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
2020 Co-op Election Results
2020 Co-op Election Results
Ashland Food Co-op owners voted for three open seats on the Board of Directors, and for ten non-profit organizations for the Change for Good register round-up program.
Click a name below to read more about that Co-op Board member.
A statement from the Board of Directors on racial justice
Dear Ashland Food Cooperative Family and Community,
Co-op Owners Step-Up to Support the Ashland Emergency Food Bank!
AFC and AEFB Press Release - Local Strength!
Release Date: 5-26-2020
In April, the Ashland Food Co-op Board of Directors announced to the community that the Co-op would be returning 100% of the 2019 Patronage Dividend to its owners. The 100% Patronage Dividend return to Co-op owners converted to over $628,000.
The Co-op Board felt in this time of great need it was not the right time for the Co-op to put away funds for the future, but rather to support owners fully so they may have more strength to weather these stormy times.
Free Monday Night Lectures - virtual and recorded
Thanks to the many agile and adaptable experts in the Rogue Valley, the much-loved Free Monday Night Lectures live on - even if everything is moving online.
While we miss seeing community members with a joy of learning showing up at the Co-op Classroom, we hope these recordings teach and inspire you.
An update on Strategic Energy Management at the Co-op
By Nina Friedman, Strategic Energy Management intern
Open letter from AFC Board on Coronavirus Policies
The Ashland Food Co-op has played a critical role supporting our community for nearly 50 years by providing healthy food and a safe place to shop. With the recent COVID-19 shutdown, this support has been even more important and has stretched our organization in ways that we could not have anticipated. We have endeavored to address the needs of both our staff and our customers, hopefully in the most cooperative manner.
Owner Voting on 2020 Co-op Board & more
As an owner of the Ashland Food Co-op, you are an important decision-maker in the leadership of the Co-op! A vital part of your ownership is voting for the Board of Directors.
On the ballot: Vote for Board Candidates and Change for Good Organizations
Vote for Board Candidates
This year, four candidates are nominated for three Board positions: each elected Board director will serve a three-year term. The candidates are Ed Claassen, Mark Gibbs, Carolina Livi and Julie O'Dywer.
2020 Annual Meeting for Owners
Mark the evening of May 13 at 5pm on your calendar and join us for the 2020 AFC Annual Meeting. We’ll host the meeting online using Google Hangouts. Please click here to join the meeting, or call in at this number:
+1 617-675-4444
PIN: 719 680 293 2056#
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The Co-op has always had a focus on supporting the strong local scene of growers and producers - and in these times, it's even more important. Here is just a small selection of some of our favorites from the area. Help support local businesses next time you stop by the Co-op by picking one of these products.
Unwavering Spirit in a Time of Change
By Emile Amarotico, General Manager
It’s been two months since my last update on our Co-op community, but it could just as well have been two years ago, or from an alternate reality! Needless to say, life at the Co-op has changed, and it hasn’t been easy for employees or shoppers. But despite the challenges, it has been an inspiring and reaffirming time that reminds us why we love the cooperative enterprise.
Staying Sustainable in A Changing World
By Rianna Koppel, Sustainability Coordinator
In the midst of a health crisis, how can we focus on sustainability? Let’s be real - these are tough times!
What does sustainability look like now? I like to refer to the definition of sustainability - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. How can we meet the needs of the present, while keeping the future in mind?
Democracy and Co-ops
By Annie Hoy, Board Director
This month, AFC Owners will democratically elect a slate of board candidates. These candidates are co-op owners, just like you and me. By holding annual elections, co-ops around the world and close to home are expressing Cooperative Principle 2: Democratic Member Control.
2019 Patronage Dividends are available now
From the Board of Directors:
This year, the Co-op Board of Directors is taking unprecedented action to distribute 100% of the over $628,000 2019 Patronage Dividend to our owners. In this time of great need, there is no holding back. This is not the moment to put away funds for the future, but rather to support our owners fully so that we may all have more strength to weather the storm.
Beans from Scratch
Michelle isn't serving up samples right now, so she's serving up kitchen tips instead! Here's her tried and true approach to cooking dry beans, plus some extra tips for upping your flavor, saving time, and cook other legumes. (Ingredients and modifications are below the video.)
Ingredients
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By Mahlea Rasmussen, Education Coordinator
Inspired by Bea Johnson's Zero Waste Home
We are in uncertain times and some of you may be second-guessing some of your zero waste practices and replacing them with safety measures for you and your family. I was proud not to have chemical cleaners in my home and never used plastic gloves - but now those products are being suggested for staying clean and safe. Here are some tips to keep your home safe while working towards more sustainability.