HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Menominee River Director Nancy Pellegrini, left, and Kathy Kulus, a volunteer in charge of fund development, discuss finances at the office in Kingsford. Habitat was the recent recipient of a $16,000 grant from the Dickinson County 100-Plus Women Who Care. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

KINGSFORD — For a third time, Habitat for Humanity Menominee Range in Kingsford has gotten the nod to receive a sizable grant from the group Dickinson County 100-Plus Women Who Care.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Habitat has expanded operations from building homes to also offering repairs, which they plan to fund with the $16,000 from 100-Plus Women.

Habitat previously was awarded $23,000 from group in 2019 and an unknown amount in 2015.

Habitat director Nancy Pellegrini was grateful to 100-Plus Women for again supporting their work.

“We have a backlog — mostly roofs — at the moment,” said Kathy Kulas, a volunteer in charge of fund development.

Home repairs are divided into different categories based on need and safety. Critical repairs include roofs, septic systems, furnaces and water heaters. Less critical needs might assist with accessibility, such as ramps and bathroom remodels. Finally, there are exterior repairs such as walls and siding.

They hire out for roof repairs for the safety of the volunteers on their construction crew.

Construction on their 50th home, in Kingsford, is nearly complete and they have begun basement work in Norway on their 51st home.

Pellegrini said the Norway house is unique because it is being designed around the needs of one family member, a son who has spinal muscular atrophy.

The Dickinson County 100-Plus Women Who Care group has donated $667,000 since it was founded in December 2012 with only nine organizers, according to Kristine Leonard.

They are seeking new members after seeing a decline in membership during the COVID-19 shutdowns, said Michele Schillerstrom, who has been with the group since 2013. In peak years its gatherings could have about 400 people but now draws only half that number.

“We were unable to host meetings during the pandemic and our membership levels went down,” she said

At each meeting, a team of up to four people donates $100 into the pot — if the team has four people, each would contribute $25. Three charities then are selected by blind drawing from among those nominated at the meeting. Each of the three finalists has five minutes to speak to the group about their organization and five minutes to answer questions.

“You can’t imagine how amazing you feel when you leave. It’s unbelievable how much of a difference a small group of people can make in an hour,” Schillerstrom said.

Over the years, 100-Plus Women Who Care has given grants to local churches and food pantries, theater groups, local museums, Almost Home Animal Shelter, the Salvation Army and the Caring House, she said.

“We’ve supported programs that benefit local athletics, people with cancer, disabled people, people with unaffordable medications and people who need an emergency plane ride to a hospital,” Schillerstrom said.

At their previous meeting in November, they chose a program called Project Life Saver that puts a monitor on people who are in danger of getting lost, such as elderly people with dementia or special needs children.

“I know there is an entire generation of women in Dickinson County who would love to have a great time at our meetings and make a difference right in this community,” Schillerstrom said.

The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, at Pine Grove Country Club in Iron Mountain. Meetings last about one hour.