First & Second Thrift store donates $195,000 to local non-profits

Each year First & Second Thrift Store in Grand Marais presents checks to local non-profits selected by their team of volunteers. This year the store issued payouts totaling $195,000 to 37 different organizations.

The store was founded in 2007 and is staffed by volunteers, each of whom works on behalf of a local non-profit of their choice. In 2025, volunteers earned $28.93 for their chosen organization per hour worked.

Ann Marie Mershon a First & Second board member and volunteer, told WTIP that there were 58 volunteers in 2025, and that they collectively worked 6,515 hours. She added that 23 of those volunteers worked over 100 each.

This is an increase from the 2024 payouts, which totaled $180,000, and 2023, when the payout was $95,000. In 2025, there were more volunteers working, and they were earning a higher “wage” on behalf of their chosen non-profit, compared to the past several years.

Hamilton Habitat received the largest donation this year at $21,487.

Non-profits who received a portion of the payout were:

• American Legion Auxiliary Post 413 – $3,703
• Arrowhead Animal Rescue – $12,963
• Bethlehem Lutheran Church – $10,882
• Care Partners of Cook County – $10,752
• Cook County Council on Aging – $5,161
• Cook County Higher Education – $1,326
• Cook County Historical Society – $1,480
• Cook County Pride/ First Congregational Church – $477
• Cook County Tennis Association – $2,416
• Cook County YMCA-Camp Miller – $1,743
• Empty Bowls of Cook County – $1,776
• Evangelical Free Church – $13,366
• First Congregational Church – $15,509
• Go Dog North Shore – $644
• Grand Marais Art Colony – $210
• Grand Marais Playhouse – $12,795
• Great Expectations Foundation – $7,233
• Great Expectations School – $1,261
• Hamilton Habitat – $21,487
• Holy Rosary Catholic Church – $392
• Hovland Area Fire Department – $266
• ISD 166—Anna Sandstrom, Angel Fund – $11,427
• ISD 166-Chad Benesh, Chemistry department – $1,819
• ISD 166-Athletic Department, Volleyball & Softball – $5,536
• Library Friends Cook County MN, Inc – $5,306
• Maple Hill Community Fire Department – $2,501
• Minnesota Children’s Press – $2,220
• North Point , Inc – $5,411
• Ruby’s Pantry /Spirit of the Wilderness Church – $3,343
• St. John’s Catholic Church – $5,253
• Sawtooth Mountain Clinic—Giving Tree – $1,028
• Spirit of the Wilderness Church-Good Samaritan Fund – $711
• Superior Cycling Association – $1,444
• Tofte Historical Society – $1,881
• Violence Prevention Center – $12,441
• WISE – $1,662
• WTIP—Cook County Community Radio – $7,183

Kirsten Wisniewski February 9, 2026