16-05-2025
Donations, grants for Northern Michigan ice storm recovery continue to roll in
NORTHERN MICHIGAN — Debris is still getting cleared from around Northern Michigan after the multi-day ice storm in March caused widespread damage to trees, power lines and property.
While House Bill 4328, a $100 million relief plan proposed by State Rep. Parker Fairbairn (R-Harbor Springs), has passed the House and potential federal funds are still pending, local and state organizations are stepping up with hefty donations and financial support to help with recovery efforts.
More: As DNR clears trees from ice storm, even more threats loom to Up North forests
Among recent donations are:
Michigan's credit union community, along with national partners, delivered approximately $358,000 in relief grants to those affected by the storm. The Michigan Credit Union Foundation (MCUF) Ice Storm Relief Fund provided $500 emergency grants to credit union members who experienced financial hardship due to storm-related damage. A total of $87,000 was raised from 27 credit unions, three chapters, two partner organizations and individual donors across Michigan. These contributions funded 174 grants for members served by eight credit unions across the 12 counties included in the state of emergency. CUAid, the National Credit Union Foundation's disaster relief program, also distributed $270,789 in grant funding to help offset storm-related expenses such as cleanup, repairs and displacement.
The Consumers Energy Foundation donated $50,000 to three area community foundations to help with disaster relief efforts. The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan's Urgent Needs Fund received $30,000, the Otsego Community Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund received $10,000, and the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation's Emergency Response Fund received $10,000.
In its first round of 2025 grants, Great Lakes Energy's People Fund awarded 44 grants. Included in that roundup is $10,000 in urgent needs funding that was awarded to the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, the Otsego Community Foundation, the Charlevoix County Community Foundation and the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation.
If you're looking for ways to donate, provides donation links to the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, the Otsego Community Foundation, the Charlevoix County Community Foundation and the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Donations, grants for Northern Michigan ice storm recovery still rolling in
