December Change for Good: Jackson County Fuel Committee
If you’ve lived through even one Rogue Valley winter, you know the cold settles in quickly. The frosty mornings, the long dark evenings, the kind of chill that lingers no matter how many layers you put on - winter can be tough. And while many of us can manage with the help of heaters, woodstoves, and warm homes, thousands of families in our community struggle to access the heat they need to stay safe and comfortable. That’s where the Jackson County Fuel Committee (JCFC) comes in!
Fueling Warmth Since 1978
JCFC started as a volunteer-led effort by forestry workers, mill workers, teachers, students, clergy, and everyday community members who realized something wasn’t adding up: people were cold, yet wood and energy resources were abundant.
Their mission hasn’t changed: make sure low-income families have access to heat, whether that’s emergency firewood, help preventing utility shutoffs, or weatherization support to keep homes warmer and energy bills lower.
A Community Effort With Serious Momentum
This year, JCFC entered the winter season with an impressive surge of support from across the Rogue Valley.
• Local students stepped up.
Thirty teens from Academia Latina rolled into a Wednesday woodcut ready to learn, sweat, and haul. They cut and stacked a full cord of firewood for JCFC members who couldn’t physically manage the work. As one JCFC team member said, these kids “knew what they were doing," and they taught each other along the way.
• A new structure took shape thanks to skilled hands.
The Timber Framers Guild designed and built a gorgeous new timber-frame structure for the JCFC woodlot, crafted by more than 100 people ranging in age from 13 to 73. Finished in September, the structure will help streamline firewood distribution so more families can get what they need, faster.
• Chainsaw pros lent their skills.
Pacific Oasis, one of the nation’s largest wildland firefighting companies, spent a full day at the woodlot tackling massive logs as part of their chainsaw certification class. They walked away with practical experience and JCFC walked away with a lot more firewood ready for delivery.
• Tree services delivered big.
Several local tree services sent truckloads of wood to the woodlot, including one forestry worker who spent months preparing six whole cords of cured and split firewood. That donation alone will help carry JCFC through December.
All this support meant JCFC rolled into the first cold snap with stocked woodpiles, new infrastructure, and enough volunteers to deliver firewood to more than a dozen households right out of the gate.
A Rough Winter Ahead And Why JCFC Matters
JCFC organizers expect this winter to be especially hard for low-income households. Heating costs are rising, and the cold is coming on fast.
As JCFC Benefits Coordinator Reyna O’Grady put it, “We have every reason to believe this is going to be a uniquely rough winter for people… and we need all hands on deck.”
At the Co-op, this is where our Change for Good program shines. Every time you round up at the register in December, you’re helping keep someone warm. You’re helping a family avoid a shutoff. You’re helping a senior heat their home safely. You’re supporting the volunteers who spend their weekends cutting, splitting, delivering, and advocating - rain, shine, or snow.
How You Can Help Warm a Home
• Round up at the register all month long. Every penny goes directly to JCFC’s fuel assistance efforts.
• Spread the word - share their work with a friend, co-worker, or neighbor.
• Volunteer or get involved by calling JCFC at 541-488-2905. (Ask for Reyna - they’ll point you in the right direction.)
Winter is coming on strong; let’s help make sure no one faces the cold alone.
More Co-op News
2018 Kids Summer Camps
We’ve teamed up with Rogue Valley Farm to School to offer three different camps this summer. Each week campers will dive into food production, preparation and exploration, with a mix of farm and kitchen experiences that delight the senses and inspire the soul. Join Rogue Valley Farm to School staff as they cultivate the ability to grow and cook delicious, healthy, seasonal meals. Monday - Wednesday at the Co-op Community Classroom, Thursday & Friday at the Farm at SOU.
Update on our Strategic Initiatives
By Ed Claassen, Board President
Your Board and Management Team invested a significant amount of time in 2014 developing a set of strategic initiatives that we believe are vital in shaping the future of our business and furthering our mission. We formed a Strategic Planning Steering Committee consisting of 3 Board members and 3 Management Team members to guide the implementation of these initiatives.
2018 Electronic Coupon Schedule
To further our sustainability efforts and to serve you better, we began offering Electronic Owner Coupons in January 2017 at the register.
No more forgetting to bring your owner coupons. No more waiting for your newsletter to arrive. Cashiers simply ask if you want to use your owner coupons when you check out.
As we enter our second year of Electronic Coupons we wanted to share a couple of friendly reminders and the 2018 month by month schedule.
Please note:
What Does Democracy Have to Do with Cooperatives?
By Annie Hoy, Marketing Manager
We often refer to cooperatives as “democratic enterprises.” But what does that really mean? The Ashland Food Co-op, like all other co-ops in most economic sectors, is owned and controlled by the people who use its services.
Co+op Basics: High Integrity, Low Price
Looking to stretch your grocery budget? So are we! We've lowered the price on over three hundred items to create a set of high integrity staples for every shopper. Welcome to Co+op Basics.
Co+op Basics includes over 300 pantry and household staples. From beef to milk to cereal, we’ve lowered the margin and price on all those items to make organic, healthy food accessible to every shopper.
Co+op Basics Staff Favorites
After the holidays, we usually find our pocket books a little lighter. Here are a few favorite Co+op Basics items our staff turn to when the money is a little tighter.
Proposals Sought for the 2018 Community Grants
The funding cycle for the 2018 Co-op Community Grants for nonprofit organizations is now open.
Every spring, for more than 20 years, we’ve been donating to area nonprofits through our Community Grant program. We are committed to creating healthy, sustainable communities and this program helps us fulfill that commitment by supporting the amazing work of local nonprofits. The Community Grant program is also the highlight of Cooperative Principle 7, Concern for Community, and is something we take to heart.
From the General Manager’s Desk
By Emile Amarotico
As we commence our lap around the sun in 2018, I wish to recognize the longstanding contributions of an amazing group of professionals. We are blessed with the dedication of eleven department managers expertly coordinating the daily flow of people, products and services that breath life into our Co-op!
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Lynne (35+ years’ tenure) our Grocery Manager oversees keeping the aisles abundant with shelf stable products and coolers full of fresh perishables.
The Role of the Board in Co-op Governance
By Gwyneth Bowman, Vice President
After serving on the AFC Board for fourteen years my passion for the Co-op model has strengthened my commitment to the Cooperative Principles and Values. Of special importance is how we work together as a governing body with one voice. We are the ultimate decision-makers of our Co-op and hold a trusteeship for the benefit of our owners and community.
Fall Favorites from the Co-op
Like it or not, the cool weather has arrived. Whether you are heading out for a hike or enjoying a good book by the fire, the Co-op Deli has what you need to fuel your favorite fall activity. Stay warm with these comfort food recommendations from the Co-op Deli.
From the General Manager's Desk
By Emile Amarotico
A recent visitor commented that our parking is totally inadequate to our business volume. What’s true is that we cannot create more parking due to space and municipal code constraints. Thus, the value of each available space is increasing over time. Assuming only half of Co-op shoppers use automobile parking, each space supports at least $200,000 in annual sales.
Meet Board of Director Julie O'Dwyer
When not working on Board of Director efforts, my profession is an Interior and Building Designer. I own the Ashland Design Studio, located in the Historic Railroad District, and have a design services studio there - JulieO Design. I have been in the architectural design business my whole life; from crawling around my father's architectural studio to traveling around the world working on buildings large and small to now having created my own niche in the local building community. I took a few years off this path to own and run Tease Restaurant here in Ashland.
Nourish Your Family and Fight Hunger
The holiday season is upon us. Amidst the shopping frenzies, family gatherings, and parties it can be hard to remember this is also a season of giving. That’s why we want to make it easy for you to give back. So easy that it’s as simple as doing your everyday grocery shopping. You can nourish your own family and help fight hunger in the Rogue Valley.
For the month of November, we are once again teaming up with Smart Chicken® for the Smart Chicken® Smart Giving program.
Here’s how it works.
5 Reasons to Love Co-ops
By Laura Pfister, Media Coordinator
October is National Co-op Month, so what’s the big deal? Being a co-op is special. Yes, we know we are biased, but being a cooperative enterprise means we do business differently. We don’t have a single owner living on their private island drinking margaritas all day without a care in the world. We are owned and governed by you, our 10,000 members. We share the burden in hard times and share the benefits in the good times. We put people, the planet and our principles before profit.
From the General Manager's Desk
By Emile Armarotico
This spring, National Co-op Grocers recognized Ashland Food Co-op as a Co+efficient Sustainability Star for our excellent sustainability efforts.
Our Sustainability Vision aims at being carbon neutral by 2030. We’ve taken a great stride toward this by installing a 39 kilowatt solar electric system on our rooftop with the capacity to generate approximately 7% of our electricity usage. The cost was partially offset by a $27,000 REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) Grant.