Vital North highlights food assistance program as Cook County tourism season ends

As Cook County’s tourism season winds down, Vital North is reminding residents about programs designed to help families experiencing food insecurity.

While there is no official end to the tourism season in Cook County, visitor activity typically declines after Minnesota’s Education Minnesota Professional Conference weekend, as the fall foliage season draws to a close.

“In some ways, it’s kind of like a weather pattern,” Vital North Executive Director Anna Cariad-Barrett told WTIP. “A lot of economic activity coming into our area really drops off a cliff, and that really has a big impact on families’ lives.”

This year, seasonal declines in tourism activity come amid rising living costs, forcing some families to make difficult financial decisions.

To help address those challenges, Vital North is highlighting its Pack and Pantry program, which provides food assistance to families with children, including those who may not consider themselves food insecure.

“Food insecurity can look like just having to make tough decisions at the end of the month,” Cariad-Barrett said. “If you know a family that could use a little bit of extra supplemental support for making food more affordable, that’s the goal of the Pack and Pantry program.”

The seasonal slowdown comes after July wildfires disrupted tourism and caused businesses to lose revenue. Some businesses, including the Angry Trout Cafe, which operated year-round the past two years, have chosen to close for the winter.

The Cook County Food Access Council held listening sessions in October to hear how residents are navigating the rising cost of living and challenges accessing affordable food.

The 2023-2027 Cook County Community Health Assessment identified access to affordable, healthy food as a community priority. The assessment estimated that 9.6% of Cook County residents experienced food insecurity and documented increased use of resources such as the Cook County Food Shelf.

Cariad-Barrett said food insecurity can be difficult to recognize in a community like Cook County.

“We, disproportionately to a lot of the state, struggle much more with the cost of living crisis and in terms of food insecurity, and so it’s a significant dynamic for a lot of families in Cook County,” Cariad-Barrett said.

The Pack and Pantry program partners with ISD 166 and Great Expectations to send home support to families that need it. The program does not require families to register with the government or meet any eligibility requirements beyond having children in the home. Families in need can receive assistance by contacting pm@vitalnorth.org.

WTIP spoke to Anna Cariad-Barrett about food insecurity and the increasing cost of living. The audio of that conversation can be found below.

Josh Hinke November 5, 2026