The Cook County Food shelf is located in the lower level of First Congregational Church in Grand Marais at West 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue West. It is open every Monday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the first Wednesday of the month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. In case of still more snow, a shovel is ready to remove it from the walkway. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
We have wondered about food shelves in general and Cook County’s food shelf in particular. If we don’t work there or need its help, we probably say, “good deal,” and move on to more sheltering-in these days.
Just two blocks up from Highway 61 on every Monday of each week and the first Wednesday of each month, you will discover the Cook County Food Shelf. Find it on the lower level of the First Congregational Church in Grand Marais at the corner of West 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue West. I wandered in there a while back.
Open each month on every Monday from 3 – 5 p.m. and first Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m., the food shelf has been staffed by volunteers since 2004. Some unload the trucks and some stock the shelves. Some folks lay out the food, fresh and packaged. And especially these days, in COVID-19 times, some deliver to those who cannot get there. They accept and distribute donations of food for people and pets.
Most food comes from a wholesale food shelf at Airpark near Duluth, Second Harvest of Northern Lakes. It serves about 50 locations in the Arrowhead and northwestern Wisconsin. By going all-volunteer and joining with Second Harvest, the Cook County Food Shelf got out of the red.
Advisory Board members include Steve Deschene, chair; Gwen Lenz, secretary and volunteer coordinator; Carol from Grand Portage Human Services, Sharon Hendrickson, copy maker; and Julie Schulberg. Becky from Grand Portage Social Services joined Steve, Gwen, and Bill to start the volunteer-run operation.
Each day the same pleasant driver, Kevin, pulls in at noon with two pallets, wrapped in plastic, ready to get unloaded. By 3 p.m. each Monday, volunteers have unloaded, stored, laid out, and readied the food for the customers. Kevin also delivers Snacks&Packs to the Community Centers and schools. The food shelf gives Snacks&Packs produce vouchers that children may use to buy their own fruits and veggies.
All of this happens under the gentle prodding of Gwen Lenz aided by her spouse Bill Lenz. Gwen is five feet tall in her dreams; she leads with a persistent, quiet energy. She could use a few more volunteers and can be reached at 218-387- 9860 or gwmlenz@boreal.org. If she doesn’t need you right now, she keeps a list….
There is now a “Little Free Food Shelf ” at Birch Grove Community School. For more information about the “Little Free Food Shelf,” contact Birch Grove at 218-663-0170. This was organized by Rhonda Silence and students.
Lake County food shelves
The Two Harbors’ program works from a site just west and across the road from the golf course. Turn right at the northeast stop light and look for 2124 10th Street. Contact information is P.O. Box 601, Two Harbors MN 55616; (218) 391-8191. thafs2015@gmail.com.
Food is available on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Silver Bay also serves Beaver Bay, Isabella, Finland and Little Marais. The food shelf location is 99 Edison Boulevard #26. Silver Bay MN 55614; (218) 226-4443. Take Outer Drive and turn right on Edison; it is 1.7 miles from Highway 61. According to Food Pantries.Org, it is open from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed on holidays.
The fact that these food shelves exist and the generosity of money and volunteers are a good thing, especially as long as we starve our government support programs and have poor paying jobs and homelessness.
Nota Bene: Food shelves accept money donations too. In fact, the money has increased value because food can be purchased at discounted prices.
Steve Aldrich is a retired Hennepin County lawyer, mediator, and Judge, serving from 1997-2010. He and Myrna moved here in 2016. He likes to remember that he was a Minnesota Super Lawyer before being elected to the bench. Steve really enjoys doing weddings, the one thing a retired judge can do without appointment by the Chief Justice.
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