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Strong communities are critical to individual mental health. That's according to a Psychology Today article, living in a community promotes our health and wellbeing.
"The social connections we have (or don't have) can literally shape the pysical structure and development of our brains, leading to integrated or disintigrated mental states."
Communities in Marquette County demonstrate strength on a nearly daily basis.
If you follow the news you will see a variety of events that promote a sense of community. The Gus Macker basketball tournament, for example. That's a few very dedicated folks who put together an event that impacts hundreds of people.
Then there's the benefits for people who are down on their luck. It's not unusual in our surrounding community to see at least two, if not more, benefits per week.
And we are not talking simple GoFundMe campaigns, these are benefits that require the blood, sweat and tears of, again, a few dedicated individuals who want to help the community rally around those in need.
It's a big ask, but in the end, the whole community benefits.
Organizations also play a major role. UP Pink Power held it's annual fundraising walk. The money raised, in part, will benefit several area women who are battling cancer.
Another group, Cancer Care of Marquette County, helps residents who have been impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
According to its Facebook page, CCMC helped 111 cancer patients in 2022, distributing more than $168,000. These funds are raised by the community for the community.
Marquette County Pigs-N-Heat is also one of those organizations that bring the community together to help people who lose their houses and belongings to fire.
And those are just the tip of the iceberg, food pantries, animal shelters, Room at the Inn, the YMCA, area churches -- the list could go on and on.
In fact, if the strength of a community could be measured by how it responds to the people in it who need help, we are proud to say that we live in a strong community.