The Grand Portage Elders had a very successful 11th annual chili cook off and meat bingo. This year’s chili cook off winner was Agatha Armstrong. She beat out 12 competitors to take home the coveted chili trophy. Jesse James won the 50/50 raffle and Leanna Deschampe won the last bingo coverall game to win the complete turkey dinner. Congratulations to all the winners and a Chi Miigwech to the Tribal Council and the Grand Portage community for once again generously supporting our fundraising.
These funds were used to cover costs for the Elders’ Christmas shopping trip and overnight to Duluth. This year 16 Elders shopped until they dropped.
We also had a successful Holiday craft sale on Dec. 3 at the Community Center. This was a new venue as the lodge was unavailable due to construction. Although numbers were down a bit, the Elders sold out all their soup and Christmas cookies. We enjoyed visiting and doing some early Christmas shopping too.
Dec. 11 was the annual Elders’ holiday party. What a great time we had! About 80 Elders attended, enjoying the delicious buffet dinner catered by Missy and Ed Ullman. Polly James did an outstanding job making and organizing the decorations, turning the gym into a dazzling display of Christmas lights and wreaths. The Elder Committee members spearheaded by Carol Hackett outdid themselves with wonderful door prizes and poinsettias. The band “Portage” provided the toe-tapping music with Christmas songs, and even Ralph Tesser entertained us with a turn at the mike. This is an annual event, and each year we think it can’t get better and each year it does. Miigwech to everyone who helped with the planning, organizing and working on this event. That was amazing.
John Wheeler, Missy Ullman, Gale Carlson and Dianne Johnson are all smiles as they head home after having a great time at the Elders’ Christmas party.
Thank you to all the volunteers for these events and to the Elders who show up each week to listen to the children practice their reading. We are only successful because of you and the time you so generously share. Miigwech.
A lot of fun was had at the Elders’ Christmas party. Top: Carol Hackett and Marie Spry priced cookies for the bake sale in Grand Portage. Left: Sisters Polly James and Carol Hackett took a break. Above: Edward Olson raised his hand to say hi to everyone.
The ENP staff wishes everyone a very blessed and merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year!
Cook County has a vibrant and active community of elders. Each week we will offer Senior News to highlight our senior citizens. This week’s submission is about the Grand Portage Elder Nutrition Program courtesy of Patty Winchell-Dahl.
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