U.P. nonprofits to consider giving a donation
Here are some Upper Peninsula nonprofit organizations to consider giving to this holiday season. And remember, giving monetary donations is only one way to give back. If you don’t have a few bucks lying around to donate consider donating some time, in-kind services, or perhaps donating some things around the house/office that aren’t in use any longer.
Please comment and list some other charities that I can include on this post.
Marquette County Habitat for Humanity
www.mqthabitat.org
The Marquette County HFH is a branch of the international non-profit organization focusing on ecumenical Christian housing. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. Volunteers provide most of the labor, and individual, church and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses. Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor – sweat equity – into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.
Girl Scouts of Peninsula Waters
www.gsnwgl.org
Since 1969 the Girl Scouts of Peninsula Waters have extended from the “territory surrounded by Lake Michigan to the south, Lake Huron to the east and Lake Superior to the North” with their office in Marquette. Girl Scouts of Peninsula Waters serves approximately 2,300 girls with the support of nearly 800 adult volunteers. The council has 15 service areas served by 7 full-time and 2 part-time staff. Girls have the opportunity to participate in programs at three council-owned properties. The main camp, PowLow, is located in Marquette County. Camp Hy-da-way in Manistique. And Camp Blueberry Knoll in the Keweenaw.
Save The Wild UP
www.savethewildup.org
Save the Wild UP is a non-profit organization involved primarily with the impacts of nonferrous mining on the economy, society, and environment of the Upper Peninsula. They have grown as a grassroots organization and are headquartered in Marquette.
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
www.yellowdogwatershed.org
The Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve is an environmental organization to also grow out of grassroots effort. They conduct science in the area and sek to protect the watershed’s resources from threats, particularly sulfide mining. The watershed is located in Baraga and Marquette counties in the Huron Peninsula.
Alger-Marquette Community Action Board
www.amcab.org
The mission of AMCAB is to support families and individuals in improving their quality of life. They work with services including preschool programs, affordable housing programs, outreach services, commodity foods and senior meals. AMCAB strives to help people become self-sufficient and to help our communities grow stronger. Their services are funded in part by local, state, and federal governments as well as private and corporate contributions.
Upper Peninsula Health Access Coalition
www.uphealthaccess.org
Since 2004 the UPHAC has sought to provide access to quality health care for all residents of the Upper Peninsula. Their mission is to, “mobilize, support and be a unified voice for the Local Access Coalitions through collaboration, education and advocacy”. They now serve all 15 U.P. counties, representing more than 15,600 persons without insurance whose incomes fall below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum
www.upcmkids.org
The Upper Peninsula Children’s Musem is located on Baraga Avenue in Marquette (just down the street from the current Yooper Steez headquarters). The museum features regular exhibits and programs for children of all ages including vacation packages, after hour parties, sleepovers, and birthday parties. Their 8-18 Media is an award winning news bureau put together by 8 to 18 year olds in the area. You can hear their programs regularly on WMQT and WNMU. They have covered such events as the 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions. When you stop by don’t forget to check out their classic Bunny Bread sign in the entrance.
Copper Country Humane Society
www.cchumanesociety.com
The Copper Country Humane Society has been taking care of and finding homes for pets since 1972. The shelter receives animals from animal control and private citizens. CCHS works to return lost animals to their owners and to identify suitable homes for the remaining animals. And of course, you can see all their cute dogs and cats online.
And finally, I’ll leave you with a few thoughts from The Grinch
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags.
It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”–The Grinch
If you have additional non-profits you would like to see on the list please let me know!
