 100% of all profits from the sales of Ely Strong retail products were donated to Ely Community Resource. As Ely schools are facing a budget crisis, and the weight of these fires impacts our local economy, an organization like ECR is key to helping “make Ely a great place to grow up”, which is a crucial part of keeping young families here and securing the future of this community.

Thank you for supporting this project, and for coming together as a community, now and always. Together we are #ElyStrong!

Thank you for your support!

The Ely Strong Project concluded with a donation of $8,800.62 to Ely Community Resource. According to ECR Executive Director Jill Swanson, a portion will be set aside in a wildfire emergency fund for any families needing assistance with food, housing costs or living expenses due to loss of income from the fires’ impact on Ely’s economy this summer. The rest will go towards hiring additional staff to help run ECR’s Friday programming, which ensures that Ely’s youth have fun and educational activities to do on Fridays, now that the local school is operating on a four-day week. Nearly all inventory from the project sold out, and the few items that remain will be available at ECR’s annual fundraising auction to be held on March 20th, 2027.