Our greater Grand Marais family has been hit hard by the shutdowns by COVID-19 and, now, by the tragic fire that burned a hole in our downtown and our community’s fabric. Unfortunately, we know for sure that the COVID-19 impact will likely get worse before we can even begin to build our “new normal.” It is testing our patience, our ingenuity, and, most of all, our financial resources.
At the same time, nearly all of us will soon receive a cash relief payment from the government. Many will need this for survival, but some of us will not. If possible, I invite my neighbors to join me in passing on some or all of your $1200 payment to support this community that sustains us all.
For my use, I have assembled some addresses where I can contribute to making a difference locally. Hopefully, this will be helpful to others. Please pitch in whatever you can!
The North Shore Health Care Foundation, “COVID-19 Fund” P.O. Box 454, Grand Marais, MN 55604, has a $20,000 matching grant now that will “double” your contribution. Those donations are turned into grants to the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, North Shore Hospital, Fire Departments & EMS, Cook County Public Health, and Care Partners for needed supplies, equipment and training – budgets for all of which are strained by the Coronavirus health emergency.
The Cook County Emergency Operations Center, covid19donations@ cook.mn.us, coordinates government aids to Cook County and directs donations where needed, and maintains an information website at https:// coronavirus-response-cook-countyminnesota 1-cookcountymn.hub. arcgis.com/. Also, as of April 15, it needs homemade masks and provides instructions for sewing them.
Donations are needed at both the Grand Portage Food Shelf, P.O. Box 28, Grand Portage, MN 55605, and the Grand Marais Food Shelf, c/o Arrowhead EOA, P.O. Box 311, Grand Marais, Minnesota, 55604.
The Cook County YMCA, P.O. Box 787, Grand Marais, Minnesota, 55604, is providing childcare and meals, equipment rental for shut-ins, and other COVID-19 services.
At the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, there is the “Giving Tree”, a fund to help patients defray expenses of medical needs for food and travel to Duluth.
Online donations for the three families affected by the downtown fire can be sent to the Grand Marais Fire Relief Fund at www.gofundme.com/f/grandmarais fire-relief-fund White Pine Fire Fund for Jessica & Tyler Dean. www.gofundme.com/f/crookedspoon fire Crooked Spoon Fire for Sarah and Nathan Hingos.
You can contribute by writing a check to Picnic and Pine Fire Fund c/o Grand Marais State Bank, P.O. Box 100, Grand Marais, MN 55604, for Kelsey Kennedy & Peter Klinker.
If you write a check to “Fire Relief Fund,” the bank will split your donation equally to each of the three accounts. If you would like to send money directly to one business, use the following titles: White Pine North Fire, Crooked Spoon Fire, or Picnic and Pine Fire. Relief donations can be sent by check to the Grand Marais State Bank at: Grand Marais State Bank, PO Box 100, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
And of course, all of our precious local churches and institutions have COVID-19 related needs and disruptions, and would welcome donations to help them stay afloat. A couple that are prominent are the Grand Marais Art Colony, P.O. Box 626, Grand Marais, MN, 55604, or online at the Art Colony website, and North House Folk School, P.O. Box 759, Grand Marais, MN 55604, or online at the Folk School web site.
Again, please pitch in whatever you can! Thank you.
Myrna Aldrich,
Grand Marais
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