Executive director Jennie Garrett-Bureau, left, and bookkeeper Lilah Nyquist for U.P. Home Health & Hospice hold a $500 donation check from the organization to The Mining Journal’s Cheer Club. The Journal’s annual gift drive, which kicked off Nov. 29, collects unwrapped toys and gifts to be donated to local children and families in need during the holiday season. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

MARQUETTE — U.P. Home Health & Hospice is giving back this holiday season.

The comprehensive provider of home health care services made a $500 donation to The Mining Journal’s 2019 Cheer Cub, which collects unwrapped toys and gifts to be donated to local children and families in need during the holiday season.

The donation will be given to the Salvation Army of Marquette County and St. Vincent de Paul of Marquette to purchase Christmas gifts for area youth as well as other needed items such as coats, hats, boots and mittens. UPHHH donates to various charitable events each year, said Kori Tossava, director of community services.

“We do a lot over the holidays. We participate in the TV6 Canathon, Toys for Tots and the Cheer Club because we know our community is really a special place,” Tossava said. “Our friends and neighbors get together to help those who need help during this holiday season. We just want to be able to do what we can for our friends and neighbors also, so we do like to find those organizations that are taking the lead in that and support those.”

She encouraged all to give back to the Marquette community this season.

“One of the reasons that it is so amazing is when somebody needs help, there are people in the community who are able to do it,” she added. “We just want people to think about that this time of year, that maybe not everybody is able to do all of the things but there may be a way you can do something — by donating to Cheer Club, is it by volunteering to be able to help Cheer Club to be able to do some of those pick-ups, is it being able to volunteer at a food pantry? This is a season of giving and that’s what we believe and we want to be able to do, and we hope other people do the same.”

Cheer Club gifts can be dropped off at The Mining Journal’s office; Range Bank locations in Marquette, Harvey and Negaunee; Thomson & Metivier PC in Marquette; Gwinn Ace Hardware; the Northern Michigan University Police Department; Salvation Army’s locations in Marquette and Ishpeming; and the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Marquette.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is tcarey@miningjournal.net.