Plymouth Teen Launches Nonprofit “Grocery Gatherers”

Peyton LaFrenz launched a nonprofit called Grocery Gatherers to help people with their grocery shopping during the COVID-19 outbreak. She’s an 11th grader at Wayzata High School and has recruited other Wayzata and Orono High School students to help her.

Avery Seesz, Reiley Gnos, Tony Saatzer, Ella Mann, and Peyton LaFrenz are the Grocery Gatherers.

LaFrenz started the nonprofit about a week ago with a goal of delivering groceries to those who are considered high risk of COVID-19.

Once a customer visits the website Grocerygatherers.com, someone from the group will call the customer back to discuss the process and customer’s preferences.

“Then we deliver the groceries outside of the door, so there’s no contact,” said LaFrenz. “We just encourage people to stay home.”

LaFrenz recruited fellow students from Wayzata High School and nearby Orono High School. There are adults who are helping too.

“We make sure we wear gloves. We wash our hands and have no contact with clients,” said LaFrenz.

LaFrenz hopes to do this as long as the group is able. But she knows when school starts back up, they might not have as much free time as they do now.

How COVID-19 is impacting our community