HANCOCK — For years they had a thrift store, but these days the Salvation Army has found other ways to be helpful throughout the Copper Country. They organize volunteer efforts throughout the area.

“Well, I don’t really have a thrift store,” said Site Director Pete Mackin. “So, I partner with like the ReStore or St. Vincent’s, Goodwill (and) Angel mission. I took in items during the Calumet fire just because it was such a big deal with people homeless, but I don’t really have that. We help people with food and toiletries, things like that, but other than that, not too much.”

Mackin is really proud of the various ways the Salvation Army volunteers.

“We work with beautification for the downtowns,” he said. “We have volunteers that help with doing community projects and stuff where people have need; where they’re senior widows, or something like that. Where they need help with something, we’ll try to have volunteers help with that sometimes.”

With warmer weather on the horizon comes the need for homeowners and renters to clean up their yards and their homes from the harsh winters of the Copper Country. The Salvation Army is ready to assist, as needed.

“There’s a lot of seniors, they don’t have family left, or friends have passed away,” said Mackin. “A lot of people want to help out and volunteer. So if somebody needs help fixing up a ramp or they’ve got some minor projects, things like that — they need help hauling garbage out of their place — there’s a lot of churches. A lot of people here want to help with that.

“If people have a need that something like that, where they’re disabled, or they really need somebody to help out with the spring stuff, then, if they call us up, I can help refer people to them, and find people that can help them out with projects like that.”

Mackin encourages people to help out however they can.

“If you just see a neighbor, I always encourage people (that) they can help out them,” said Mackin. “(It) always makes you feel good, makes your neighborhood better. We’re all here to be good stewards of our community and help our neighbors out as much as we can.”

Talking with volunteers after a job is one of the greatest joys for Mackin.

“I mean it is easy to see the beaming, whether it’s college volunteers, or just people in the community,” he said. “We’re all in this together.”

Mackin admits it is easy to just look the other way rather than help out.

“We don’t know what somebody’s struggling with,” he said. “It’s easy to drive by (and see) somebody’s always got garbage in their yard, or their place looks kind of rundown. It’s easy to get kind of just indifferent to that.

“When we think, ‘Well, I’ve still got my health and I’ve got time,’ instead of driving, so just offer help.”

Taking just a little time can be all that someone needs.

“You don’t know what people are going through,” said Mackin. “That little bit of help, often is a huge blessing to them. It might be small, maybe it’s just an hour or two of our time. To help out with something like, if you’ve got to pickup, a lot of people don’t, and just be able to help somebody move a new bed into a family that needs it. Or, if you’re fixing up, helping haul stuff out of the garage or their lease or whatever, it’s a small thing for us to do those things with the huge blessing for those on the receiving end.

“It just blesses your heart, and your own life is blessed coming out of it. You see the people. It gives you purpose, gives you fulfillment to help our neighbors in need.”

Those interested in volunteering with the Salvation Army this spring to help neighbors in need, or if you are a neighbor in need of a little extra help, Mackin suggests giving the Salvation Army a call at 906-482-3420.