Photo: Cook County Coop Facebook Page

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - August 22, 2024

Between July 2023 and June 2024, the Cook County Coop donated over $52,500 to local non-profit organizations and other entities. 

Cook County Coop owner-members and shoppers raised $25,256 for 12 organizations in the County through its round-up program. The round-up program allows people at the registers to "round up" to the nearest dollar or more for the particular organization featured that month (people are also able to decline). 100% of the money raised is donated to the selected non-profit. 

According to the Coop, "This year the monthly average was $2104 with totals ranging from $1256 - $3597." 

Amber Richard, Cook County Coop Strategic Marketing + Communications Manager, told Boreal Community Media "Our round-up program donates thousands annually to local causes that are supported by our community of shoppers. The small donations at the register add up to big donations to local organizations."

The following organizations were selected as round-up partners: 

July 2023 – Superior Hiking Trail Association

Aug 2023 – Arrowhead Animal Rescue

Sep 2023 – Cook County Higher Ed Laptop Program

Oct 2023 – Empty Bowls

Nov 2023 – Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank: Cook County Mobile Food Pantry (AEOA)

Dec 2023 – Grand Marais Food Shelf

Jan 2024 – Violence Prevention Center

Feb 2024 – Cook County School District Education Foundation

Mar 2024 – Minnesota Children’s Press; Child’s Eye History series

Apr 2024 – Care Partners of Cook County

May 2024 – Hamilton Habitat

June 2024 – Cook County Pride

To see the list of 2024-2025 organizations, click here.

In addition, between July 2023 and June 2024, the Coop donated $27,645 in food, gift cards, merchandise, and scholarships/money to local organizations as part of its annual goal of giving back to the community. 

The following is a list of community organizations that received a donation(s): 

• Birch Grove Community School
• Boreal Community Media Tech Camp
• Care Partners of Cook County
• Cook County Alpine Ski Club
• Cook County Community Fund
• Cook County Food Shelf
• Cook County Higher Ed
• Cook County Highway Dept Interns
• Cook County Historical Society Museum
• Cook County Local Energy Project
• Cook County ISD 166 Costa Rica Trip
• Cook County ISD 166 PTA
• Cook County ISD 166 Education Foundation
• Cook County Senior Center
• Cook County Public Health Emergency Services
• Cook County PRIDE
• Duluth Superior Community Foundation
• Empty Bowls
• Food Co-op Funding Initiative
• Girls on the Run
• Great Expectations School Fundraisers
• Great Expectations School PTA
• Grand Marais Art Colony
• Grand Marais Film Society
• Grand Marais Fire Department
• Grand Marais Lion’s Club
• Grand Marais Playhouse
• Grand Marais Public Library
• Grand Portage Wellness Fair
• Grand Portage Playground Capital Campaign
• Grand Portage Rendezvous Days
• Good Harbor Hill Players Solistice Pageant
• Land Stewardship Project
• Local Producer’s Scholarship – Earth Body Healing
• Local Producer’s Scholarship – Sawtooth Gardens
• Local Producer’s Scholarship – Taproot Landscaping
• Local Producer’s Scholarship – Watershed Breads
• LGBTQIA+ Youth Group
• Minnesota Children’s Press
• North House Folk School
• North Shore Health Care Foundation
• North Shore Music Association
• North Superior Ski & Run Club
• Pincushion Groomer Capital Campaign
• Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Nurse Appreciation
• Second Harvest
• SheRides
• Silver Bay After Prom
• Superior Cycling Association
• Superior Hiking Trail Association
• Violence Prevention Center
• Wolf Ridge ELC
• WISE
• WTIP
• YMCA Cook County

To learn more about the round-up program, visit the Cook County Coop website here.

For more information or to apply to be a donor recipient, visit: https://cookcounty.coop/community/