Programs and Services
Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly in Upper Michigan serves older adults to relieve isolation, improve health, maintain independence, and celebrate milestones that make life worth living.
Programs include our signature Friendship Program, Holiday Meal Celebrations, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), Firewood Assistance, and Food Assistance.
All LBFE programs and services are for older adults age 65 and older.
All programs are free-of-charge.
friendly visiting
Our signature Friendly Visiting Program provides lonely older adults, our Forever Friends, with regular visits and other opportunities for social interaction.Visits can include a simple chat while enjoying a cup of coffee, a critical game of chess, learning how to browse the internet, or sharing your favorite recipes and making a meal together.
Once added to the program, we make a commitment to be a friend for a lifetime to create and foster long-term mutual friendships.
medical transportation
Door-through-door non-emergent medical transportation to and from healthcare appointments is available for older adults who have no other affordable transportation options available.
Transportation services are available in and between Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, Marquette, and Ontonagon.
LBFE recruits dedicated and caring Drive to Care volunteers to provide ambulatory and wheelchair accessible transportation services.
holiday celebrations
We host holiday celebrations and serve a traditional meal on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter so older adults will not be alone on the holiday. These dinner parties are served at multiple locations throughout Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, Marquette, and Ontonagon Counties.
Our dinner parties are festive celebrations with a traditional holiday meal, brightly decorated hall and tables, entertainment, and lots of laughter. Before our elderly guests leave, they receive a fresh flower and small party favor.
Transportation is provided for those who need it, and all volunteers are encouraged to sit and eat with our elderly guests.
firewood assistance
Many Copper Country residents still heat their home with firewood.
Cut and split firewood is delivered to older adults who qualify to offset their annual heating costs throughout the long winter.
This supplemental firewood must be used solely for home heating, not for discretionary heating such as for sauna firewood.
food assistance
Each month we deliver a personalized grocery bag of non-perishable food to older adults who qualify.
Donations of non-perishable items are accepted.