For five years, the Alfred Erickson American Legion Post 186 in Hancock has sent care packages across the globe. Delivering a taste of the Upper Peninsula and some holiday joy to active duty servicemembers who call the copper country home. Last year the program began working with the Interact Club at Houghton High School, to grow operation copper country active duty from 12 care packages in the first year. To mail out more than 40 packages in 2024. Alred Erickson Post Auxiliary President Deb Guilbert says it’s an important project to the group of veterans.
It gives me great pleasure to see our post-start this five years ago. And Deb, our Women’s Auxiliary President, she’s done a wonderful job We see it growing and we see it growing and its great service to the community for us to do this. – Russell Whittaker, Chaplin, Alfred Erickson American Legion Post 186
Every year when it’s time for us to send the packages out, we go up to the high school, and they have a large box full of oh items that we can include in the packages. And they also do a great service in sending out an email on the; it’s called the Listserv, requesting names of troops that we can send packages to. – Deb Guilbault, President Alfred Erickson Women’s Auxiliary
Alfred Erickson Post Chaplin Russell Whittaker says these care packages the post will collect donations for over the next month, mean the world to servicemembers when they cannot come home this time of the year. He adds he’s proud to help Operation Copper Country Active Duty and deliver a package to military members he could have only dreamed of when he served in Vietnam.
Veterans’ families interested in adding their service members to this year’s program should contact the Alfred Erickson Post or the Houghton high school interact club. Around the region, the program has also placed donation boxes at businesses and partners for people to easily donate and support active-duty care packages. Find more details online.
In the Keweenaw Peninsula several businesses have OCCAD donation boxes near the register. Find a full list below:
South Range: 1902 Tap and Grill
Houghton: B&B Bar, Festival Foods in Houghton, Swift True Value Hardware, Grandbridge Business Center, Surplus Outlet, Schmidt’s Coner Bar
Hancock: Gino’s Restaurant, Freeman Guns and Northwoods Sporting Goods, Pat’s Foods, American Legion Post 186
Baraga/L’Anse: Baraga County Memorial Hospital, Northern Oil, Pat’s Foods, Erickson True Value, Indian Country Sports, Larry’s Market, Campioni’s Convenience, L’Anse Health Mart Pharmacy, Hilltop Hotel, Burger King
Chassell: VFW Hall
Tapiola/Toivola/Twin Lakes: Krupp’s Mini Mart, Boondock Inn, Karvakko’s Market, Mosquito Inn
To help raise funds to support the program the Alfred Erickson Post will organize a prize raffle, with a grand prize of $300. Tickets will cost five dollars. Participants can purchase tickets when veterans are at the Copper Country Annual Dee Hunters Widows Craft Show on November 15th, and during an event at the Copper Country Mall on December 6th, in the Daily Mining Gazette’s space. Or you can purchase a raffle tickets from Legion and Auxiliary members.
Families that want to include their servicemember in the Operation Copper Country Active Duty should email or call Deb (auxiliarypost186@gmail.com or 906 281 1952).
You can mail or drop off donations for Operation Copper Country Active Duty to the Alfred Erickson Post 186 at 1308 Quincy Street in Hancock. Learn more here.
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