Mackin said by making the Bread of Life Center an open and welcoming place, it will hopefully show the community how the Salvation Army can meet many needs.

“This is a place to go to play pool or just hang out and eventually you may find you’re are in need of some of our services. Our job is to take the resources of the Salvation Army and use them for our local community.” He said more than 200 homeless people have been served by the Bread of Life Center.

Salvation Army volunteer Mark Plichta, who served as the coordinator for Wednesday’s dinner, thanked and congratulated everyone for their hand in helping the Army, help the community. “It’s hard to list everything we do,” Plichta said,“but everything we do requires funds and that’s why we’re here.”

Plichta detailed the Salvation Army’s Emergency Food Pantry. “We receive food from many sources, including Feeding America and local collections.” He said the pantry currently serves about 120 people monthly which represents 50-70 families.

Volunteer Mark Plichta addresses attendees at the Salvation Army’s appreciation dinner Wednesday night. This year’s Red Kettle Campaign generated more than $20,000 while more than $50,000 in toys, gifts and clothing were distributed to area children. (Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette)

“People can come in once a month and receive three days worth of food per visit.” Plichta said in addition to the emergency food pantry, the Salvation Army’s other major projects are the Angel Tree and the Red Kettle campaign.

The Angel Tree provides area children with Christmas gifts. “People take wish lists from unnamed ‘angels,’ local children in need. The lists include both what the children want for Christmas along with what they need.”

“This Christmas we filled the wish lists of 196 ‘angels.’ In addition to toys and clothes every child received socks, underwear and candy.”

Plichta said to further support the Angel Tree, the Salvation Army collects thousands of toys for its toy shop from individuals, businesses and churches.

Plichta said during the Christmas season, more than $40,000 in toys and gifts, and $2,500 in clothes were distributed.

A small portion of the Salvation Army’s “toy store,” located in the Hancock Bread of Life Center, is seen in this Dec. 15, 2024, photo. At an appreciation dinner Wednesday, volunteer Mark Plichta said in addition to the thousands of dollars in gifts distributed through the Army’s Angel Tree, thousands of toys from the “toy store” were distributed to area children through a variety of outlets. (Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette)

Perhaps the most visible of the Army’s outreach efforts is the Red Kettle Campaign. According to Plichta, this year’s 29-day bell-ringing effort raised more than $20,000.

In addition to thanking the businesses who provided spaces for the “bell ringers,” Plichta recognized a couple of outstanding efforts.

“Our top bell ringer was Jim Kerr,” Plichta said. “He tallied 56 total hours or more than 26 two-hour shifts. He was out there for 26 of the 29 days of the campaign.” The outstanding group award went to the Keweenaw Global Methodist Church, which holds its Sunday services and mid-week Bible study at the Bread of Life Center. The group, which included Kerr, logged in 84 total hours.

The Chassell VFW was the top fund-raising group for the “One Day of Ringing Competition.”

The evening was the perfect ending to a successful holiday season and in a sense the kick off to next season’s effort.

But as Mackin pointed out, the Salvation Army offers many services year round because there are many needs in the community.

While highlighting the accomplishments of the Salvation Army, Mackin was quick to point out what the Army can’t do. “We don’t do miracles,” Mackin stated. “That’s for our higher power.”