EATS event returns to Cook County ISD 166 on March 9

Enjoy a delectable array of tasty treats and samples from local Cook County restaurants and food vendors at the upcoming Enriching Academics Through Sustenance (EATS) event hosted by the Cook County School District 166 Education Foundation.

After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, the highly anticipated winter event returns to the school. 

“There’s a lot of community support and excitement about this event,” Ruthanne Hedstrom Vos a board member of the Cook County School District 166 Education Foundation said. 

The EATS 2023 event is taking place Thursday, March 9, from 5:00- 7:00 p.m. at the Cook County Middle School/High School. Tickets are limited to 125 people and are available now from any education foundation board member, the school, or at Subway. Tickets are $30. 

In addition to delicious culinary bites, the event will host a silent auction with items donated by local businesses and individuals. The event will also feature musical entertainment from the North Shore Swing Band. 

Hedstrom Vos said the culinary arts program at the school is providing assorted dumplings and cakes. In addition, numerous Cook County businesses including Java Moose, Blue Water Cafe, Cascade Lodge, The Co-op, Raven Rock, and Subway, Hungry Hippie, Crosby Bakery, Poplar Haus, Shook Smoothies, Lutsen Resort, among many others are providing tasty bites for the event. 

The money raised during the event will contribute to enhancing the school’s curriculum. The Cook County School District 166 Education Foundation awards grants for projects and activities. A total of $204,731 in grants has been provided by the foundation. 

Hedstrom Vos said there are a wide variety of projects or activities the grants have provided to the school including, providing boots and outerwear to preschoolers, robotics team knowledge for students, and driver’s education materials. “Last year, we helped fund the eighth grade going to the Duluth Playhouse to see Anne Frank,” she said. “We funded transportation and tickets for them to see that play.”

“It’s satisfying to know that we can help enrich the academic program at Cook County High School or the whole school district,” Hedstrom Vos said. “We really appreciate all the community support for EATS and hope that it will be a really fun event for people.”

WTIP’s CJ Heithoff spoke with Ruthanne Hedstrom Vos, a board member of CCSDEF about the March 9 EATS event. Audio from the interview is below.

Kalli Hawkins March 3, 2023