The little second-hand store in the Cobblestone Building off Highway 61 in Grand Marais isn’t just a fun place to bargain hunt. Since 2007, 1st and 2nd Thrift Store has also been raising money for nonprofit organizations in Cook County.
In 2015, the store raised an impressive $73,084, which will be distributed at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27 at the Cook County Senior Center. All Thrift Store volunteers and representatives of the benefitting organizations are invited to the payout party.
1st and 2nd Thrift Store is a volunteer run organization. The volunteers accept donations, sort and clean them, and sell them in the store at 211 Highway 61 in Grand Marais. Each volunteer designates a Cook County nonprofit organization when he or she signs in to work. Volunteers are repaid for their time at the end of each year with a donation to the nonprofit organization they have designated. This year 78 volunteers have worked 4,568 hours in support of 50 nonprofit organizations.
The store sells clothing and accessories, household goods, linens, and a wide variety of other goods. Often unusual and valuable items can be found there, such as original art or a skunk fur coat with a note attached saying, “Do not get wet!” Some shoppers stop by regularly to see what new items are available.
1st and 2nd winter manager Gerry Grant issued the invitation to the January 27 event saying, “1st and 2nd Thrift Store is successful because everyone wins: the volunteers who turn their time into financial contributions; the organizations who receive their support; the donors who know their unneeded items will benefit Cook County; and the shoppers who buy quality items at reasonable prices.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at 1st and 2nd Thrift Store should contact the thrift store at (218) 387- 1826.
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