The interactive art installation project provides community members an opportunity to honor the memory of a loved one they lost to suicide and addiction, Communities That Care Coordinator Bob Boivin said.

“Individuals are invited to write the name of the person on a leaf and hang it on the tree in their remembrance,” adds Theresa Cornelia, owner of Kenneth James Salon and Hope 2 Help Suicide Awareness Walk and Community Day committee member.

“People who are suffering do it quietly, and the tree offers a quiet form of healing,” she said.

Boivin explained that trees went up in libraries in Dickinson and Iron counties in early October 2024 after the Hope 2 Help Suicide Awareness Walk and Community Day.

“The idea came from the Forever Friendship Drop-In Center’s own Tree of Hope,” he said.

Each month, the Trees of Hope are moved to a new home.

The Dickinson County tree started out the new year in January at the Kenneth James Salon. This month, it is displayed at First National Bank & Trust in Iron Mountain.

“When the opportunity arose to host the Tree of Hope, First National Bank & Trust was privileged to do so. Unfortunately, many of us are familiar, either personally or through family, friends or neighbors, with the struggles related to mental health, including the tragic losses caused by suicide or addiction,” said Matthew Lutz, First National Bank & Trust’s senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Lutz added the bank is honored to raise awareness about mental health and addiction whenever possible. “While mental health is just as important as physical health, it is often more difficult to recognize when someone is suffering,” he said.

Dickinson-Iron Communities That Care has “planted” a Tree of Hope in the community in an effort to raise awareness around suicide and mental health. The tree will relocate to a new home each month until the annual Hope 2 Help Suicide Awareness Walk and Community Day on Sunday, Sept. 14. The month of February the tree is on display at the First National Bank & Trust in downtown Iron Mountain. From left are First National Bank & Trust of Iron Mountain Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Matthew Lutz, CPA; Senior Vice President, Chief Credit Officer Jean M. O’Dette; Senior Branch Manager Tammie Loker; Teller Manager/Human Resources Assistant Lisa Villringer; and Elizabeth Hehn of Kenneth James Salon.

Cornelia encourages downtown visitors to keep an eye out for where the tree will be next.

Boivin said they hope to create a scrapbook that documents its first complete year.

The memorial leaves will be collected before the seventh-annual Hope 2 Help Suicide Awareness Walk and Community Day.

“They will all be hung again at the walk, but on a much larger scale,” Cornelia said. “It’s going to be really amazing.”

Dickinson-Iron Communities That Care will host the annual event Sept. 14 at the downtown stage and parking lot on Iron Mountain Street, across from the Dickinson County Library.

Those unable to walk the hills can still participate through a virtual walk at the library, which is an event co-sponsor, Boivin said, adding that more details on the event will be announced this summer.

The goal is to reach those who are suffering, resulting in less leaves on that tree in future years to come.

“We want to be the light in someone’s darkness,” Boivin said.

Any business or organization interested in helping spread awareness and host the Tree of Hope can contact Boivin at bboivin@greatlakesrecovery.org.

Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.