Randy MacAulay

ALPENA — Randy MacAulay lends his hands and talents in many ways in Alpena.

He helps the homeless and less fortunate, helps bring musical festivals to life, and is critical in helping Habitat for Humanity achieve its goals and missions in the area.

In November, he was selected to be the 2019 Northeast Habitat for Humanity volunteer of the year and plans were to have him receive the award at a Habitat function in Lansing on Nov. 3, but he and Habitat Executive Director Ted Fines never made the trip because the organization’s resale store was lost to fire that day.

In the following months, neither Fines, who made the nomination, or MacAulay knew MacAulay had won. Only recently did they learn MacAulay was selected at the Lansing event and Fines surprised MacAulay with a certificate of special tribute.

MacAulay said he doesn’t volunteer for the accolades that can come from it from time to time, but he does so to have a positive impact on people in the community.

“It is extremely humbling and a surprise,” MacAulay said. “I am definitely thankful and honored I appreciate the organization and what it stands for and enjoy working to support it.”

Fines said he first met MacAulay at a job site where a house was being redone on Oldfield Street. He said MacAulay was covered in paint, with his work gloves on and a sweatband around his forehead. Right away, Fines said he knew MacAulay was going to be someone with whom he would be able to work well and on whom he could depend.

“He is on the Habitat board and I don’t recall him ever missing a meeting and is dedicated in everything he does,” Fines said. “This guy does a lot, much of it behind the scenes, and he 100% deserves this award”

After the fire at the ReStore on Chisholm Street, MacAulay was on-hand with the crews who pored through the gutted building to see what was salvageable. Since then, the remains of the old store have been torn down and the property cleared.

A temporary location is on Werth Road, with plans to rebuild on Chisholm.

Unknown to him, MacAulay also received a certificate of special recognition from U.S. Sen. Gary Peters.

“It was all very well-deserved and it would have been nice for us to be in Lansing for it,” Fines said. “Obviously, though, we had a lot going on in Alpena that day.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.