Leelanau is known as the land of delight, but its communities also have developed a reputation for generosity during the holidays.

An employee from Morse Moving was unloading
bicycles and toys Monday from a truck at the VFW
post in Lake Leelanau in preparation for the annual
holiday store, which was held today, Dec. 13.

There’s no place this is more evident than at the Department of Human Services (DHS) annual holiday store, being held today, Dec. 13, at the VFW Post #7731 in Lake Leelanau.

“Leelanau people are always super-generous,” said Egan Cypher, DHS community resource coordinator in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. “Every community wants to take care of their own … neighbors really do help neighbors.”

This year, Cypher received 147 applications for holiday assistance from families in Leelanau County. Fifty-five were adopted by organizations through her office, and those not selected are invited to attend the holiday giving store where they will find an assortment of items for giving that were donated by county school organizations and dropped off at numerous Toys for Tots sites throughout the peninsula.

Before invitations are issued, Cypher consults with other assistance groups (Salvation Army, Father Fred Foundation and Traverse City Firefighters) to make sure there is no duplication of service.

Leaner financial times were expected to increase demand for assistance this year. Cypher said she has noticed a different trend this holiday season.

“Demand is running deeper up the economic scale,” said the coordinator, adding that in one case a woman was forced to leave her $60,000-a-year job due to health issues faced by her son. Although the woman is working, the new position doesn’t come close to making ends meet. “Folks who might have been donating in the past, are now the ones needing help.”

The woman and other invited guests will be able to select from numerous items donated by community and school groups and collected by volunteers through the Toys for Tots program. A project of the Marine Corps Reserve, the collection in Leelanau County has been coordinated by volunteer Karen Fredrickson and the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire Department.

Drop-off sites were at:
• Hansen Foods and the Suttons Bay Dental Center in Suttons Bay;
• Maple Valley Nursing Home and MC Short Stop near Maple City;
• First Steps Discovery Center in Empire Township;
• Leland Township Library in Leland; and
• Huntington National Bank in Northport.

On Monday, Cypher and volunteers transported large donations of bicycles from Brick Wheels in Traverse City and other items collected through Toys for Tots in Traverse City or purchased through cash donations to the VFW hall to start setting up the holiday store.

“We used to bring our Toys for Tots donations into Traverse City, but figured there was no reason to do that since we’d have to schlep it back for the holiday store,” Cypher said.

Volunteers from National Honor Society groups from Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay high schools’ Helping Hands group were scheduled to be among those on hand to help set up, staff the store and gift wrap Thursday. Another interesting fact is that nearly half of the remaining volunteers are among the ranks of the needy.

“They are low-income people who just want to get involved,” Cypher said.

Adding to the festive atmosphere will be an appearance by Santa Claus — both English and Spanish-speaking — who will visit with the children. Cookies and punch will be served and pictures will also be taken with Santa as keepsakes.

The gifts that keep on giving – monetary donations received after the holidays – are also returned to the county other ways including scholarships for children to participate in the county 4-H ski program, and assistance with winter utility bills.

“If I need something (for a family), I know there are people in the county who will help,” she said.