Meet our July Change for Good Recipeint!
The Ashland Food Angels aspires to help nurture and support individuals and families in the Ashland and Medford areas by freely providing food and other goods. To support the local environment by diverting usable items from a landfill destination, by retrieving and redirecting food, clothing and household goods while still usable, helping them get to the people who need them most.
The impact of the Ashland Food Angels project is counted in terms greater than just redistributing food to organizations that feed the hungry. Success of the project is also displayed in the positive impact on the lives of individuals and organizations through the interactions of Pamala Joy and her volunteers.
Here are some of their success stories:
- Through a donation by Pamala Joy of many collected golf items, the Ashland High School Girls Golf Team was able to be started.
- Donations of food to the Catalyst Program at the Ashland High School deeply touched young people who felt uncared for and inspired many students to continue attending classes where they were given free food several times weekly.
- A disabled couple were able to make it through several challenging years because of the food they received from the Food Angels in exchange for helping the program. Another disabled man, out of work and greatly discouraged, had his spirits revitalized and his self-esteem raised when he began to work with the Food Angels and created their website. In addition to eliminating his depression, the food he received helped his family through a hard time.
- For many years boxes of food were delivered to the Ashland HeadStart for the families there. In addition to the free food, parents were taught how to best use the produce they received. Boxes of toys were also delivered.
- The Rogue Valley Boys and Girls Club receives many boxes of toys throughout the year, collected by Pamala and the Angels.
- Until 1996 Uncle Food's Diner had little to no fresh produce, only frozen leftovers from SOU. Pamala Joy began a weekly delivery of usable produce which continued from that year to the present time.
- The Ashland Food Bank only distributed non-perishable food (boxes and cans) until the late 1990's when they began accepting fresh produce from the Food Angels, at Pamala's request. Over the years this has developed into a wide-ranging produce section which is now sourced from several locations. The Food Angels have continued to donate thousands of pounds of produce weekly to the Food Bank.
- For many years camps for Native American youth and elders, which had no food budge, were provided with food by the Food Angels.
- With the encouragement and help of Pamala Joy and other Food Angels, the newly opened Market of Choice went from having no recycling program to an active involvement of keeping things from the landfill.
- In 2026 with the knowledge that the Phoenix and Talent Food Banks had too little produce to serve their clients, the Food Angels redirected their collected food on a weekly basis to those food banks, helping dozens of people to have healthier food in their lives.
- On the first day Grocery Outlet opened in South Ashland, Pamala Joy contacted the managers and the store became an active partner with the Food Angels, providing hundreds of pounds of food to the program on a daily basis, increasing the amount which was able to be sent to the various food banks.
- Food Angels were recognized by the Ashland Food Bank recently with a certificate for donating over 120,000 pounds of food to them in 2025. We also donate to Uncle Foods, the Jackson County Fuel Committee, the Ashland Shelter, the Phoenix Food Bank, the two Talent food banks, and the Hawthorne Park group in Medford which feeds the homeless.
The Ashland Food Co-op is proud to support and uplift the voices behind this very worthy cause. The Food Angels also visit the Co-op nightly to collect fresh produce that would not have made it onto the grocery shelves; proving again that a thriving, caring, zero-waste community is possible. May all who are hungry be fed.
For more information, or to support AFA, please visit www.ashlandfoodangels.org
More Co-op News
Welcome to the Board!
We are happy to welcome two new Directors, Evan Archerd and Elizabeth Walsh, to the Board! And we're thrilled to have Joanna Wnorowski Pecoraro continuing to serve!
July Change for Good Partner: White Oak Farm
This month, we’re proud to support White Oak Farm, an inspiring organization that blends sustainable farming, environmental education, and community nourishment—right here in Southern Oregon.
Bee the Change: Supporting Pollinators, Art, and Education with Bee Girl
Here at Ashland Food Co-op, we’re buzzing with excitement about our July Change for Good partner: Bee Girl / Bee Regenerative! This local nonprofit is doing some bee-autiful work to protect pollinators, restore habitats, and teach the next generation how to care for the tiny creatures that keep our food systems thriving.
Bee Girl + Bee Regenerative: More Than Just a Name
May Change for Good: Food & Friends
Each May, Ashland Food Co-op highlights a local nonprofit doing vital work in our community—and this month, we're proud to feature Food & Friends, the only Meals on Wheels program serving Jackson and Josephine Counties.
April Change for Good: ScienceWorks
ScienceWorks: Growing Sustainably, Connecting Community
March Change for Good: Parker House Project
Homelessness remains a serious issue in Southern Oregon, and women—especially single women and mothers with children—face unique challenges when seeking shelter and stability. That’s where Parker House Project comes in.
February Change for Good: BASE Southern Oregon
This February, Ashland Food Co-op is proud to support BASE Southern Oregon as our Change for Good partner! BASE (Black Alliance & Social Empowerment) is a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting and empowering Black residents in Southern Oregon through events, resources, and advocacy.
Your donations at the register all month long will help BASE continue their impactful work, and there are plenty of ways to get involved! Here’s what’s coming up:
January’s Change for Good Partner – Community Works
At Ashland Food Co-op, we’re thrilled to kick off the new year by supporting Community Works, our January Change for Good partner. This incredible organization is dedicated to empowering individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence through crisis support, safe housing, and community outreach. Community Works provides services that are free, confidential, and open to all genders, ensuring that no one faces these challenges alone.
Here’s how Community Works is making a difference and how you can get involved:
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
Indigenous Peoples' Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. It's observed on the second Monday in October, coinciding with the federal holiday of Columbus Day in the United States.
Celebrating Hispanic and Latinx Heritage
September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions, diverse cultures, and rich histories of Americans with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
September Change for Good Partner: Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
At Ashland Food Co-op, our commitment to community and sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. This September, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on our Change for Good partner, Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (Friends of CSNM). This dedicated organization works tirelessly to protect, restore, and conserve the natural beauty of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument through service, advocacy, and education.
Stewardship in Action: Restoring Riparian Areas
August Change for Good Partner: Rogue River Watershed Council
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?