January is always an exciting month as it marks the time of year when designated Cook County nonprofits receive a payout from the 1st & 2nd Thrift Store, which is a program under the Cook County Council on Aging. This was made possible only by the amazing volunteers who put in endless hours–sorting, pricing, organizing and selling.
In 2015 there were a total of 82 volunteers who put in almost 5,000 hours with an hourly payout of $16 per hour. The end result? They earned a total of $73,088 that went directly back into our community!
In January we started offering daily hot soup from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Frozen soup is also available to pick up between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. The cost is $3 for 12 ounces of daily hot soup and $2 for 12 ounces of frozen soup. This is not part of our food program so does not come with dessert and milk and the cost is the same for all ages. Stay and eat with us or take it with you in our to-go containers (or bring your own container). This is available to everyone so stop in and warm up with our hot soup.
There is always something happening at the Cook County Senior Center. Students in the Intergenerational Reading Friends program visited the Senior Center on February 5 to read with seniors. The students from Jana Larson’s 4th grade class ended their visit with some fun on the large mountain of snow outside of the Senior Center.
Marjori Bottila of the Senior Linkage line will be at the Senior Center on Tuesday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 9 for individual Medicare counseling appointments. This is a free service and can help you figure out what is new and what the changes are for Medicare in 2016. To learn more, call the Senior Linkage Line at 1-800- 333-2433 or to schedule an appointment at the Senior Center, call 387-2660.
Arrowhead Transit is starting a weekly trip to Duluth on Tuesdays. The cost for one way between Grand Marais and Duluth is only $10. One way between Silver Bay and Duluth is $5. One way between Two Harbors and Duluth is $2.50. Pick ups start in Grand Marais at 7:30 a.m., leaving Grand Marais no later than 8 a.m. The bus will arrive in Duluth no later than 11 a.m., leaving Duluth no later than 3 p.m. Call Arrowhead Transit for reservations no later than 12 p.m. on the Monday before at 1-800-862-0175.
Walt Mianowski, a board member of the Cook County Council on Aging, presents a check to George Wilkes and Stacy Drouillard of the Cook County Local Energy Project—one of the many nonprofits in Cook County that received a payout from the 1st & 2nd Thrift Store.
Cook County has a vibrant and active community of elders. Each week we offer Senior News to highlight our senior citizens. This week’s submission is about the Cook County Senior Center, courtesy of Programs and Service Coordinator Jes Rodne.
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