July Change for Good Partner: Ashland Food Angels
July'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.
Each morning a Food Angel volunteer picks up food, including fresh produce, dairy, deli and bakery items from Shop N Kart and twice a week from Market of Choice. Each evening produce is collected from the Ashland Food Coop, and at the end of both Farmers Markets in Ashland as well. Food is sorted and reboxed 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 at times to other organizations such as Gospel Mission. Food unfit for people is given to farmers for their animals or for compost.
Each afternoon unwanted non-food items are collected from the Hospice Unique Boutique (HUB), which are redistributed throughout the community in a variety of ways.
Ashland Food Angels was started in conjunction with the Northwest Seasonal Workers Association, to help provide food for the many families assisted by NSWA. The food was delivered to their offices in Ashland or Medford three times a week. An additional motivational factor in beginning the project was to keep as much out of the landfills as possible. Soon contact was made with other helping organizations, such as Uncle Food's, Jackson County Fuel Committee and school, senior and Native American groups and an ongoing distribution service was established through which recipients received food donations they could rely upon.
For the first five years of the project the work was done entirely by Pamala Joy, with help from her then young adolescent daughter, moving food from store to distribution site in an old beat-up van. The sorting was done in Ms. Joy's front yard or on her side deck, covered rapidly with tarps if the rains set in. Eventually she was able to take over a small but dry garage which was rebuilt to serve the purpose of food sorting and storage.
The Ashland Food Angels has been highly successful and effective, helping many individuals and families over the years, and keeping a great deal out of landfills and into the hands of people who can use the food and other retrieved items. The Food Angels have expanded from helping one group to serving several different groups regularly, as well as many other groups and individuals through one time or occasional donations. 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. They are different from food banks in that we gather food for organizations to give away, and we predominately focus on fruits and vegetables.
To learn more about the Ashland Food Angels, volunteering, and the work that they are doing, 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
Ashland Food Co-op's December Change for Good Partner: Rogue Action Center
This December, Ashland Food Co-op is proud to partner with Rogue Action Center (RAC) as part of their Change for Good initiative. RAC is dedicated to cultivating organizing power and leadership to create a more just and thriving Southern Oregon. Their mission focuses on building community power for Housing Justice, Racial Justice, and Queer & Trans Liberation. They achieve this through a combination of base building, youth-centered leadership development, coalition building, and advocacy campaigns aimed at transforming societal rules.
Our November Change for Good Partner: SOESD Indian Education Fund
Each month, the Ashland Food Co-op partners with a local nonprofit through our Change for Good program. This November, we are proud to feature the important work of the Southern Oregon Indian Education Department (SOESD) Indian Education Fund.
The Change for Good program allows our shoppers to round up their total at the register, with the extra change going to support a different local nonprofit each month. The funds collected make a meaningful difference for these organizations and the communities they serve.
Save on Field Day Items and Support Native Foodways
This November, get ready for gatherings with friends and family with big savings on all Field Day products at your co-op. Save on more than 270 Field Day items — from maple syrup to wild-caught tuna to paper towels — from Oct. 30 through Dec. 3. Field Day is our value brand that offers high-quality, delicious food and household products at more affordable prices every day through Co+op Basics, making this savings event even more spectacular. Our lowest prices will be even lower!
Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Honoring Native Heritage
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Stewardship in Action: Restoring Riparian Areas
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At Ashland Food Co-op, we are dedicated to fostering a vibrant and sustainable community. Each month, our Change for Good program partners with a local organization to support their mission and amplify their impact. For August, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Rogue River Watershed Council (RRWC).
Who is the Rogue River Watershed Council?
Disability Pride Month
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July Change for Good Partner: Peace House
Meet our July Change for Good partner - Peace House! This incredible organization has been a cornerstone of our community, dedicated to building a culture of peace through compassionate actions that support human rights and justice for all.
About Peace House
Peace House has a broad and impactful mission. Their work spans several critical areas, including:
Supporting Stream Smart: Our June Change for Good Partner
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What is Stream Smart?
2024 Owner Coupon Schedule
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May Change for Good: Our Family Farms
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