When it comes to Living United, the crew at Wolverine Pipe Line Company (Wolverine) know just how much can be accomplished when we come together to care for our community. At Wolverine, service to others is a cornerstone of their identity and they live out this mission each day. Whether it's through their day-to-day work transporting the basic necessities for industry in our region or their commitment to giving back each year through a “Day of Caring” where crews from across Michigan and the Midwest spend a day volunteering to fill a need in their community. For Doug Mellinger, Damage Prevention Specialist, and his Alma, Michigan crew, when it comes to finding the right project, they turn to United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties (UWGIC) because they know they can count on us to lead impact by gathering every resource, partner, and idea to create equitable, lasting change for people facing the toughest social issues. In fact, they’ve been partnering with United Way for over 15 years!

This year, the UWGIC team connected Wolverine with the Heroes Center, a non-profit organization in Gratiot County dedicated to providing all Veterans and their families with the necessary resources and services to help them heal, grow, and succeed in civilian life, to find a Veteran who could use a helping hand. Brett Hyble, Executive Director of the Heroes Center, stepped in to find a match. Through his work, Brett met Mel Spencer a Vietnam War veteran with over two acres of land that needed some attention. The Wolverine team jumped at the opportunity to help a Veteran in their community, giving light to a partnership that transformed the home of Mel in just one day.

The Wolverine team first met with Mel and Brett at the property to plan for their Day of Caring and assess what materials would be needed. Not only does Wolverine provide a full crew of helping hands, but they also bring all equipment and supplies needed to get the job done safely and efficiently. By the end of their Day of Caring, Wolverine volunteers had trimmed overgrown trees, mowed acres of wooded lawn, cleared brush, and re-built Mel’s deck and stairs for safe access to his home. When the project was finished, Doug presented Mel with a new American flag to finish off the new deck.

Mel served as a member of the 77th Armor (5th Infantry Division), an armored tank battalion in the U.S. Army, during the Vietnam War. Later in life, Mel worked for 21 years as a custodian with Alma Public Schools, retiring in 2007. When United Way spoke with Mel about the impact of the work being done, he was at a loss for how to thank the Wolverine crew, sharing that it meant a lot to him to have a group caring for the property he loves so much but had been unable to maintain due to his health.

Thank you, Wolverine Pipe Line Company and the Heroes Center, for your commitment to Live United. To learn more about these partner organizations, visit their websites at www.wolverinepipeline.com and www.heroescentermi.org.