It took five years of golf scrambles, pasty sales and chicken wing eating to raise enough funds, but a new Cook Community and Youth Center is set to open thanks to a grassroots community-wide fundraising effort.

Finishing touches are being applied to the new 4,500 square-foot center, which will serve residents and youth from the City of Cook and surrounding areas.

Approximately $285,000 was raised within the community over five years to help fund the project. About $200,000 in labor was donated by area contractors and volunteer residents.

"It's amazing what people have donated with their time, equipment, and labor," said Tammy Palmer, Cook Recreation Commission secretary. "Our businesses, community, and surrounding areas have been phenomenal in supporting this."

Fundraising began in 2010.

Golf scrambles, a haunted house, "Bag a buck" contest, broomball challenge, pasty sales, barbecues, a chili cook-off, wingfest (chicken wing eating), pancake breakfast, community-wide rummage sale and snowmobile run, were among dozens of community events held to raise funds.

Some of the events raised as little as $300. Others raised thousands of dollars.

But it all added up.

Carpenters, general contractors, roofing companies, electrical firms, plumbers, heating, ventilation and air conditioning businesses from Cook, Orr, and surrounding communities donated labor. A local lumber yard provided materials at cost.

"All of the contractors volunteered their time and some even paid their crews to do this," said Greg Burckhardt, Cook Recreation Commission chair. "Since we started, the community has been 100 percent behind the project. It's something that we really needed in our community."

When complete, the center will host weddings, home shows, senior citizen, and youth activities.

"It's going to provide a safe, healthy, and rich environment for families," said Palmer.

The energy-efficient center features indirect lighting, in-floor heating and air conditioning. A raised ceiling with a chandelier offers the perfect setting for formal occasions, said Burckhardt.

A warming area for ice skaters, pool table, foosball, ping pong, will provide activities for youth. The center is located in the Doug Johnson Recreation Park, adjacent to community baseball fields, a playground and hockey rink.

A ribbon cutting is planned for late summer.

"It's going to be a grand event," said Palmer.

IRRRB provided a $50,000 grant to the City of Cook to support infrastructure, site work and construction of the center.

PHOTO CAPTION: Tammy Palmer and Greg Burckhardt of the Cook Recreation Commission are pictured in front of the new Cook Community and Youth Center.