Community rallies for Northwoods Gourmet Girl
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| Jen Dumont/Serendipity Photography Abby Freethy and her son, Dustin. |
By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
GREENVILLE — When Abby Freethy arrived in the Moosehead Lake region more than 10 years ago, she had plenty of experience as a chef but needed to figure out how to make a living.
After combining her love of cooking with creativity, Northwoods Gourmet Girl was based in Freethy’s home kitchen for a short time and has since expanded to a product line of nearly 20 items, including relishes, jams, preserves, dessert sauces, textiles and home goods.
Just as her business was flourishing, however, Freethy suffered a major setback.
In February, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I was aware of something that wasn’t quite right physically,” she said. “So I’ve already had a mastectomy and I’m undergoing extensive treatment. But the outlook is very positive.”
Due to the amount of spent time battling her illness, however, Northwoods Gourmet Girl has been more difficult to manage and maintain.
But on Saturday, June 20, a group of Freethy’s dear friends are hosting a hot turkey sandwich dinner — one of her favorite dishes — and auction at Leisure Life Resort in Greenville.
Led by Sarah Stern and Aurelie Adrien, the event is geared toward raising funds to help toward Freethy’s medical costs not covered by insurance as well as daily living expenses. “This is obviously a very difficult time for Abby on both a professional and personal level,” wrote Stern and Adrien. “As a small business owner, she is very concerned about keeping the lights on while trying to focus on her health.”
Freethy, 40, said that the event is “emotionally overwhelming. It’s hard for someone who has been self-sufficient all their life to learn how to accept help.”
But she also noted the “small acts of kindness” from her friends and neighbors almost on a daily basis. “I had someone leave a slice of lemon tea cake at my door one day,” she said. “People offer to do grocery shopping for me or rake the yard. One neighbor walks my dog and others just call to see how I’m feeling.”
Freethy’s diagnosis came at a time when Northwoods Gourmet Girl was taking off, reaching new markets and keeping her busier than ever.
She had opened her first retail store in Belfast, but was forced to close it after her diagnosis. “I was going down there once or twice a week,” she said. “But with the treatment schedule, we just couldn’t keep it going. The town had welcomed us with open arms and we added something nice to the community. But we’ll be back.”
Northwoods Gourmet Girl’s application for a Community Development Microenterprise Grant was also approved, allowing her to modernize her kitchen and buy additional commercial-grade equipment.
Freethy described her last year as “busy, positive and difficult. We experienced a great deal of momentum. Then it took a complete turn. Now, the focus needs to be on my health and my son, Dustin.”
At the present time, Northwoods Gourmet Girl is focusing on wholesale accounts, filling orders in anticipation of a busy summer. “We need to work smarter and not harder,” Freethy said. “We have a beautiful spot in Greenville and wonderful people we can count on.”
Freethy also noted that her grandmother on her father’s side also was diagnosed with breast cancer at roughly the same age. “And she lived for another 40 years,” she said.
For more information about the June 20 dinner, contact Stern at 534-7229 or sarah.stern.13@gmail.com. Auction items are still being accepted. “No item is too big or too small,” Stern said.time when Northwoods Gourmet Girl was taking off, reaching new markets and keeping her busier than ever.
She had opened her first retail store in Belfast, but was forced to close it after her diagnosis. “I was going down there once or twice a week,” she said. “But with the treatment schedule, we just couldn’t keep it going. The town had welcomed us with open arms and we added something nice to the community. But we’ll be back.”
Northwoods Gourmet Girl’s application for a Community Development Microenterprise Grant was also approved, allowing her to modernize her kitchen and buy additional commercial-grade equipment.
Freethy described her last year as “busy, positive and difficult. We experienced a great deal of momentum. Then it took a complete turn. Now, the focus needs to be on my health and my son, Dustin.”
At the present time, Northwoods Gourmet Girl is focusing on wholesale accounts, filling orders in anticipation of a busy summer. “We need to work smarter and not harder,” Freethy said. “We have a beautiful spot in Greenville and wonderful people we can count on.”
Freethy also noted that her grandmother on her father’s side also was diagnosed with breast cancer at roughly the same age. “And she lived for another 40 years,” she said.
For more information about the June 20 dinner, contact Stern at 534-7229 or sarah.stern.13@gmail.com. Auction items are still being accepted. “No item is too big or too small,” Stern said.