Board Report: How "Food For Paradise" Got Started
By Mira Wonderwheel, Board of Directors
In response to the devastating Camp Fire in Paradise, California, the Ashland Food Co-op Board of Directors saw a need and moved into action in collaboration with General Manager Emile Amarotico and the co-op team. Emile reached out to Liza Tadesco, General Manager at Chico Natural Foods Cooperative, located about 15 miles outside of Paradise, California and learned they had a secure warehouse space and were actively receiving pallet-load donations to distribute at local shelters, pop-up kitchens, and their Co-op store in Chico.
The Board unanimously agreed to authorize Ashland Food Co-op to donate $3,000 to Chico Natural Foods Cooperative and they will distribute food and grocery items to their community in need as a result of the Camp Fire in Paradise, California.
After the resolution, the Ashland Food Co-op Team rose to the occasion and quickly took the necessary actions to make this donation and broader community support possible. We are grateful to be a part of collaborative cooperative power in action and appreciate that we can support the Paradise community by providing some nourishing healthy food.
If you are interested in donating, The Ashland Food Co-op is inviting the community to donate a matching $3,000 to broaden this effort's impact, and will match up to another $3,000. Shoppers can make a donation to benefit Paradise, CA evacuees at the Co-op checkout stands, or online at www.ashlandfood.coop/foodforparadise.
More Co-op News
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As we enter the beautiful month of September here in Southern Oregon, we're excited to share that our Change for Good partner this month is our very own Community Fund. As many of you know, the Community Fund allows us to support amazing local projects and organizations doing great work right here in Southern Oregon.
August Change for Good - Partnering with ACCESS to Make a Difference!
We are honored to partner with ACCESS this August - a fantastic organization that has been serving our community for over four decades. ACCESS, which stands for "A Community in Action, Connecting, Empowering, and Strengthening Self-Sufficiency," is dedicated to addressing hunger, homelessness, and poverty in Southern Oregon.
Empowering Our Community: AFC's Community Grants Now Accepting Applications
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the local community, AFC is thrilled to announce the that we are accepting applications for our Community Grants program.
Ashland Food Co-op's Community Grants program is designed to foster meaningful change in the Southern Oregon region. Through these grants, we seek to support projects that align with our mission of promoting local and sustainable food systems, addressing food insecurity, and promoting community engagement.
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Ashland Food Co-op is thrilled to partner with Maslow Project for our Change for Good program! Maslow Project is an incredible organization that works tirelessly to support homeless youth and families in Southern Oregon. Their mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency, and they do this through a range of services including housing assistance, medical care, and educational support.
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Talent Maker City's mission is to build a more connected, prosperous, and resilient community through hands-on creativity and innovative STEAM-based learning. (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math.) They have a bustling Makerspace facility, brimming with creative energy in downtown Talent offering hands-on STEAM-based workshops and programming for curious minds of all ages!
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
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From Kristina Lefever, Pollinator Project Rogue Valley President
March 2023 Change for Good: Klamath Bird Observatory
From Klamath Bird Observatory, March 2023's Change for Good partner:
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When Douglass Came to Rochdale, England a Slave and Left a Free Man
By David J Thompson
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Rogue Action Center
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