To the Journal editor:

It continues to be a wonderful exercise — writing about Project Keep Kids Warm, and bringing to light the 10th annual community outreach that provides families in need with winter clothing.

On Oct. 12, hundreds of area youth came to the Ishpeming Armory to pick out the new or slightly used jackets, snow pants, boots, hats and mittens that will indeed keep them warm in winter. Wesley United Methodist Church of Ishpeming was sponsor. The congregation wants to express heartfelt thanks to all of the individuals and organizations that worked together to support this important event.

This year the project utilized collection drop-boxes placed throughout the Ishpeming and Negaunee communities. Thanks Ishpeming: Ishpeming High and Middle School, Birchview Elementary, Westwood High School, Aspen Ridge Middle and Elementary School, Anytime Fitness, Auto Value, UP Health Systems/Bell, Morrison’s Drug Store, Jim’s Jubilee, Ishpeming Post Office, Crossfit 906, Women of Steel Tilden Mine, First Bank, Flagstar Bank, TruNorth Credit Union, mBank, Churches – Bethel Lutheran, Bethany Lutheran, Trinity Lutheran, Faith Lutheran, St. Joseph’s, St. John’s. Negaunee: Negaunee High and Middle School, Lakeview Elementary, Palomaki Family Chiropractic, Super One Foods, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Range Bank, Honor Credit Union, Embers Credit Union, Negaunee Post Office and Women of Steel Empire Office. Thank you to Globe Printing for the drop-box graphic posters. The Ishpeming Armory opened its doors for the free shopping and distribution day. Thank you to all of the media groups for bringing public awareness to the need in our area, and how we can all help: WLUC-TV6, WJMN- TV3, WBUP-TV10, WKQS Sunny 101, WPUG Eagle 96.7, The Point 100.3, and The Mining Journal. Further, thank you letters have been sent to numerous individuals and organizations that made financial contributions. And a very special thanks to all of the households that continue to be neighbors helping neighbors with all of their generous donations of winter clothing.

The many media messages contained a wonderful truth about this special place in the Upper Peninsula we call home, one worth repeating. Our communities are ever ready to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need, whatever that need may be. We are part of it or we witness it in big and little ways all the time, and we smile and say, “that’s why we live here.”

Thanks for the spirit of neighbor helping neighbor and again, thanks to everyone who contributed to Project Keep Kids Warm.

DICK DERBY

Project coordinator