United Way EUP seeks donor support for Nov 19 distribution

SAULT STE MARIE – On Thursday, November 19, 2020, United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, along with Lake Superior State University student athletes and volunteers from around the community, will distribute 15,000 pounds of food to those in need through a partnership with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Feeding America West Michigan. The annual Giving Thanks mobile food distribution event will be held from 10 AM until Noon outside in the parking lot of the LSSU Norris Center and is open to anyone in need.

In 2019, partnering with sponsor organizations and businesses such as MI Department of Health and Human Services, Bay Mills Resort & Casino, TN Michigan, LLC., Precision Edge and Central Savings Bank, and community donations from Soo Co-Op Credit Union, Faith Lutheran Church, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Hiawatha Behavioral Health, and LSSU’s Sigma Lambda Sigma as well as many small groups and individuals, the event assisted 345 families in need. Households included 181 senior citizens and 295 children in the area. Over 15,000 pounds of shelf stable food, a turkey and in-season fruits and vegetables were distributed by just over 100 volunteers during the two-hour annual distribution.

“This distribution isn’t one that United Way puts on alone. It’s very much a community effort,” states Raulaniesa Aranda, CEO of United Way EUP. With layoffs and furloughed employees seeing a drop in income across the region, it is anticipated that the distribution will see the same, if not greater, turnout. United Way is turning to the community to help support this and other programs like it which assist local families across the EUP region.

Community members are encouraged to donate by calling the office 906-632-3700 ext 1 or online in one of two ways – via paypal.me/uweup or through the Donate Now button that can be found on their Facebook page, facebook.com/UnitedWayEUP. Donations of $300 per individual received prior to December 31, 2020 can also be used as a one-time non-itemized deduction for eligible taxpayers. “Any donation that is made to our organization stays right here in the community. Those dollars help our neighbors, families and friends,” reminds United Way’s CFO, Barb Reed.

For more information about United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, visit www.unitedwayeup.org or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and now SnapChat @UnitedWayEUP.