MARQUETTE — Have you ever had to make the choice to go to work today or stay home and be a caregiver for a loved one who is sick, disabled or elderly?

Unfortunately that is a problem that many people face today. Why you may ask is this a problem?

According to Founder and President of the Caregiver Incentive Project Eric Paad “while there are programs at the national, state, and local levels to facilitate the placement of caregivers in the homes of those in need, there are not enough qualified caregivers available.”

This is where the Caregiver Incentive Project comes in to play a role. The vision of the CIP is to end the national shortage of qualified caregivers. They want to improve the lives of the cared for by supporting caregivers.

According to data from the CIP there are approximately 45 million unpaid caregivers and approximately 32 million paid caregivers in the United States.

Some, at first, may not think needing a caregiver is something that affects you. If you stop and think for a moment, do you have an elderly relative, disabled or sick family member that requires in home care or close family friend that requires care? At some point in most of our lives we will be a caregiver or need a caregiver as we get older or if something happens to us.

A report from the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute projects by 2026 there will be 7.8 million direct care openings based on projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Caregiver Incentive Project is going to be launching a fundraising campaign for the month of November in honor of National Family Caregivers Month. They set a goal of raising $1,000 by Dec. 3, which marks Giving Tuesday and International Day of Disabled Persons.

CIP is kicking off the campaign with a fundraising event from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette. People will be able to learn more about how the Caregiver Incentive Project is working to inform, encourage, and inspire individuals to provide in-home care by preparing and incentivizing them. The event is free and open to the public. There will be music from the local band Everything Under The Sun, door prizes donated by local businesses, DaH Pretzel Guys food truck will be there for guests to snack on while sipping on Ore Dock brews.

“It was about two years ago when we started working with other agencies and noticed there is a problem that needs attention and we need to get someone’s attention, and if there isn’t someone already doing something about it I’m going to do it.”

Paad will be in attendance with his daughter Dorothy who is his inspiration for starting CIP. Eric and his wife have been in-home caregivers for their daughter Dorothy since she was born.

“We live this every day, her mother and I as caregivers,” said Paad, who has lived in the situation for 29 years.

Anyone interested in making a donation but who can not attend the event, donations can be made at www.the-cip.com. More information is available to learn about CIP on its Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/CaregiverIncentiveProject or website www.the-cip.com.

Amy Grigas can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 243.