We are once again humbled by the ways in which our community supports Cook County residents on the journey of aging and end-of-life through their generous gifts to Care Partners.

In May we were honored to be the recipient of Cook County Co-op’s Round-Up Program - and delighted to receive an amazing $2,755!!!! Many, many thanks to Cook County Co-op and to all who rounded up at the register!

On June 4, The Splints performed a concert to benefit Care Partners at Up Yonder - and as usual, a great time was had by all!! Not only were we gifted with amazing music, the event raised a whopping $3,150 to support our work! Huge thanks to The Splints, Up Yonder, Carl Solander (who organized this event!) and to everyone who made a contribution!!!

“Waawaate – Northern Lights/Joyful Dancing Spirits” is a stunning creation from quilt artists Carol Morgen and Nancy Backlund. It’s intricately-pieced bargello-patterned front, exquisite back panel, and graceful, curved stitching truly capture the magic of our stunning Northern Lights. Quilt raffle tickets are $5 each and currently available for sale at Drury Lane Books, Care Partners offices and other area locations. The raffle drawing will be held at our annual Ice Cream Social on Sunday, August 30th. Click here to see photos and more details!

The Memory Café is a free monthly gathering for people who are living with memory loss and those who are caring for them. The Café offers a safe, supportive, relaxed environment to enjoy light refreshments, casual conversation and friendly connections with others who know the memory loss journey first-hand. Each month we are also joined by a special guest who will share stories, offer their talents, or perhaps encourage us to try our hand at a fun, easy activity. In July, WTIP Producer Chuck Olsen will share some fun history from the archives of our favorite North Shore Community Radio station! Join us the third Thursday of the month from April through October, 1:00- 2:30pm at The Hub. No preregistration needed, just stop in! 

You are cordially invited to a lively monthly conversation about aging and ageism facilitated by Care Partners staff on the third Monday of each month from 12:15-1:45pm at The Hub!  Drop in any time and enjoy your lunch while we converse (you are welcome to brown-bag it or call The Hub before 9:30am on Monday to order the best meal deal in town.) OR simply grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us.

A specially-selected book of the month serves as a springboard for our discussion – although you are always welcome to join in the conversation whether you’ve read the book or not! Our friends at Drury Lane offer the book at a 15% discount and the wonderful Grand Marais Public Library does its best to make sure it’s available to borrow. 

This month’s selection is “Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival” by Velma Wallis. This award-winning, bestselling book chronicles the legend of two elderly Native American women who must unexpectedly find a way to survive on their own in the face of a fierce Alaskan winter. This tale is at turns shocking, suspenseful, humorous – and ultimately a testament to the power of friendship and community. Visit our website for more information about the Reframe Aging Monthly Roundtable, including upcoming book selections!

Grief is not a disease or a sign of weakness, it is a normal reaction to the loss of someone you had a relationship with, whether complicated or easy. Join others who are on the journey of grief for conversation and mutual support. Gatherings are facilitated by Care Partners Executive Director Julie Wilson. No pre-registration is required, drop in whenever you’d like. Learn more here.

Care Partners and Cook County Higher Education are pleased to present a free monthly Lunch & Learn series designed to support aging well in Cook County! You can join us in person at CCHE or online via Zoom. Thanks to our generous donors, those who attend in person can enjoy a free, light lunch!

Just in time to enjoy our area’s famous summer weather, we’re excited to welcome authors and educators Ladona Tornabene, PhD, MCHES and Lisa Vogelsang, PhD!  They are passionate about helping people feel better on the inside by spending more time outside – regardless of age or physical ability level. They along with another co-author have written a wonderful guide to short walks all along the north shore, some familiar, others not so well known. Come and be encouraged to “take a hike” for fun and wellness! (Bonus: We’ll have two copies of the book, “Gentle Hikes of Minnesota’s North Shore” on hand to give away as door prizes!)  Register here!

We hope to be part of the festivities July 31st - August 2nd in a covered (yay!) booth, where we’ll have info on our programs and services, offer fun ideas for Reframing Aging, provide booth visitors the chance to spin our new prize wheel, and more!

The Grand Marais Farmer’s Market is back in the Cook County Community Center parking lot Thursday afternoons from 4:30pm - 6:00pm through October 29! The market offers local produce, baked goods, and other foods all grown or made in Cook County. AND…thanks to generous sponsorship from the Oral Health Task Force and Empty Bowls, the Market is once again offering the Power of Produce Club for kids ages 4-12 and income-eligible adults age 65+ starting in mid-July!  Kids and eligible seniors sign up at the welcome booth and receive $5 each week to spend on fresh produce!!! Click here to learn more about the Farmer’s Market & Power of Produce program.

The Grand Marais Art Colony continues to be on the lookout for folks to volunteer for the 35th Annual Grand Marais Arts Festival taking place July 11th-12th. They have a wide variety of jobs, suitable for anyone looking to help make this community-inspired event run like a well-oiled machine. Some tasks include pre-fest prep, set up and tear down, traffic control, and many others. Check out this link for job details or to sign up for a volunteer slot. Or for more information you can give the Art Colony a call at 218-387-2737.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services and Minnesota Board on Aging are working with Vital Research, an independent research company, to run the Minnesota Comprehensive Aging Survey - a statewide survey that asks older Minnesotans about their daily lives, needs, and experiences. Your answers will help the State of Minnesota improve services and supports for you and your community. The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete, and is open to anyone 60 years or older who lives in Minnesota. Your answers are private and won’t be linked to your name.  You can complete the survey online: http://vtlr.us/cas26.    For more information visit: https://mn.gov/dhs/aging-survey.   Spanish language option info: La Encuesta Integral sobre el Envejecimiento en Minnesota está disponible en español. Complete la encuesta en línea en español: http://vtlr.us/cas26esp

Meet with others who share the caregiving journey for a cup of coffee, a moment of rest, and the gift of connection. Led by Care Partners volunteer Kay Costello and Care Coordinator Barb Bernardy Rose, this group gathers at 1pm on the first Wednesday of each month at The Hub. Come when you can and be encouraged by those who understand the joys and challenges of caring for older friends or family members near or far. No preregistration is needed - just stop by!

Care Partners and Cook County Higher Education are pleased to present a free monthly Lunch & Learn series designed to support aging well in Cook County! You can join us in person at CCHE or online via Zoom. Thanks to our generous donors, those who attend in person can enjoy a free, light lunch!

In August, we are happy to welcome our own Care Partners staff who will tell us about the Advance Planning process, including Healthcare Directives and Health Care Agents. At this session, we’ll look at questions to consider as we make our choices, get a brief overview of common end-of-life medical terms, and learn when to review or revise our advance planning documents. Register here!

Make a contribution to support Care Partners and enjoy Sydney’s delicious frozen custard! You can also purchase a ticket (or three!) for our quilt raffle which will take place at the end of the Social, chat with a volunteer about the joy of volunteering with Care Partners, and kick your heels to the live music provided by the North Shore Swing Band!! All contributions help us support community members on the journey of aging and end-of-life. Hope to see you there!

Get involved and make a difference!  Our volunteers assist Cook County older adults with light housekeeping and outdoor chores, transportation, companionship and more! Choose the activities, time, level of commitment and circumstances that meet your needs. For more information, call us 218-387-3788 or use this link.