Auxiliary

The purpose of the Healthcare Auxiliary is to promote and advance the welfare of the Cook Hospital & Care Center through ways approved by the governing board of the Cook Hospital. This purpose is accomplished through approved fund raising, primarily the operation of a Thrift Shop.

History

The Cook Area Healthcare Auxiliary was founded in October 1954 with just 14 members. The first few fundraisers held that year included a tea party and a penny drive that raised $173.88. In 1955, another $558.91 was raised. In 1956, $800 was given to the Cook Hospital & Nursing Home and another $700 in 1959.

During the 1960’s, a scholarship program began and $550 was given to 10 different recipients interested in pursuing further education in a medical field. Scholarships have continued to be available to high school students interested in some aspect of medicine. To date, over $4,000 has been awarded to area students. Scholarship applications are available through the North Woods High School’s guidance counselor. Scholarships are also available for Cook Hospital & Nursing Home employees who choose to upgrade their skills and applications are available through the Hospital Director of Nursing.

Since its beginning, the Healthcare Auxiliary has provided funds for hospital and nursing home needs, including medical equipment, appliances, furniture and items to improve the quality of life and health care of residents. During the 60’s, over $6,200 was donated to purchase a flame photometer, therapy equipment, a porta-lift, a refrigerator, rocking chairs, an ice machine, a television, drapery material, pediatric unit materials, and beginning equipment for a hair salon. Additional funds helped to promote the Hospital by funding an open house and receptions for new medical providers and to fund some extras for the nursing home residents, such as Christmas parties, flowers, and even a Thanksgiving turkey.

During the 70’s, $19,497 was given to the Hospital and Nursing Home; $61,560 in the ‘80s, and $67,561 in the 1990’s. The range of items purchased included hair salon supplies, a washer and dryer, medical imaging equipment, blanket warmer, and dining room chairs.

In April of 2004, a new Thrift Shop building was opened at its current location. Many volunteer hours, generous donations from the community, and hundreds of shoppers have allowed the Thrift Shop to thrive and continue its mission.

From January 2000 through December 2009, the Auxiliary donated over $110,000. These funds were used to complete construction on the nursing home dining room, furnish a hospital patient room, purchase two Hoyer lifts and new lift chairs, purchase wheeled reclining chairs and a laundry dryer. Additional hair salon equipment and partial funding of a minibus were also funded.

In 2010, $15,000 was made available to the Hospital Rehabilitation Department to purchase a weight-less mobility system. In the years 2010 to 2011, more than $99,000 was given to the Hospital & Nursing Home.

Since 1954, the Healthcare Auxiliary has contributed $629,894 to the Cook Hospital & Nursing Home. Some items purchased through Thrift Shop donations include an emergency room boom, nursing home dining room flooring, continued maintenance for the nursing home aviary, hair salon equipment, a Hoyer lift, a telemedicine camera, Rehab & Wellness Center equipment, a blanket warmer, an AccuVein, a Bariatric scale, electronic thermometers, infusion equipments, as well as monthly support for the minibus gas used for senior outings.

The continued success of the Thrift Shop and the ability to donate would not be possible without the generous donations of area residents. Thank you to all who contribute and to all the volunteers and shoppers who make the Cook Area Healthcare Auxiliary and Thrift Shop a great way to give back to our community.

Thrift Shop

LOCATION:
The Thrift Shop
320 SE 3rd Avenue
Cook, MN 55723
218-666-2905

Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursdays, Fridays and the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Winter hours may vary.

At the Thrift Shop, two days a week are work days where items received are sorted, priced, and displayed throughout the Shop to be sold at bargain prices. On these days, the Shop is buzzing with upwards of a dozen or more volunteers who work to keep the Shop organized and clean and also enjoy the fellowship that comes with volunteering for a good cause.

On Thursdays, Fridays and the second and fourth Saturdays, the Thrift Ship is open for business. The Shop has a reputation for great prices and an ever changing inventory so there is always some “treasure” to be found. Our never ending supply of clothing (men, women, teens, children, and babies), books, house wares, knick-knacks, bedding, drapery and everything in between brings in shoppers from all over the area. There is also a “specialty” section set up for seasonal items, centerpieces, antiques and special buys.

Donations can be dropped off at any time in our Donation Shed located next to the main building. Items should be clean and in good condition. Items NOT ACCEPTED include mattresses, car seats, television sets, any electronics, and non working appliances. Furniture can be accepted on a space available basis. If you have questions or want to make arrangements to drop off furniture, please call on Monday or Wednesday mornings or open days.

The Thrift Shop is operated by numerous volunteer Auxiliary members. Membership consists of women and men who are interested in supporting the Cook Hospital & Nursing Home through service, fundraising, and donations. Active Membership is $5 per year; Support Membership (you will not be called upon to volunteer) is $5 per year; and Lifetime Membership is $50. We invite you to join us and appreciate your support! For a membership application, stop by the Thrift Shop during business hours.

The volunteer members continue to run the organization with the main purpose of raising funds for the Cook Hospital & Nursing Home. It continues to thrive to this day with the mainstay of its funds coming from sales of goods at the Thrift Shop in Cook. The Auxiliary members also hold special events for fund raising including raffles, a winter holiday bazaar, and a community style show. Volunteers are always appreciated to help set up and run these special events.

Check out the Thrift Shop on Facebook.

About Amy Kemp, OTR/L, Occupation Therapy Supervisor

Amy graduated from St. Scholastica in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.  She then went on to graduate again from St. Scholastica in 2020 with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree.  After graduation, she began working at the Cook Hospital and has been here for 4 years.

She enjoys having the opportunity that rural health provides to work with individuals across the lifespan.  Since starting at the Cook Hospital, Amy has become a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) and has been certified in LSVT-BIG for Parkinson’s Disease and other populations.  

In her free time, Amy enjoys the outdoors, being at the lake, reading, and spending time with her family. She is looking forward to continuing her career here at the Cook Hospital and welcomes all new patients.

 

About Carrie Rahikainen, PTA/L

Carrie is a 1992 graduate of the College of St. Scholastica where she earned her Bachelor’s  degree in Natural Science and minor in Psychology.  She continued her education at Lake Superior College where she earned her A.A.S. degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant in 1996. 

For the first four years after obtaining her degrees, Carrie and her husband lived and worked in Wausau, WI.  While in Wausau, she worked in various units specializing in long-term care, out-patient Orthopedics, in-patient and out-patient Psychology, specialized Dementia and Alzheimer’s units, and an Early Intervention/Pediatric Program. 

They then returned to the Iron Range, where both she and her husband were born and raised.  When returning to the area, Carrie was employed by St. Louis County Schools/Northland Special Education Cooperative.  For six years, she provided physical therapy services in various independent school districts, working with children from birth through the age of 21.

In February, 2006 she began her employment at the Cook Hospital and Rehabilitation and is a full-time employee.  Since starting her position at the Cook Hospital, she has been expanding her Physical Therapy skills by attending a variety of courses focusing on such things as Strain-Counter-strain Technique for pain management, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Exercise for the Geriatric Spine,  Manual treatment of the Lumbar Spine, and Kinesio-taping.

Carrie lives in Britt with her husband and three children, ages nine, ten, and twelve.  In her free time, she enjoys cross country skiing, reading, and supporting her children with their extra-curricular activities such as volleyball, basketball, baseball and Scouting.  As a family, they enjoy spending time on their pontoon boat, camping, hunting, and various types of fishing.

 

About Brian McCarthy, PT

Brian began working in Physical Therapy in 1984 as an enlisted member of the U.S. Air Force. After an honorable discharge in 1988 returned to Duluth, MN where he attended ST. Scholastica and eventually PT school at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse where he graduated in 1993 with honors.

He then began work as a PT at St. Mary’s “Center Therapy” in Duluth in Occupational Medicine, Chronic Pain Management, Orthopedic-Spine, and the Adult Neuro-Rehab departments. In 1996, Brian began working as a contract therapist traveling within the Northern Midwest. During this time he worked in home care, private practice, and out-patient orthopedic settings. His last assignment in 1998 lead him to Cook where he continues to work as the Director of Rehabilitation and physical therapist.

Brian’s career goals are to be well-rounded in all areas of physical therapy, but is especially interested in manual therapy techniques related to orthopedics conditions and wound care interventions. Brian is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, National Ski Patrol, and hospitals wound care team. Brian has attended, and continues to attend, yearly continuing education in the field of Physical Therapy and wound care to bring the most current and up-to-date treatment methodologies to the patients he treats.

About Stephanie Elling, PT, DPT, CIMT

Stephanie graduated from The College of St. Scholastica in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology and again in 2016 with a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy.

After graduation she worked at a private practice in Cloquet, MN in outpatient orthopedics for over two years. Here she gained experience in post-surgical care, manual therapy, return to sport training, and aquatic rehab. Then she transitioned into travel therapy and completed contracts across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida in skilled nursing, memory care, pediatrics, acute care at critical access hospitals, and multiple outpatient clinics treating a wide range of orthopedic and neurological conditions.

Stephanie has additional training in TMJ, headaches, sports rehab, dementia care, pediatrics, kinesiotape and manual therapy techniques. Stephanie has a passion for rural healthcare and enjoys working with patients of all ages and diagnoses.

She is excited to join the rehabilitation team at Cook Hospital and looks forward to getting to serve to Cook community and surrounding areas.