January Change for Good Partner: Ashland Food Angels
January's Change for Good Partner is
local nonprofit Ashland Food Angels
Ashland Food Angels is a local, fully volunteer grassroots non-profit which has operated daily since 1995, gathering and distributing food and other useful items to those in need in this area.
Every evening a volunteer picks up fresh, organic produce from the Ashland Food Coop. Volunteers also collect dairy, deli, and bakery items from other local shops in town and the farmers market. The food is then sorted and packed for distribution through the Ashland Emergency Food Bank, the Peace House-sponsored ‘Uncle Foods’ free meals program, the shelter in Ashland run by Rogue Retreat, and sometimes Gospel Mission. Any food that is considered unfit for people is donated to local farmers to feed their animals or add to their compost. Additionally, donated non-food items are distributed through the Hospice Unique Boutique (HUB).
Ashland Food Angels was founded, in conjunction with the Northwest Seasonal Workers Association, to help provide food for the many families assisted by NSWA. Originally, the food was delivered to their outposts in Southern Oregon three times per week. One of the founding goals was to keep as much out of the landfills as possible! Other helping organizations joined the cause, such as Uncle Food's, Jackson County Fuel Committee, and Native American groups, and an ongoing distribution service was established.
For the first five years of the project, Pamala Joy ran the whole operation, with help from her then young adolescent daughter- moving food from stores to distribution sites in a worn out van. The sorting was done in Joy's front yard or on her side deck. Sometimes rain came and they scrambled to cover the sorting area with tarps! Eventually she was able to take over a small (but dry!) garage which they rebuilt to serve the purpose of sorting and storing food.
Ashland Food Angels has helped many individuals and families over the years, and kept a great deal of waste out of landfills! The ripple effect of this project has contributed significantly to the lives of many in this area and is now so firmly in place that it will continue for many years to come. AFA differs from food banks in that they gather food for organizations to give away, and predominantly focus on fruits and vegetables, rather than nonperishables
To learn more about the Ashland Food Angels, their work, and volunteer opportunities, please visit ashlandfoodangels.org
Ashland Food Angels was voted on by our owners in our 2021 election to be a Change for Good Partner.
Through the cumulative register round up donations over the course of this month ~ our shoppers will help support this local nonprofit organization and the work that they are doing in our community.
More Co-op News
September Change for Good: AFC Community Fund
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.
July's Change for Good Partner - Maslow Project
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.
June 2023 Change for Good Partner: Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
The Ashland Food Co-op is teaming up with the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy (SOLC) as its Change for Good partner for this month. This collaboration aims to support SOLC's mission of conserving Southern Oregon's natural landscapes and habitats.
Bicycle Benefits
Here at the Co-op we are on a mission to promote healthy lifestyles and sustainable practices within our community.
May 2023 Change for Good Partner: Talent Maker City
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
We're always learning and growing here at the Co-op and with the approach of Cinco de Mayo we thought we would share a (very) brief history lesson and some thoughts on celebrating this holiday here in the United States.
April 2023 Change for Good Partner: Pollinator Project Rogue Valley
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:
Frederick Douglass And Co-ops in 1846
When Douglass Came to Rochdale, England a Slave and Left a Free Man
By David J Thompson
February's Change for Good partner: OHRA
OHRA helps low-income people build better lives through access to social service resources. By helping
people move from crisis to stability, OHRA builds more capable individuals, stronger families, and a
better community. We have three core programs:
December Change for Good Partner: Rogue Action Center
December's Change for Good Partner is
Rogue Action Center
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The Rogue Action Center (RAC) builds organizing infrastructure, leaders, and community power for a just, inclusive, and sustainable Southern Oregon for everyone.
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