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
Apply for an AFC Gives community grant
For over 25 years, the Ashland Food Co-op has been re-investing in the local community by awarding grants to non-profit organizations doing important work in the Rogue Valley. Putting the seventh cooperative principle, "concern for community," into action, over $30,000 was donated in 2019 - and in 2020, there are even more opportunities for non-profits.
The Co-op is getting a refresh
We are giving our store a much-needed fresh coat of paint. We think you'll enjoy the changes!
When
The painting team will begin our project on February 5th, 2020 with a start time of 9pm.
Where
The entire retail store, deli serving area and interior seating area will receive a fresh new coat of paint.
Timeline
If all goes as planned, our painting project should be finished by February 20.
Will Store Hours Change?
No. We will be painting from 9pm to 5am.
Explore citrus!
Looking to explore some new citrus varieties? Know more before you go! Check out the many types of sweet, sour and somewhere in between that you can enjoy at the Co-op! (Availability may vary due to seasonality.)
Taste for Life winter wellness giveaway
It's a month of giveaways from Taste for Life!
Giveaway #1 has finished up - so it's time for #2! This giveaway runs 1/27-2/2, so sign up below.
This package includes: NOW's Sabucus Zinc-C lozenges, Mushroom Wisdom's SX-Fraction, Bluebonnet's Stress Release formula, ChildLife's First Defense immune formula, Vitafusion's Organic Women's Multi vitamin, Quantum Health's Eye Health supplement, Kyo-Green Sprouts Blend digestion supplement, Solgar's full spectrum Curcumin supplement, and Solgar's No. 7 joint comfort supplement.
Rogue Co-ops College Scholarship
As part of the Rogue Co-ops, a group of Rogue Valley cooperative businesses that includes Ashland Food Co-op, Grange Co-op, Medford Food Co-op, and Rogue Credit Union, we're excited to offer a scholarship opportunity to local high school students planning on attending college.
The Rogue Co-ops have collectively funded a $2,000 scholarship (and Grange Co-op offers an additional eight $1,500 scholarships) for students (in public, private or home school settings) who meet the following requirements:
Become an Owner-Volunteer with the AFC Board
The AFC Board of Directors is looking for owner-volunteers for three board committees: the Owner Engagement Committee (OEC), Board Development Committee (BDC), and AFC Gives Committee.
Sustainability Update: Building on a Strong Foundation
Sustainability Update
Our team has been working on many different projects throughout the year, taking great steps to fulfill our four sustainability goals. Our four goals to achieve by 2030 are: carbon neutrality, zero waste, eliminating toxic chemicals, and being a leader in our sustainable community. We look forward to our sustainable success in the upcoming decade!
2020: A vision for the future through Co-ops and local food
As the 2010s come to a close, the “20/20” eyesight analogy couldn’t be more appropriate for the new decade. With our eye on the future, there’s clearly a sense of urgency and awareness of the unique times we’re living in: a changing climate, increases in costs of living, and the shared pressures of a globalized world.
5 Items to Try: Spreads, Condiments & Snacks
It's fun trying new things! Here are five items you can find at the Co-op with a distinctly international flavor. Whether you're spreading them on some bread or naan, mixing up a salad dressing, or just want something salty and crunchy to snack on, try these out next time you want to elevate your dishes.
10 Ways to Enjoy: Ginger Spread
Sometimes you might come across a product at the Co-op and ask, "That looks good, but how in the heck can I use it in my cooking?" To answer that question, we picked this Ginger Spread made by The Ginger People (famous for their Gin-Gin candies). Grab a jar and try some of these unique applications in your own kitchen - or get inspired to utilize it in another way.
Meet Your Board: Melina Barker
Hello, Co-op members! My name is Melina Barker, and I joined the AFC Board of Directors this July. Since then, I have been busy learning about all the work the previous members have done to craft strategic goals to support the success of the AFC.
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Smart Chicken® Holiday Giving in 2019
During the month of November, Co-op shoppers can nourish their own families and help fight hunger in the Rogue Valley.
Over the years, Smart Chicken® and Ashland Food Co-op have teamed up to donate thousands of pounds of chicken to ACCESS. Smart Chicken® will once again donate Smart Chicken® products based on the total volume that shoppers purchase at Ashland Food Co-op to ACCESS.
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GM Report: Gratitude for a Great 2019 at the Co-op
It’s the season of gratitude and reflection on the year that has passed, and there is so much to be thankful for as a Co-op owner.
2019 started off with the news that over $13,000 in emergency donations had been raised from Co-op owners and shoppers for support and relief efforts after Paradise, CA was leveled by a wildfire. This outpouring of our support was critical in the months after the fire, after the news trucks had left and the work of rebuilding began. I know how grateful we all are for the much calmer smoke season that our region experienced this summer.
Rounding Up in October
Part of what makes co-ops unique are the guiding 7 Principles of Cooperation. One of the seven that is felt strongly in Ashland is "Concern for the community" - and that's why the Co-op is offering a new way to give back to our community for the month of October. When you pay at the register, you can round up your total to the nearest dollar. For example, $11.68 becomes $12, and $0.32 is donated.