SAULT STE. MARIE — On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Sault community is going for a walk to try and help their neighbors stay warm this winter.
Each year, the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Community Action Agency hosts the Walk for Warmth to raise funds for weatherization needs. The agency’s weatherization department is dedicated specifically to helping people keep their homes warm during the winter.
The Walk for Warmth in Sault Ste. Marie is hosted by the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Community Action Agency. The event raises funds for the agency’s Weatherization Assistance Program.
Since U.P. winters can be extreme, some residents may find it difficult to keep up with heating costs or find the funds for needed home repairs. There are some options for those needing assistance with these issues, for example a tribal member can seek help from the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The community action agency steps in to help people who cannot be supported by other means.
“Most other service agencies will run out of money. Our Walk for Warmth money is what comes into play once everybody else’s money has run out,” said weatherization assistant Sheila Berger.
This year, the need for help has grown more than in recent years. In 2022 and 2023, relatively warm winters kept the weatherization needs down. Last year was colder, and this year is also expected to be a cold winter.
In an average year, the agency helps 20-30 homes. Last year, that number was around 80. People have already started reaching out for help this year, and winter is still weeks away.
“We’ve already helped 66 households,” said Berger. “We’ve already doubled the average.”
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Because of the increased need for help, the agency has had to limit the amount of financial support for each household to $500.
The agency often helps by purchasing furnaces or by helping fix up homes, but most of their help comes in the form of helping pay overdue heating bills. The agency will also help pay for any form of heating, including propane or firewood.
People who qualify for assistance will go through an interview process, both to determine there is no fraud and to also get a better understanding of the household’s budgeting and spending processes. By doing this, the agency hopes to not just help in the moment, but provide support that will create a better long-term situation.
Only households that make 200% of the poverty level can qualify for help from this program.
The 2025 Walk for Warmth begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Avery Square in downtown Sault Ste. Marie.
More information about the walk and weatherization services can be found at cms.clmcaa.org/our-services/weatherization.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Sault Ste. Marie supports its neighbors’ needs with 2025 Walk for Warmth