HANCOCK - For most people, Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends, but some people, particularly older folks, don't have either near them, so Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly fills that gap by providing companionship and meals.
Mike Aten, executive director of LBFE in Hancock, said the organization depends on volunteers on Christmas Day to serve meals at their meal sites, and to deliver food boxes to those who either can't or prefer not to leave their homes.
"We still need help getting the boxes out," he said. "If people want something to do, but they can't help on Christmas Day, they can help with the deliveries."
Besides the boxes of food, Aten said volunteers will also be delivering gifts to the organization's "elderly friends." There's a particular need for delivery help in Ontonagon and Baraga counties, and help is needed in the Houghton and Calumet areas.
Aten said food and gifts have been donated by local residents and churches.
"I can't believe how generous people have been," he said.
Aten said volunteers are still needed at the various meal sites, also.
The food for the meals is donated, also, and the plan is to cook 65 turkeys, Aten said.
"We still need 11 more turkeys," he said.
Those 65 turkeys will be cooked at Michigan Technological University's Wadsworth Hall kitchen, Aten said. For the LBFE Thanksgiving dinners, 68 turkeys were cooked there.
Sweets are a big part of any Christmas meal, and Aten said LBFE will be providing cookies at their meal sites and in their delivered boxes.
"For Christmas, we need 400 dozen cookies," he said. "We still need 200 dozen more."
Little Brothers is also involved with St. Vincent de Paul in a program called Turn On the Heat, which provides assistance to elderly people who may have trouble paying utility bills.
This year, Aten said $20,000 was raised by a combination of donations, and a concert at Tech. St. Vincent and LBFE will each get $9,000, and the rest was used to for administrative costs.
Although LBFE doesn't provide cash assistance for heating costs, the organization does provide cut wood for their friends who have some sort of wood heating system. Most of the wood is cut and delivered by volunteers, but some of the labor was hired out.
Aten said 110 cords of wood have been delivered so far for this heating season. Much of it comes from the former Camp Kitwen correctional facility in Painesdale.
"They gave Little Brothers about 120 cords," he said. "That was a big boost for our program."
Other wood is donated by area saw mills, Aten said.
Aten said he's very pleased with the response for donations and help for the LBFE Christmas program.
"The community is so helpful," he said.
To volunteer at the LBFE meal sites or to deliver meals, call 482-6944.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie @mininggazette.com.
