Change for Good

 

2020 was the first year of the Change for Good partnership, a register round-up program to benefit a monthly slate of organizations, voted on by Co-op owners, through the cumulative donations of shoppers choosing to round-up their shopping total to the nearest dollar.
 

This is a recording of an informational webinar that is sharing information on our Change for Good program, the application process, and timeline.

Our Change for Good Application deadline is ๐Ÿต:๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐—ฝ๐—บ, ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฐ๐—ต ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿณ๐˜๐—ต, ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿญ.

The application can be found in the Change for Good section of our AFC Gives webpage

 

To learn more about AFC Gives and its funding programs, please visit ashlandfood.coop/afcgives

 

Here are some highlights from the webinar:

Organizations must:
   โ€ข Have documented tax-exempt status to be eligible
   โ€ข Have a Co-op member listed in the Organization or on the Board of Directors
   โ€ข Meet at least one of the AFC Gives priorities (detailed below)
   โ€ข Operate in Jackson or Josephine Counties

Featured Change for Good organizations will be required to:
   โ€ข Offer an info table at the Coop for two hours, twice per month (on hold until Covid distancing is lifted)
   โ€ข Provide marketing images and info for the Co-op's:
      - Weekly Sales Flyer (pending available real estate on flyer/insert)
      - Social Media posts (2)
      - E-Mail Blasts (2)
      - Printed Posters in Store (TBD)
      - Customer Displays (at each register and a larger display on the Community Monitor above the soup bar)
   โ€ข Provide a brief explanation of the organization's mission and work (for cashiers' interactions with customers)
   โ€ข Media:
      - Logo (AI or high-quality PNG)
      - 4-8 photos/videos/other content to share in marketing channels.
      - Any projects, stories or other information you'd like the Co-op to highlight.
      - An email (and optional social media postings) to your list encouraging your supporters to round-up for Change for Good during your featured month.

For 2021, we are looking for nonprofit organizations to partner monthly with the Co-op and its owners in support of five priorities:

  • ๐—˜quity, ๐——iversity, ๐—œnclusion - Support for organizations that specifically focus on increasing diversity, supporting equity and inclusion and educate the public on anti-racism.
  • ๐—•๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—ก๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐˜€ - Support for housing and homelessness; providing for food, shelter, and clothing; and addressing the needs of children in or on the edge of poverty.
  • ๐—–๐—น๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ - Support for developing climate resiliency and sustainability.
  • ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐˜† ๐—™๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ฑ - Increasing the awareness and viability of local food producers and support for sustainable agriculture.
  • ๐—–๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ - Highlighting the arts and cultural programs that bring awareness to the coop principles of community, equity, and sustainability.

 

Applications will require an explanation of how the work of your organization addresses one or more of these priorities.

 

More Co-op News

Staff Picks: Favorite Local Products

September is Love Local Month!  All month long weโ€™re celebrating our local farmers and vendors with demos, events and more. Here are some of our staff's favorite local products.

Mike_SpecialtiesDepartment.jpg

How Can I Reduce My Plastic Use at the Co-op?

By Rianna Koppel, Sustainability Coordinator

Plastic pollution today is a global dilemma. Did you know that more than 40% of plastic is used once, then tossed? In 2015, 79% of total plastic waste ended up in landfills or the environment. How can our co-op help reduce the amount of single-use plastics? Luckily, we offer a variety of options for owners.

Stainless Steel Straws

Meet Pachamama Coffee Cooperative

By Lauren Taber, Pachamama Coffee Cooperative

Pachamama Coffee Cooperative started in 2001 with a few simple questions in mind: what would it look like to take Fair Trade a step further? How can coffee farmers be in direct relationship with end consumers in the United States?

We found that the answer was even simpler: cooperative ownership. Pachamama Coffee has been 100% farmer-owned since day one, and is currently owned by 140,000 small scale family farmers across the coffee producing regions of the world.

Community Cider Backyard Fruit Drive

How often can you browse the shelf at your neighborhood grocery store, see a bottle of hand crafted, local cider and say, โ€œHey, I help make that!โ€ Well, at the Co-op you can.

2018 Board Election Results

The AFC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the results of the 2018 Board Election. There were three excellent candidates running for two Board positions. In total, 905 votes were cast.

Congratulations to the following candidates who will serve three-year terms on the Ashland Food Co-op Board of Directors.

Thank you for voting!

BOD_Election%20Results_E-Blast_800x534-05%20(1).png

 

Meet Store Manager Barry Haynes

By Barry Haynes, Store Manager

Twenty three years ago my wife and I began our quest to relocate our family from the midwest to the west coast. We were looking for a beautiful area with an  engaged community that would enable our children to thrive. Equally important, we wanted our new home to have a vibrant natural food store. When we arrived in southern Oregon, we felt as though we hit the jackpot.

Beat the Heat

When the heat of summer takes over, it can be hard on our bodies and moods. Donโ€™t let the scorching temps get you down, cool off with one of these refreshing Staff recommendations.
 

Report from the Board of Directors: Strategic Plan Update

By Jeff Golden, External Relations Committee Chair

Ashland Food Co-op is striding into the future with careful intention. Weโ€™re especially focused on the three top priorities of our strategic planning process, a collaboration of our board and management team. A quick update:

Riding off into the Sunset

 

By Annie Hoy, Retiring Marketing Manager

Since I was born and raised in far West Texas, I cannot help but use some imagery from what is so familiar to me.

Staff Picks: Summer Hikes and Trail Snacks

Our staff loves to head outside and enjoy the gorgeous Oregon outdoors. Here's a few of their favorite trails and the Co-op snacks they like to take with them.

 

LauraPfister_Marketing%20EDIT.jpg

Be a Zero Waste Hero in Four Easy Steps

By Stephanie Koerella, Education Coordinator

Reducing our waste has continued to be of greater concern for Rogue Valley residents, especially since January, when options for recycling became even more limited. While the Ashland Food Co-op is ramping up our efforts to reduce waste as a business, there is a lot that our community can do at home to help the cause.