November 8, 2024 | By Emilie Jacques
There is a record number of new partners participating in #GiveCopperCountry, and Copper Shores Community Health Foundation is excited to help introduce them to everyone. With GivingTuesday donations opening on November 12, these new partners are eager to get their messages out and bring in donations. Below is a short introduction to each, and the latest two episode of the Copper Shores Podcast, where we dive into details of what 12 of them do for our community.
Podcast Episodes
Episode 77
In Copper Shores Podcast episode 77, listeners are introduced to Let’s Eat Community Meals / Let’s Rebuild, Right Start UP, Elaine Bacon Literacy Program, Copper Country Snowsports Club, Third Coast Diving & Adaptive Recreation and Main Street Calumet.
Episode 78
In part two, listeners are introduced to Oak House, Calumet Art Center, From the Ground Farmers Market Collective, Keweenaw Search and Rescue, Ontonagon Amateur Hockey Association and BHK Child Development. The partners talk about their mission and why donors should give to them this GivingTuesday.
Meet the new #GiveCopperCountry nonprofits for 2024
Copper Country Humane Society
The Copper Country Humane Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that is dedicated to the welfare and humane treatment of animals. CCHS provides services for Keweenaw, Baraga and Houghton Counties plus the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). 100 percent of the money needed for vet care, spay/neuter and medical needs for the 900 animals CCHS cares for annually is raised through monthly fundraising events and private donations.
Copper Country Police and Fire Relief Fund
The Copper Country Police and Fire Relief Fund, Inc. (Pigs-N-Heat) is a local organization serving the citizens of Houghton and Keweenaw counties when they find themselves in a place of great loss.
Let’s Eat Community Meals / Let’s Rebuild
Focussing on helping seniors, veterans and people with disabilities, Let’s Rebuild and its volunteers work to preserve and fix up homes, preserving the investment made by the homeowner. Volunteers help repair homes, climb ladders, do maintenance work and more for those who are unable to do so safely. Let's Rebuild hopes to continue to grow as an organization and eventually take on more clients to help in the Copper Country.
Right Start UP
Having recently purchased the first three floors of the former Hancock Central High School, Right Start UP is creating a much-needed hub for community programming and activities. The Hancock Community Hub will be home to community health and wellness based programming for fellow nonprofits, small businesses, club sports, daycare and more. Proper family support is vital to the healthy development of children, something Right Start UP aims to provide everyone an opportunity for.
Elaine Bacon Literacy Program
The volunteers of the Elaine Bacon Literacy Program tutor people on speaking English. Many of the participants are family members of international students who attend Michigan Tech, but the program is open to anyone looking to improve their English-speaking skills. The program also helps its students integrate into the Copper Country by participating in community events like ushering a play or attending the Parade of Nations. The program serves 20-to-40 students, all on a volunteer basis.
Copper Country Snowsports Club
Skiing is a popular pastime in the Copper Country, and a sport that many can enjoy well into their later years. For youth who are looking to take the next step, and get involved in ski racing, Copper Country Snowsports Club teaches the techniques needed for effective and safe racing. Through this program, racers and their family members not only get time recreating outdoors, but also the chance to build resilience, practice problem solving and build lifelong friendships.
Third Coast Diving & Adaptive Recreation
The Copper Country is surrounded by water, making it a great destination for diving. With the help of Third Coast Diving & Adaptive Recreation, people with disabilities are able to learn, practice and even become certified diving instructors themselves. As the program has grown, the need for professional divers has become more apparent. Debris sometimes litters the bottom of Lake Superior, something that Third Coast Diving & Adaptive recreation hopes to take on and clean up so diving can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Main Street Calumet
Bringing new life to a historic town, Main Street Calumet focuses on economic development in Calumet. By hosting community events like PastyFest and Christmas in Calumet, the organization hopes to revitalize the sense of community and connection among neighbors. It is Main Street Calumet’s goal to see every building in Calumet to be restored and occupied. Main Street Calumet also aims to create a sense of pride with beautiful buildings and a nourishing environment, removing the blight that can weigh down mental health.
Oak House
Oak House is an adult foster care home located in Hancock for people with disabilities. Oak House has been around since 1982, blending well into the community and helping people integrate into society. As a teaching home, the Oak House team prepares people for independence by teaching professional and life skills. Oak House has helped residents move into less restrictive environments, gain employment, and be a part of the community in a healthy and fulfilling way.
Calumet Art Center
Located in an old church in downtown Calumet, the Calumet Art Center serves as a cultural hub of art in the Copper Country. The Calumet Art Center offers residency to a number of artists through the year, as well as provides art lessons and other community based programming. For those who enjoy looking at art, Calumet Art Center has put on several exhibits throughout the year, making it possible to come back again and again for new art.
From the Ground Farmers Market Collective
From the Ground Farmers Market Collective works to provide everyone in the Keweenaw with access to fresh, local food, and supports local farmers and producers by assisting them in finding information, grants for equipment, gathering farmers market materials, getting comfortable with credit card transactions and more. From the Ground also spearheads several projects like Double UP Food Bucks, Project Fresh and SNAP for the markets, and leads educational events on sustainable agriculture, food preservation and nutrition education.
Keweenaw Search and Rescue
As more people visit the Keweenaw, the need for a weIl-prepared search and rescue team is paramount. Keweenaw Search and Rescue helps people across the peninsula, aiding in trail injuries, finding people lost in the expansive woods and searching the waterways. As water calls have increased in recent years, Keweenaw Search and Rescue is looking to bring back a diving and recovery team to the Keweenaw.
Ontonagon Amateur Hockey Association
The Ontonagon Amateur Hockey Association has been around since the 80s, bringing hockey to youth of all ages. The association creates a space where players can gain confidence on the ice and learn valuable life lessons like learning to lose graciously. This season is set to be large, with multiple competitive teams across age groups. The organization is excited to create a sense of community and help young players be a part of something larger than themselves.
Get ready for GivingTuesday
Donations will begin to be accepted on Tuesday, November 12 and run right through GivingTuesday itself, which is December 3 this year. Remember, every donation is amplified, meaning you can have an even bigger impact on the future of the Copper Country than normal!
Learn more about GivingTuesday at coppershores.org/givingtuesday.
