“Duluth Cheerio Challenge” Launches, Mayor Gets Cheeky After Kathy Cargill’s Insults On City

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluthians, including Mayor Roger Reinert, are responding in creative and humorous ways to billionaire Kathy Cargill, who told the Wall Street Journal over the weekend that Duluth is a “small-minded community” and that Mayor Reinert “peed in his cheerios” when he sent her a letter wanting to know her plans for 20 properties she recently purchased on Park Point. 

Mayor Reinert posted a picture on social media of a pancake and a piece of bacon with the caption, “For the record … I’m more of a pancake guy #IYKYK.”  IYKYK means, ‘If you know, you know.’

Councilor Arik Forsman posted on his social media showing a picture of himself with a bowl of cereal and a box of Cheerios in the background.  His caption read, “Enjoy your snow day and be careful out there, Duluth!”

Meanwhile, a group of Duluthians has started the “Duluth Cheerio Challenge” in response to Cargill’s statements.

The group sent out a press release Monday that called on the community to donate as many boxes of Cheerios or other healthy cereal between Wednesday and Friday. The cereal will then be donated to Duluth food shelves, like CHUM, the Salvation Army and the Union Gospel Mission.

Donations are being accepted from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Duluth Labor Temple on London Road.

The Cheerio Challenge’s Facebook page posted a clip explaining the purpose of the challenge.

“March is Minnesota FoodShare month. And so, what we want to do is rather than you know, rather than pee in our Cheerios, we’re going to collect some Cheerios… So let’s have some fun with this, gather together with your friends, your co-workers, do a Cheerio drive at your place of work, at your school, and let’s gather some food and raise some money for those in our community that are in need.”

CHUM said it distributes at least 800 boxes of cereal every month, just to meet Duluthians’ basic needs, which is nearly 10,000 boxes of cereal every year.

At Fitger’s Brewhouse in Duluth, owner Rod Raymond said the brewery has released its latest lager called “The Park Point People’s Pint.”  He said each pint is served with a “generous side of cheerios.”

As for Kathy Cargill, who has stayed mum about her plans for the 20 properties on Park Point, she told the WSJ she’s going to be even more secretive about her properties and that she’s “not going to do anything to benefit that community.”