Across the Upper Peninsula, many communities are home to veterans. But for some vets, finding or keeping housing presents a significant challenge. And Soldier Salvation is stepping in to offer a helping hand in the western Upper Peninsula.
The organization hopes to use funds from Copper Shores’ Giving Tuesday in 2026 to complete work on a veterans’ home that will provide temporary housing solutions for veterans in crisis.
“For somebody that was just coming out of the military and didn’t have a place to live, or somebody that we’ve had a couple of cases in the past few years where veterans’ homes burned in the middle of winter. This would give them a home, an actual home instead of maybe a motel room or Airbnb where they’re not really at home,” said Antonia Burich, founder of Soldier Salvation.
Burich says supporting veterans facing homelessness is a challenge across the country, not just in urban areas such as Detroit, Minneapolis, or Chicago. In the past year, Soldier Salvation has connected more than 100 veterans with various resources across a five-county western region.
Burich is excited about Giving Tuesday’s potential impact. She heard about the program over the past couple of years and witnessed its effect on other nonprofits. The organization decided to join in 2026 because, as Burich notes, you never know how much support exists until you ask.
“They (Copper Shores) reach a lot of people and word of mouth usually spreads a lot faster than anything else. For them to come on board, have all the paperwork that’s needed, know what’s going on and then back us up is really, really huge,” Burich said.
Soldier Salvation expects to open the home after completing facility updates. Over the past four years, the organization has built a network of resources for veterans while partnering with organizations such as veterans’ service offices.
Learn more about Soldier Salvation online. The Giving Tuesday donation portal is open throughout November. Join the community and support non-profits in the Copper Country, such as Soldier Salvation.
