Kailey Hanson
Times Intern
Every Monday morning 90-year-old Norman Anderson of Forest Lake heads to Carly’s Cafe in the city’s downtown.
Norman Anderson, who turns 91 later this month, makes his weekly visit to Carly’s Cafe in downtown Forest Lake to pick up the old newspapers that will be donated to Northwoods Humane Society in Wyoming. (Photos by Kailey Hanson)
Along with his morning coffee he takes the newspaper. And not just one newspaper— he takes the whole recycling bin.
With these newspapers, Anderson gives aid to the animals of a local non-profit animal shelter organization and helps the business save some money.
Every week Anderson’s daughter picks up his collection of newspapers and brings them to Northwoods Humane Society in Wyoming. There the newsprint is used for cat bedding.
What may seem like an average task to some, filling this cat bedding quota is a valuable donation. The cat bedding is replaced daily in order to provide clean and comfortable homes for these animals. 60 kennels a day get clean newspaper.
The papers also help protect the feet of the cats.
Without the donations of newspapers, Northwoods would have to go down a pricey road.
“We would probably have to use towels which then would have to all be laundered which then would be really expensive,” said Linsay Niemi, general manager at the Northwoods Humane Society.
Sense of duty
Since day one when the non-profit opened in 2000 people like Anderson have been bringing in paper bags filled with newspapers.
Anderson, a Scandia native, still lives in the same house in Forest Lake where he settled in 1952. He also serves as one of the directors for the Forest Lake Lions Club.
He first began collecting newspapers in the 1970’s from Dona Le’s, a restaurant that had been located in downtown Forest Lake.
“I picked them up so they wouldn’t throw them away,” Anderson said.
Once Dona Le’s moved to a new location, Anderson followed. This location eventually took on new names and new owners and became what is now Carly’s Cafe.
Carly’s Cafe, “being the old Dona Le’s place,” is the only location where Anderson collects and donates from besides his own newspaper.
Besides saving on the trees, Anderson wanted the newspapers to be used in a better way.
“I’m an old man and I grew up in the Depression time and my folks didn’t have anything,” Anderson said. “It just comes natural to save; you don’t like to see things go to waste.”
Having collected for so long, the hobby has grown into a lifestyle. He plans on donating the newspapers as long as he’s able.
Northwoods Humane Society is always looking for more donations that include newspapers, towels of all sizes, cat litter, cat and dog food, treats and bleach. Volunteers are welcome and appreciated.
If you wish to donate, volunteer or adopt an animal, Northwoods is located at 7153 Lake Blvd. (US-8) in Wyoming. For more information call 651-982-0240 or email info@northwoodshs.org.