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Funding Abortion

In addition to receiving donations throughout the year, we host two fundraising events annually.

Bowl-A-Thon

Every Spring, we participate in the National Network of Abortion Funds “Fund-A-Thon.” Where communities gather across the United States to raise money for their local abortion funds. 

In Duluth, we host a “Bowl-A-Thon” where participants divide into teams that raise money over a month. Then, we celebrate our accomplishments with a bowling party.

In 2026, we raised over $50,000 for abortion access.

Bake-Off

In the Fall, we invite Duluthians to show off their culinary skills and destigmatize abortion care in the annual H.O.T.D.I.S.H. bake-off. Community members dust off favorite cookbooks, gather to compete, and collectively share a meal as we raise money for our abortion fund. 

This event has been dearly loved for over 20 years. In 2025, 46 hotdishes were entered into 5 categories and enjoyed by over 120 community members.

The People We Fund

Since its founding, HOTDISH has helped fund care for more than 1,500 patients. Approximately 70% of our in-house funding supports patients from the Northland, while 30% supports patients traveling from neighboring states. As the need for reproductive healthcare in Minnesota has grown, HOTDISH’s annual disbursements have increased from approximately $15,000–$20,000 before 2022 to approximately $50,000 annually from 2022–2025, and an expected $135,000 in 2026. 87% of our annual budget is allocated to funding patient care.

Funding WE Health Clinic Patients

Annually, H.O.T.D.I.S.H. Militia provides over 200 patients at WE Health Clinic (WHC) with funding they need to access abortion care. This totals between $40,000 – $50,000 each year. 

Over 30% of WHC patients require financial assistance while receiving abortion care. Reasons patients may need financial assistance are varied and may include:

  • Being uninsured
  • Being under-insured – few private insurance companies cover the cost of abortion or require a large deductible be met before abortion coverage begins.
  • 26% of WHC patients are from neighboring states where abortion access has been banned or severely restricted. State-sponsored insurance from the states surrounding Minnesota does not cover abortion services.
  • Choosing not to use insurance for privacy and safety concerns.

While many patients are able to receive funding from other abortion funds across the region, it’s not a guarantee that all expenses will be covered. Sometimes, all a patient needs is a few hundred dollars – and this amount of money separates them from their reproductive freedom.

The H.O.T.D.I.S.H. Militia Abortion Fund serves as an in-house, last line of defense for patients. When a patient arrives at WE Health, staff are able to cover their remaining balance with H.O.T.D.I.S.H. funds that same day, ensuring no one is ever turned away due to a lack of funding. 

Funding Patients at Other Minnesota Abortion Clinics

In 2026, upon seeing a significant need for more abortion funding across the state, HOTDISH expanded its reach to support patients from across the Upper Midwest who travel to Minnesota for care. In a region where many people must travel significant distances to access reproductive healthcare, HOTDISH helps make that care possible.

HOTDISH Militia funds patients who reside in the Upper Midwest (MN, WI, MI, ND, SD, IA) and are receiving care at a Minnesota abortion clinic. At this time, we pledge to the following Minnesota abortion providers: 

  • M Health Fairview
  • All Planned Parenthoods in Minnesota 
  • Whole Woman’s Health of Minnesota (Bloomington)
  • Whole Woman’s Health Virtual Services 
  • Red River Women’s Clinic 
  • Just the Pill

In 2025

  • A total of $46,854.94 was pledged to patients at WE Health Clinic
  • We provided funding for 173 patients
  • Our average pledge amount was $270.84
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