The 2019 Habitat Michigan Volunteers of the Year were Donald (D.J.) and Julie Lanthier. They have helped in most areas of the affiliate — volunteering at events, at the job site, doing any job that they are asked to do ... with a smile. Julie started with the 2011 Women Build and DJ with the golf outing that same year. As volunteers of the year, D.J. and Julie received a certificate of appreciation, signed by area Michigan lawmakers. Long time residents of Kingsford, they have two sons, Brian and Justin. They have passed on the tradition of volunteering to their son, Justin, who also has many hours donated to Habitat.

KINGSFORD — Small but mighty describes the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Kingsford.

The Menominee River affiliate, HFHMR, is tied for third in the nation for small affiliates for home repairs and is tied for fifth in the nation for overall builds in the same category, according to Nancy Pellegrini, HFHMR executive director.

Habitat for Humanity International ranks affiliates by size according to the number of people in their service area. HFHMR serves Dickinson and Iron counties in the Upper Peninsula and the surrounding Wisconsin communities.

HFHMR organized as a non-profit in 1993 and began building homes in the area in 1994. The years 2011 and 2012 were banner ones for the affiliate as they completed five to six houses per year. HFHMR is currently building its 49th home. They are close to completing the three bedroom home on the North Side which will be occupied by Amanda Johnson and her children. Because of the restrictions on COVID-19, they are currently not working on the house, but hope it will be completed by summer.

After that house is completed, they plan to tear down a house in Norway and build a new one on the property.

The need for new housing stock has declined in the local area but there has been a large increase in demands for home repairs.

The Menominee River affiliate began completing home repairs in the mid-2000s but has seen a large increase in applications in the past five years.

In the past five years, HFHMR has completed 90 repairs and spent $238,000 to keep families safe and comfortable in their homes. Last year they completed repairs for 24 families and expect to complete about the same amount this year, she said.

The home repair program accepts applications from income-eligible homeowners that are residing in their home. Repairs range from wheelchair ramps and door replacement to furnace and roof replacement. All home repairs follow the Habitat model of “a hand-up and not a handout.”

The repairs are not free, and families repay an affordable loan back to the affiliate for only the costs of materials and labor.

Another special repair project completed by the affiliate was Operation Shingle Storm, which focused solely on repairs for veterans.

“With a huge outpouring of community support, we replaced four roofs, installed three water heaters, put in two furnaces, replaced a septic system, and installed siding and a ramp for eight veteran families in need,” according to Kathy Kulas, resource development coordinator.

“As part of OSS, we had a video made by Mountain Media Works (Seth Anderson and Michael Johns). The QR Code on our website links to the video on YouTube. I hope you have a chance to watch it,” Pellegrini said.

They would like to do a similar project in Iron County this year if enough volunteers can be found.

The affiliate relies on grants, donations and fundraisers to help pay for the repairs. Other funding comes from the monthly home repair payments and the ReStore.

Habitat for Humanity is based on a premise that utilizes volunteers and donations when possible so that cost of construction will remain affordable to local qualifying homeowners.

The local affiliate has a core construction crew that volunteers on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

“Our local volunteers are the heart of our organization. We could not make the difference in the community that we do without our volunteers,” according to Pellegrini. There is a big need for new volunteers for construction. Habitat has all of the tools needed and will train those willing to learn.

Any individual, group or business interested in volunteering can call the office at 906-779-5377.