Stepping Up in the U.P., Part 1

Here in the U.P., there are plenty of people and groups giving their time and working hard to better the area’s future.

In her series, Stepping Up in the U.P., Lindsey Cramer tells how a group of housewives are helping their community in a big way, one fundraiser at a time.

3 years ago, Michelle Christal got a group of ladies together to help raise money for the now-closed ‘W’, which was called the West Branch Community Center at the time.

Since then, the group has become 8 women who call themselves the South County Fund Committee, raising money for all types of organizations in the southern part of Marquette County.

From dances to pie socials, the ladies have raised more than $21,000 to give away so far.

They’ve been able to help area churches, youth groups, food pantries, schools and the Harbor House domestic violence shelter.

Now they’re turning their attention to the West Branch Township Hall.

When the ‘W’ closed earlier this year, they didn’t see anything nearby that would allow kids to get in some recreation time.

So they’re raising $8,000 to build a playground at the township hall.

The ladies hope to have it built by next spring, and they say they’ll continue helping by holding one fundraiser per month or so for as long as they can.

The ladies will have a craft table at the upcoming Skandia Craft Bazaar on the 14th and a seniors’ dance at Tailwinds at K.I. Sawyer on the 22nd.

The money from those will go to the playground.

If you want to know more about the group, you can go to their website, southcountyfundcommittee.com .