November 2, 2026 | By Emilie Jacques
Can drive to support mental health services at Copper Shores
Someone knocks on your door, and delivers news that you never hoped to hear. A loved one has died by suicide. Nothing is clear in the wake of tragedy, and as your head spins and your heart aches, reality begins to settle in - but you’re not alone.
Once on the other side, it may feel impossible to repay all that has been given in love and support, but giving back doesn't have to be complicated. Small ripples can lead to a big wave, which is how one family’s returnable cans have turned into a multi-week, company-wide can drive for mental health services.
Spearheading the can drive is Kristin Machiela, who’s no stranger to suicide loss. About 10 years ago, Machiela lost her father-in-law to suicide.
“I had to tell my kids about it,” said Machiela. “They were young, so it was rough. Since then, I've had multiple family members, friends and a brother-in-law all pass away from suicide.”
When faced with immeasurable loss and unsure of what steps to take next, Machiela found herself in the embrace of Copper Shores Local Outreach for Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team.
“When my brother-in-law died, Copper Shores was the first one at my sister's house,” said Machiela. “It was so comforting to have everybody out there right away. They pulled us all aside separately to see what we needed, and gave us all the resources for later on in the grieving process and everything like that.”
The LOSS Team specializes in postvention support for community members that have experienced suicide loss, delivering timely and respectful death notices, connecting family members with local resources, and acting as a mediator between family members and first responders.
“We thought it was fabulous, just fabulous,” Machiela said of the assistance her family received that day. “When you lose somebody, you have all of that camaraderie for the first couple of days, and then people start going back to their own lives. That’s when we were able to pull out those resources and keep moving forward with the healing process.”
Where Machiela could have dwelled on hard times, she instead turned towards helping others find healing. While cleaning out her garage and wondering what to do with all of the cans, Machiela’s son suggested they return the cans and donate the money to Copper Shores, as a small thank you for the mental health support he has received.
Looking for a few extra returnables, Machiela took her mission to Superior National Bank in Calumet where she works as a personal banker. To help spread awareness even further, Superior National Bank selected Copper Shores for their Day of Giving, an annual opportunity for employees to volunteer and give back to the community they call home. What started as a simple way for Machiela’s family to give back has grown into an enthusiastic initiative amongst several coworkers and their families.
“I feel like people don't want to talk about it ever, but depression is a disease,” said Machiela. “I think with kids especially, as long as they're not afraid to say ‘hey, I'm sad, something isn't right,’ that's good. It’s important to open the door to more conversations.”
Machiela hopes the can drive sparks a candid and compassionate community discussion about mental health struggles, and inspires others to uplift their community through action. From giving back as a small gesture of gratitude, to igniting a company-wide effort to spread awareness, Machiela is returning the favor by showing people they have somewhere to turn when they need it most.
Get involved
Returnables can be dropped off at Superior National Bank in Calumet through November 9, in the collection trailer in the parking lot. All returnables with a 10¢ deposit are accepted.
Copper Shores is incredibly thankful for the support the Michaela Family and Superior National Bank are showing for the vital work our staff does. If you’re interested in running a fundraiser like this, email communications@coppershores.org.
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