Staff photo/Jane Howard Eleanor Waha (right) accepts a check from Katie Anderson on behalf of one of the numerous organizations she volunteers for. The hours community volunteers spent helping 1st and 2nd Thrift Shop in Grand Marais this last year brought a profit of $40,000.14 that was then given to 37 Cook County nonprofits chosen by the volunteers. The money was dispersed at a celebration coffee at the Senior Center in Grand Marais Tuesday, August 18, 2009.
The volunteers for 1st and 2nd Thrift Shop in Grand Marais have brought their favorite Cook County nonprofits a whopping $40,000.14 this year.
Enthusiasm was high at the Senior Center Tuesday, August 18, 2009 as payouts were made to 37 different organizations during an annual celebration coffee.
The time people spend volunteering for 1st and 2nd is logged. At the end of the year, profits are distributed to the Cook County nonprofits each volunteer chooses, in amounts based on the number of hours he or she worked. This year, every volunteer hour earned $10.61.
“We are so excited to be able to make this distribution,” said 1st and 2nd advisory board member Katie Anderson.
Last year, 49 volunteers earned $16,500.33 that they designated to 24 different organizations. This year, 57 volunteers earned $23,499.81 more, and 13 more organizations benefited. Last year, volunteers gave 2,755½ hours of their time. This year, volunteer hours were up to 3,790.
Net income this year was $57,000. With an average sale price of $3 per item, according to Arvis Thompson, the store would have sold 19,000 items.
Several leaders in community volunteerism, including Eleanor Waha, Arvis Thompson, and Karl Hansen, accepted checks on behalf of several organizations. Holly Johnson-Beaster singlehandedly earned $1,947 for the Grand Marais Art Colony.
Senior Center Director Bev Green said about eight volunteers will be financing new tables and chairs for the Senior Center with their volunteer time.
Lois Johnson, one of the major movers and shakers who brought the store into existence, expressed her gratitude to Brian and Marcy Olsen who generously cut the cost of their rent at the Cobblestone building so they could be located downtown. Thenew location has helped build business tremendously, Johnson said.
“The community has been so strong in their donations,” Johnson added. “People are really generous. …Our tourists are really generous.” Even seasonal residents and tourist park guests have volunteered their time, she said.
Johnson encouraged the volunteers and recipients in attendance to spread the word about how volunteering at 1st and 2nd could benefit their organizations.
More volunteers are needed, said Johnson, and people can help in numerous ways. Besides working at the cash register, people can donate goods, sort and transport donations, mark items, and create and maintain displays. Even cleaning products and laundry soap are needed to prepare items for display.
Sharon Bloomquist mentioned that people going to Duluth could earn two hours of time for their organizations by picking up items that will not be sold at the shop and taking them to Goodwill.
Thetop three payouts went to the Cook County Senior Center, $7,690; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, $4,117; and the Cook County Food Shelf, $2,794.
On the advisory council year-round are Lois Johnson, Arvis Thompson, Katie Anderson, Sharon Bloomquist, Mary Alice Hansen, Diane Peterson, and Bev Green, and on the council seasonally are Toni Bernard and Marlys Johnson.
Donations can be dropped off from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays in the shed behind the Senior Center.
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