The First & Second Thrift Store in the Cobblestone Building in downtown Grand Marais not only offers great deals to shoppers, it benefits a number of local nonprofits whose volunteers work at the store or donation center. On Tuesday, January 17, volunteers gathered to accept checks for their organizations. (L-R, front) Clara Weitz of the Cook County Schools Education Foundation, Amy Demmer of the Grand Marais Art Colony, Robin DuChien of Great Expectations School. (L-R, second row, seated) Cook County Senior Center Director Bev Green, First & Second Thrift Store Coordinator Sally Berg, also of Sawtooth Elementary, Nancy Dalbec of Cook County Historical Society and Arrowhead Animal Rescue. (L-R, third row) Millie Gestel of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Diane Howard of Cook County Senior Center and Grand Marais Playhouse, Pastor Kris Geary of Trinity Lutheran Church, Paulette Anholm of Cook County Higher Education and Girl Scouts, Dave Palmer of St. John’s Catholic Church. (L-R, back) Frankie Jarchow of Cook County Tennis Association, Gwen Carman of Cook County Schools, Cheryl Hovde of North Shore Children’s House, Pat Zankman of Cook County Historical Society, Jody Yuhasey of Violence Prevention Center and First Congregational Church, and Joan Hall of North Shore Children’s House.
Cookies, coffee and checks were the highlight of the gathering at the Cook County Senior Center on Tuesday, January 17. Representatives from various nonprofit organizations gathered to hear an update on the First & Second Thrift Store and to accept checks earned by volunteer workers at the thrift store and donation center.
Senior Center Director Bev Green, who works for the Cook County Council on Aging, which oversees the First & Second Thrift Store, welcomed everyone and explained that payouts are usually made in July, but to get the store on the same fiscal calendar as the senior center, it was agreed to distribute checks earlier. Green said there might be another payout in July 2012.
Green said profits were down slightly from previous years, noting that there had been some reorganization at the store and donation center, which led to the purchase of some new store fixtures. There were also more volunteer hours, so the profits were spread amongst more people. However, volunteers still earned $9.75 per hour for the nonprofit of their choice.
Before presenting the checks, Green said, she wanted to thank all the many volunteers who help keep the thrift store running. She added special thanks to Sally Berg, who has been overseeing the rearranging of the store, which has made it easier for shoppers. She said thanks to Millie Gestel, who has been cleaning once a week. “People are noticing how nice and clean the store is, and how organized,” said Green. “People appreciate it!”
Green said another transformation had taken place at the donation center in the garage behind the Senior Center. Green thanked some women from the Grand Marais Rec. Park campground and their husbands for building shelves. She said Robin DuChien and her husband, Steve, continued that work, building a sorting counter and getting things organized. “They’ve done a great job,” said Green. “Now when the store needs something, like men’s pants, they know right where to go.”
Checks were then distributed, ranging from $19.50 to $5,906. The money will be used for a range of things by 30 different nonprofits—completion of a handicap entrance at the Cook County Historical Society museum, classroom items, church building upgrades, a scholarship and much more.
For some, like Cheryl Hovde of North Shore Children’s House, the money meant the ability to keep the doors open. Before learning the amount earned by volunteer Joan Hall for the preschool, Hovde said she was facing a $500 budget shortfall. This is the last year that North Shore Children’s House will be open, due to declining enrollment. “Mrs. H.,” as she has been known to her preschoolers for 20 years, said any amount would help. She was delighted to hear that the check for the preschool was $597.19.
If you would like to help a community nonprofit by working at the First & Second Thrift Store or at the donation center, contact Bev Green at the Senior Center for more information at (218) 387-2660.
If you would like to donate items to sell at the thrift store, donations are accepted at the newly reorganized garage behind the Senior Center Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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