Janice Latz
Board President,
Oddz & Endz
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
