Oddz & Endz, your quirky nonprofit thrift store at the edge of town, is pleased to announce its annual community investment distribution for 2023. After an amazing year of donations and community support, Oddz & Endz will re-invest $110,000 for the health and well-being of our Cook County family into twenty-one (21) local non-profits. The beneficiaries, selected entirely by individual Oddz & Endz volunteers, are listed below.

In 2023, Oddz & Endz achieved 113% growth in sales over 2022 and a community investment increase of about 38% over the $80,000 distributed that year. The entirely volunteer-run, non-profit thrift store made another advance in its 10-year history; they purchased the land and building at 2066 W Highway 61 in Grand Marais where the store has been operating for 10 years. The purchase represents a major investment in the future and the community.

Oddz & Endz’ community-focused mission can be characterized by three words: environment, economy, and empathy. Board member Dale McIntire explains: “We accept donations of clean, resaleable household goods, including furniture keeping those items out of local and regional landfills. We make these items available to the community at economical prices to be reused or repurposed. At times, we have also been able to meet emergency or special needs in our community.” In 2022, we began collaborating with Library Friends of Cook County. Library Friends volunteers organize and stock the book room at Oddz & Endz, making good used books available to the community. After paying operating expenses (rent, utilities, insurance, taxes), Oddz & Endz distributes the remaining revenue to other local nonprofits through our annual community investment distribution. 

Local nonprofit recipients (2023):

• Oddz & Endz
• Library Friends of Cook County
• American Legion Post 413
• American Legion Auxiliary Unit 413
• Care Partners of Cook County
• Cook County Higher Education
• Cook County Historical Society
• Cornerstone Community Church
• Council on Aging
• Empty Bowls Cook County
• First Congregational Church
• Grand Marais Evangelical Free Church
• Grand Marais Playhouse
• Hamilton Habitat
• Maple Hill Fire Department
• Northshore Health Care Foundation
• Oral Health Task Force
• Sawtooth Ridges
• Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church Good Samaritan Fund
• Violence Prevention Center
• WTIP

The Oddz & Endz Board of Directors and all 59 volunteers thank you for supporting our community through donations, purchases, and volunteering. It is because of your generosity, Oddz & Endz will distribute an amazing $110,000 this year to nonprofits in our local community. Thank you! We look forward to continued growth and investment in Cook County. 

Oddz & Endz is open 10-4 every Friday, Saturday, and Monday (excluding some holidays). Come see us. Everyone is welcome.