KINGSFORD, Mich. (WZMQ) – Last fall, the Dickinson County Cancer Unit Loan Closet received a generous donation from the ‘Dickinson County 100+ Women Who Care’, a vital lifeline for local patients in need. Today, Habitat for Humanity Menominee River is stepping up to the plate, collaborating to maximize the impact of the donation by upgrading the facility.
“With volunteers, we can make that $16,000 that they won go a whole lot further if they’re not having to pay for labor costs,” remarked Nancy Pellegrini, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Menominee River. “And that’s our goal today, to partner with them and help them serve more clients by keeping their costs down for their project.”
The Cancer Loan Closet, which offers financial aid, transportation assistance, prescriptions, nutritional assistance, incontinence items, and loans medical equipment to patients in Dickinson County and surrounding areas, is undergoing crucial renovations. Okler Roofing contributed by providing a new roof at only the cost of supplies, further stretching the impact of the community’s support.
Diane Schabo, President of the Dickinson County Cancer Loan Closet, expressed gratitude, stating, “If the weather stays decent, that’ll probably cover it.” Schabo says the top expense that the Cancer Closet covers for patients is providing financial assistance for mileage to out-of-town appointments, but she anticipates that expense will decrease with the introduction of the new cancer center coming soon to Marshfield Medical Center, Dickinson.
Habitat for Humanity’s core crew of volunteers are tackling labor-intensive tasks like replacing windows and re-siding. Schabo added, “From that point, once the windows are in, then a group of women who are used to doing siding, they’re going to do the siding.”
In a promising development, Habitat for Humanity plans to revive its popular event, Women Build, this summer. Pellegrini highlighted, “We’ll fill in with some other builds. I think First National Bank wants to come out, and we have women that want to come out. And when we do siding as a group of women, we can really make a big impact.”
Expressing appreciation for the outpouring of support, Schabo noted, “We’re so thankful for all the people that in one way or another whether it’s the Habitat people here today, the 100-plus people that we had, or fundraisers. You know, the half-marathon that’s run here.”
As Habitat for Humanity reevaluates the project’s progress, both agencies remain hopeful for clear skies and continued community involvement. Habitat for Humanity’s annual “Raise the Roof” Golf outing is coming up toward the end of the month, to be hosted at the Timberstone Golf Course. The outing will be a 4-person scramble with a shotgun start at 1pm. CST. The cost is $600 per team to enter and there will be prizes and games with the top 3 teams winning money.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity Menominee River or their upcoming golf scramble, visit:
For information on how to volunteer within the walls of the Dickinson County Cancer Unit Loan Closet, Schabo said the best way is to just drop by during regular hours to 201 E. Breitung Ave. and fill out an application, or call: 906-776-0966
Schabo says to keep them in mind during the winter, because that is when the agency is most in need of volunteers, because a lot of their volunteers are snow birds.
For more information about the loan closet, visit:
