More than a senior center: The Hub nourishes bodies and minds

Chuck Olsen | August 1, 2025

At 92 years old, Lois Eyinck has found her new family at The Hub, a community meeting place geared toward older adults. Formerly known as Grand Marais Senior Center, The Hub has served up food, friendship and support for more than four decades.

“At this point, The Hub is keeping me going,” said Eyinck, who visits the center nearly every day. She’s known as the quality control person around the greeting card crafting table.

The former garage-turned-community center has taken on new significance as Cook County’s population grows older, with approximately one third of the population aged 65 or older making it one of the oldest counties in Minnesota.

Food remains at the heart of The Hub’s mission. Hot lunches are served every weekday in the dining room, with meals available for $4.50 for those 60 and older, and $8.50 for younger visitors. The facility also operates a Meals on Wheels program that delivers nutritious meals within a roughly five-mile radius of Grand Marais.

Former Minnesota State Senator Chuck Wiger gets lunch

“It’s a full nutritious meal. It’s well-balanced,” said Todd Smith, chair of the Cook County Coalition on Aging and The Hub board member. The program serves homebound residents, including those who live alone or are unable to drive, with drivers delivering meals to their doors. Weekend recipients can receive two frozen meals on Fridays to ensure continuous nutrition.

Chris Bautch, the Programs and Activities Coordinator, emphasized the program’s accessibility.

“Once you register, if you’re 60 or over, you’re eligible for the $4.50 meal. If you’re under 60, you pay the full price of $8.50. I still think that’s a bargain,” said Bautch.

Beyond meals, The Hub offers diverse programming designed to keep minds and bodies active. The Sawtooth Clinic provides foot care services for $10, including toenail trimming, filing and foot massages — and visitors often stay for lunch or a card game.

Exercise programs include chair yoga, Tai Chi and Bone Builders classes, led by volunteers at no charge. The center also provides tech support, operates a medical equipment lending library, and houses a legal aid kiosk where residents can access legal information or attend court proceedings via Zoom.

Creative pursuits flourish at the center as well. Linda Bauer teaches knitting through felted purse-making, an approach that helps beginners overcome initial mistakes.

“When you felt it, it shrinks, and all the mistakes disappear. It’s really quite miraculous,” Bauer said. As a board member, she finds fulfillment in passing on her skills. “We have to pass this on. It satisfies me to pass it on.”

The Hub also addresses difficult conversations through its Death Café series, led by end-of-life doulas trained in Minneapolis. For five years, the monthly gatherings have provided a safe space for discussing various forms of loss.

“We talk about losses, and that can be anywhere from loss of what we can do as we age, what’s happening in our world, loss of a partner, loss of a dog,” said Suzanne Sherman, an end-of-life doula who facilitates the sessions.

The center generates revenue by renting space to nonprofits, government agencies and private parties for events ranging from baby showers to memorial services. The county and DMV rent space for services, with the DMV offering license and driving tests on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

For Smith, it all comes back to connection. “Individuals need other people in order to be healthy and to feel good about themselves. Our policy here is… If you need a meal, if you’re hungry, we’ll give you a meal.”

To learn more or get involved, visit grandmaraishub.com or call 218-387-2660—or visit in-person at 10 Broadway Ave., Grand Marais.

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