Wadena business lends helping hand to those looking for a fresh start – Brainerd Dispatch

WADENA — Turning one’s life around from alcohol and drug addiction often requires taking a leap of faith.

For the men who look to Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge for a chance at recovery and building a better life, leaving the structured environment of rehab after 12 months can be difficult as they work toward a second chance to stay sober.

Those second chances are something that should be cherished and

Kal’s Motor Group

has dedicated itself to giving out LifePack’s to graduates of the program, said Randy Mumm, general manager of Kal’s Motor Group in Wadena.

“We have supported Teen Challenge throughout the years and the owner, Dan Kallevig, got chatting one day and he says, ‘Hey, I really want to give back because this is ultimately God’s business. We’ve been extremely blessed. We’re a profitable business. But at the end of the day, what can we do for the future,’” Mumm said.

Scott Doss, development director for Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge of Brainerd, said Dan and Renee Kallevig, owners of Kal’s Motor Group, reached out to him a few months ago asking for help in taking their business and making it God’s business.

“They just really have a desire to use what God has blessed them with to give back and to serve,” Doss said. “So that’s really what it was about.”

Themes of addiction redemption hit close to home for Mumm. Working with Teen Challenge for the past few years, he said, “… stemmed from my story. I grew up in a home where my parents were alcoholics, kind of a dumpster fire to say the least. And at a young age, I was given the opportunity to get out of that situation and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. So we’re all about second chances, you know, improvement in life. And what better way for us to team up with an organization like Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge. I mean, they’re in the life changing business. They really are.”

Now 20 years later, he’s one of the company’s key managers and longest-tenured employees.

Mumm said they want to support an organization helping men who want to change their lives for the better and that is where they came up with the idea of giving them a backpack filled with supplies to support them as they leave the structure of rehabilitation and transition back into society.

Doss said the first “LifePack” backpacks will be handed out during the upcoming January graduations.

The packs will contain a Bible, as God’s word is a foundation of the program; a water bottle; gift certificates for a grocery store, a restaurant and a gas station; a journal to help maintain a positive mental attitude; and a pair of clean clothes.

“Again, this isn’t a full comprehensive list of what the backpack is going to be,” Nelson said. “We’re constantly looking at other businesses to chip in what they can, when they can.”

Doss said they are looking to embroider their names on the backpacks along with their favorite Bible quote as they look to empower those graduates to continue on their positive journey.

“When they walk out of there, and they wake up the next morning, it’s like, alright, I can go buy some groceries. I can drive to the grocery store. I could go out to eat. And new clean clothes, if I want to go to a job interview,” Doss said.

Mumm said they would be donating funds for one backpack from every vehicle sold with a goal of 6,000 bags donated by 2026.

“I want to be clear, this is not a sales pitch,” Mumm said. “I’m not saying, ‘Hey, go to Kal’s and buy a car because they’re doing this.’ I want it to be genuine and organic. We’re not doing this to sell more cars. We are doing this to help people who are struggling in our community.”

Both Mumm and Shawn Nelson, sales manager at Kal’s Motor Group, explained the sign of a successful business is not just in the bottom line, but in what that business does to better the community they serve.

“Empowering, you know. I feel like it gives all of our employees a little more of a reason to come to work every day and do their job to the best that they can do it and know that you’re impacting something greater. Proud of your company? Oh yeah. 100%.” Mumm said.

TIM SPEIER, staff writer, can be reached on Twitter

@timmy2thyme

, call 218-855-5859 or email

tim.speier@brainerddispatch.com

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