Area Hope To Dedicate Building To Brown Musser May 3
By Karen Gould

St. Ignace Area Hope is settling into its renovated Ferry Lane site. The Christmas section, a new area added when renovations were completed in February, is highlighted with a painting depicting a winter scene contributed by artist Lynn Postma. Pictured here Friday morning, April 4, are (from left) Day Manager Mary Balfour, Volunteer Coordinator Connie Litzner, volunteer Cynthia Guggemos, and volunteer E.J. LaDuke.

St. Ignace Area Hope will recognize a gift from the R. Daniel Musser family by naming its Ferry Lane building Marley Brown Musser Resource Center during a dedication ceremony Saturday, May 3, at 10:30 a.m. The family donated much of the value of the property to the organization.

The building houses the Hope Chest Resale Shop and the St. Ignace Food Pantry.

Area Hope had been renting the building since August 2006 and purchased it in December from Musser Realty, a property management company owned by the Musser family, which also owns Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The Mussers reduced the mortgage payments to approximate to rent payments the organization had been paying.

Hope's mission is to provide emergency assistance to families in need. Now, through partnerships with local agencies, the churchbased organization provides job skills and training at the resale store. Hope provides a 24-hour assistance hotline, 643-6780, to assist people needing food, shelter, and financial help in making rent payments, covering heat and electric expenses, and paying doctor bills.

Residents donate items to the thrift shop, which then offers them for sale. Financial donations and proceeds from store sales help to fund the nonprofit organization.

This year, said Hope Volunteer Coordinator Connie Litzner, paying high heating bills has been difficult for some area residents, especially senior citizens on a fixed income.

Emergency assistance given to area residents totaled $14,188.19 from January through April 2. Sales at the resale store contributed $13,742.10. Private donations made up the difference.

Assistance funding, Mrs. Litzner said, is the purpose of the mission.

"That is why we go to other organizations for money because we have a tremendous need in St. Ignace."

While sales in the store are by donation, those who have no money to donate can make arrangements to pick up needed items at no cost.

"It's not an easy thing for some people to come in and ask for help," she said. "We try to make it as discreet and easy as possible."

Mrs. Litzner oversees the dayto day operations and coordinates the efforts of more than 50 volunteers.

In March, 54 volunteers put in 760 hours of their time driving people to doctor appointments and job interviews. They pick up prescriptions, work in the store, and answer the assistance hotline. Area Hope offers high school students a place to earn community service hours.

"We're trying really hard to keep the money that flows in here to flow back to the community," said Mrs. Litzner, who is paid through a grant with AmeriCorps VISTA under United Way of the Upper Peninsula.

Overall management of the organization is under the care of board of trustees, including local pastors Pastor Dan Williams of the Assembly of God Church, Deacon Tom McClelland of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, Pastor Mike Lane of Glen Memorial Baptist Church, Pastor Tom Penner of Straits Evangelical Free Church, Pastor Tari Stage-Harvey of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Pastor Jim Balfour of St. Ignace United Methodist Church. Trustees elected at large are Kathy Lawnichak and Ron Tamlyn.

The volunteer-run organization has developed a partnership with Michigan Works! and Hiawatha Behavioral Health, which use Area Hope as a job training site. By volunteering to work at Hope Chest, some residents earn necessary work experience to assist them in finding employment at businesses.

At Area Hope, job training can include cash register experience, sorting items, helping customers, keeping shelves presentable, cleaning, and computer work.

"We are more than just a resale store," said Mrs. Litzner. "I have a feeling this project is just starting."

To generate additional funds, every two weeks the resale store holds a silent auction on unusual or collector items and antiques, and patrons now are donating items specifically for the auction.

When helping people, she said, the goal is not to just be a "Band- Aid" to a need. Area Hope works with other local agencies like Community Action and the Sault Ste. Maria Tribe of Chippewa Indians to see what other programs and resources may be available.

Those interested in making a tax-deductible financial donation can send it to St. Ignace Area Hope, P.O. Box 170, St. Ignace Michigan 49781.

The Hope Chest resale store is open for donations and sales Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Food Pantry, which also seeks donations, is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.