IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – In a compelling display of community support, the Dickinson County 100-Plus Women Who Care organization hosted its quarterly meeting, announcing a new recipient for their charitable donations.
The 100-Plus Organization, known for its commitment to local causes, convenes 4 times a year to distribute donations at random to local non-profits. 3 non-profits are randomly chosen to be voted on by members, who can join individually or as in teams of 2 or 4. Individual women donate $100 to go toward the chosen non-profit, and teams divy up the $100 cost. This time, The Cure of Iron Mountain, dedicated to serving at-risk youth across Dickinson and outlying counties, received a resounding vote of confidence, securing a community donation of $10,000 or more towards its vital mission.
During the presentation, Heather Ruesch, the Executive Director of The Cure, shared poignant insights into the organization’s impactful work.
“I don’t have a hard and fast number on the rates of homelessness in Dickinson County. That being said, we know firsthand that there were at least 20 high school students in Dickinson county this past winter who were without a home, who were homeless. And we did all that we could. We partnered with local congregations, local community organizations, and schools to support these kids, to try to connect them in whatever way we could. And now that we know this, it’s on our peripheral – it’s very much a part of what we’re doing, and we’re using our Student Leadership Alliance to get out there and pull these kids who are at risk into our programs,” stated Ruesch.
The generous donation will be instrumental in hiring a new full-time staff member, alleviating the strain on the organization’s current resources. Ruesch expressed her excitement about the prospect, emphasizing the importance of providing comprehensive support to at-risk youth. “So right now, I’m the only full-time employee employed with The Cure… Our board back last October actually voted to bring in a Student Engagement Coordinator.”
She shared, “There’s a lot that goes into establishing a non-profit, but starting a program from the ground up, and especially something that nobody else is doing… you pour your heart and soul into these kids because they are so hungry. And they need everything we have to give them.”
Highlighting the urgency of The Cure’s mission, Ruesch underscored the staggering statistic: “Every 11 minutes a student in the United States takes their life – every 11 minutes ages 10 to 24… suicide is something that we have got to stop and look at, because it’s needless.”
“The Cure is just mentoring and listening and creating an environment for kids to support each other in a positive way, but also teaching them practical tangible life skills. This is how you cope in a healthy way with troubles, this is how you balance your social and emotional health and well-being,” remarked Ruesch, adding, “Especially post Covid, we’re anticipating that next round of research numbers, that next round of data to come out letting us know, because I think that the rates for suicide are actually much higher than what we even expected especially post-Covid.”
As the meeting concluded, Ruesch expressed her gratitude and optimism, stating, “I’m just so blessed. I’m so blown away by this incredible crew and honored to be a part of it. We have such an amazing thing going on.”
Looking ahead, the Dickinson County 100-Plus Women’s next quarterly meeting is scheduled for August 12th at 6:00 p.m. inside the Pine Grove Country Club. Other local non-profits, including the Imagination Factory Children’s Museum and The Friends of the Braumart, presented their initiatives, highlighting the diverse range of causes in need of support within the community.
For more information about programs available to youth and teens at the Cure, visit:
