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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula December 20, 2002 Text and photos © 2002 Michele Anderson.

Peace Alliance to sponsor Walk for Peace Dec. 21

HOUGHTON -- "Freedom from want; freedom from fear and terror; peace for all people of all faiths and nations" is the theme of the Dec. 21 Walk for Peace, sponsored by the Copper Country Peace Alliance (CCPA). The walk begins at noon from the Motherlode in Houghton. Everyone who supports a diplomatic, non-violent resolution of the conflict with Iraq is invited to participate.

Last week about 30 people participated in the Walk for Peace. CCPA members also collected health kits for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), which is working with the Mennonite Central Committee to collect family-size health kits for the people of Iraq.

Copper Country Peace Alliance (CCPA) members pack large boxes with the health kits they collected for the American Friends Service Committee project for Iraq on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Motherlode in Houghton. Pictured here, from left, are Beth Flynn, Scott Rutherford, Dana Richter, Steve Pluhacek and Sue Ellen Kingsley.

"We collected about 35 to 40 health kits," said CCPA member Sue Ellen Kingsley of Hancock, who organized the collection.

The health kits contain soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, brush, comb, bandages and other basic necessities that might be hard to obtain under wartime conditions.

Participants in the Dec. 14 Walk for Peace were invited by local church groups and community organizations to join in their monthly Community Meal at the Salvation Army Building in Hancock. CCPA members paid a visit to the Salvation Army and extended greetings of peace to the public in attendance at the meal. 

During their Dec. 14 Walk for Peace in Hancock, Copper Country Peace Alliance (CCPA) members stop at the Salvation Army Building to pay a visit to residents attending the monthly Community Meal served by church members and other community groups each second Saturday of the month.

Some remained to share in the meal and chat with community members while others resumed the walk after making a donation to the Community Meals. The monthly meals are held from noon to 2 p.m. each second Saturday of the month and are free and open to the public.

At the Salvation Army Building in Hancock, Houghton resident June Hawthorne, a volunteer for the Community Meal, greets Copper Country Peace Alliance members visiting the Community Meal during their Dec. 14 Walk for Peace.

During their visit to the Community Meal, CCPA members had an opportunity to meet Captain Quentin Boyle, commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Hancock. Captain Boyle was busy stacking donated food items on tables for the food pantry.

Captain Quentin Boyle, commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Hancock, adds donated food items to the Salvation Army's food pantry. (Dec. 14, 2002, photo by Michele Anderson)

"Some of this food will be given out at Christmas time when the families come in for toys and food," Captain Boyle said, "and the rest will supplement our food supply throughout the year."

Anyone wishing to donate food to the food pantry can drop it off at the Salvation Army, 408 Ravine St., Hancock, or call Captain Boyle at 482-3420 for information.

For more information about the Walk for Peace, call 288-3181.

For information on AFSC activities visit their Web site.

Note: If you wish to contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives on the issue of Iraq, visit the Contacting the Congress Web site for their phone numbers and email addresses. Visit also www.moveon.org for updates on the movement agains war in Iraq.

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