Oddz & Endz, the quirky community thrift store just west of Grand Marais, is thrilled to report on a wildly successful 2025. After an amazing year of donations and community support, Oddz & Endz has  distributed a record $200,250 in payouts to 35 Cook County local non-profits. The beneficiaries,  selected entirely by individual Oddz & Endz volunteers, are listed below. The organization is pleased to  generate profits to support diverse county initiatives around food security, housing, health and safety,  worship, education, recreation and more. In 2025, Oddz & Endz continued its collaboration with  Library Friends of Cook County. Library Friends volunteers organize and stock the book room at Oddz  & Endz, making used books available to the community while raising funds for Library support.  

Fundraising is a key objective at Oddz & Endz, delivering one facet of its three part mission. The board  and volunteer staff also take pride in reducing waste, its second mission objective. Board Treasurer  Linda Noble explains: “We accept donations of clean, sellable household goods, including furniture and  tools, 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.” After paying operating expenses  (maintenance, utilities, insurance, taxes), Oddz & Endz distributes the remaining revenue to other local  nonprofits through its annual distribution.  

The third part of Oddz & Endz’s mission is building community. Volunteer Patti Beyer comments, “We  love to be here to support our community financially. What sticks with us, though, are the connections  we make with our customers and donors. We help when someone is moving themselves or a loved  one. We help when a new resident is setting up a household. We share the joy when a unique treasure  is found. We help, sometimes, by just being here and sharing a hug or lending an ear at just the right  time.” Oddz & Endz strives to be a warm and welcoming space for all residents and visitors.  

The Oddz & Endz Board of Directors appreciates community support through donations, purchases,  and volunteering. “Thank you! We look forward to continued growth and investment in Cook County,”  notes Board President Janice Latz.  

Oddz & Endz is open 10-4 on Friday, Saturday, and 12-4 on Monday, Tuesday (excluding some  holidays). Everyone is welcome. Donations are gratefully accepted during open hours.  

Local nonprofit recipients (2025):  

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 413  

Arrowhead Animal Rescue  

Bethlehem Lutheran Church  

Birch Grove Community School  

Colville Fire Dept.  

Care Partners of Cook County  

Cook County Council on Aging  

Cook County Curling Club  

Cook County Higher Education  

Cook County Historical Society  

Cornerstone Community Church 

Empty Bowls  

Evangelical Free Church  

First Congregational Church  

Flintrock Range Association  

Go Dog Northshore  

Grand Marais Food Shelf  

Grand Marais Playhouse  

Hamilton Habitat  

Library Friends  

Lumi Homes  

Lutsen Lutheran Church  

Maple Hill Church  

Minn. Children's press  

North House Folk School  

Oddz & Endz  

Oral Health Task Force at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic  Ruby's pantry  

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Giving Tree  

Schroeder Historical Society- Cross River Heritage  Spirit of the Wilderness  

Spirit of the Wilderness Good Samaritan Fund  Violence Prevention Center  

WISE  

WTIP