Undetected vision and hearing problems can hold children back in school and limit adults’ ability to work and live independently, while delayed treatment drives up costs. Lions of Michigan Service Foundation set out to sustain and expand audiology and eye care for underinsured and low-income families in the Upper Peninsula, with a focus on catching problems early.

For Delta County families, finding a mental health provider who specializes in treating children and accepts Medicaid can be very difficult. Pathways Community Mental Health is working to close that gap.

Until summer 2025, limited funding meant not every child who took part in the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market's Power of Produce (POP) program could receive a token to spend on fresh produce. Demand for the program had outpaced available funds.

For many older adults in the Upper Peninsula, a ride to a medical appointment is not a given. Public transit is limited and family may live hours away. That discovery led LBFE to build Drive to Care, a door-through-door medical transportation service now available across Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, Marquette, and Ontonagon counties.

Each year, more than 500,000 children enter foster care and the court system through no fault of their own. For children navigating that process in the Upper Peninsula, CASA of Menominee/Marinette trains community volunteers to serve as a steady, trusted adult who speaks up for their interests in court.