Have you always lived in Cook County or how did you "land" here?

I was born and raised in Cook County, other than a stint in California and a few years in Duluth have lived here my entire life.  I can’t think of a more beautiful place to be, both in people and scenery.  There’s nothing like walking out our door and inhaling the wonderful woodsy or Lake Superior smells, especially with a friend!

How did you and Orvis meet?  Will you share your love story with us? 

I worked as a waitress in the little café in Hovland and was among the first people Orvis met in 1970 when he transferred to Cook County for his job with MN DNR.   Fast forward 30 years, we were both single and ran into each other in Grand Marais.  25 years later I still think I have the best life partner I could ever find, he is just a pleasure to be married to!

You are known for your generosity and giving spirit.  Will you share how you got started in some of these activities in Cook County, like the Second Harvest food distribution and "Small Requests” (sending checks to those experiencing hardships)?  

While serving Cook County in the insurance business, I heard so many folk’s stories of just being one car breakdown, an illness, job loss or how just a month of high fuel bills could push them to the edge and maybe over it.   Food insecurity in our community is real, and the organizations addressing it need volunteers, so here we are!  We know it might be cold and blustery on winter distribution days, but we are helping to put a hot meal on someone’s table and that makes it all worthwhile.   

We started Small Requests when the first Stimulus check came out.  Orvis was already retired and my profession was considered “essential” so neither of our incomes were cut, in contrast to folks that lost their jobs.  We used that money and put the word out that we would help folks that hit a bump in the road with a small amount, ($100 or less), some friends heard about it and wanted to help, so we do just that to this day.  Grass roots helping each other with a grocery store gift card, a pair of shoes for a student that may have just blown out their only pair, etc., neighbor helping neighbor with no government involvement.  That enables us get immediate help in the hands of folks that need it to tide them over while they seek help elsewhere, since we are not set up to address ongoing month to month bills.   We find a huge need in folks receiving medical treatment outside of the community.  There are a lot of expenses such as travel and meals that are not covered, even if you have insurance, and we can help with that, as well as offering suggestions on other community resources that may be available.         

What a brilliant idea you had of suggesting items for the food shelves.  How did the 52 Week Food Challenge come about?

My friend, Jody Hepola started this at the Two Harbors Food Shelf and I thought it was a simple way for us to support our Grand Marais and Grand Portage food shelf, so I talked with Gwen Lenz of the Food Shelf and got her approval to move it up the shore and ask our community to support it.  The best ideas come from wonderful, kind and generous friends, then our friends and neighbors hop on board and make it a success!   It’s kind of contagious and provides some variety to the guests of the Food Shelf.

Who inspired you to live a life of service to others?  Did you have a particular role model growing up?

That’s an easy one!  My parents!  They believed in offering a hand up to anyone that needed it and passed that sense of community on to us kids.  I grew up in a time when most families in Cook County were struggling and poor, but we didn’t know it because our neighbors were in the same boat.  If you had enough and your neighbor didn’t, you shared.  It was a way of life that built the foundation of what our amazing community is today.

Lastly, how is retirement treating you?  Have you traveled or what is filling your cup of joy these days?

Retirement is fantastic and very day is a Saturday!   I get to be with Orvis, doing whatever we want to, be it volunteering or puttering in the garden.   We take a few short trips in the motorhome, but don’t go south in the winter because love winter sports too much.  Maybe someday, but not yet!  My Mom always said, “If you sit still you rust”, and since every day is full, I guess we’re not rusty yet!

 Volunteering for the North Shore Health Care Foundation Golf Tournament