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
Ashland Food Co-op employees are heroes, worthy of respect and gratitude
Until a crisis like this occurs, few think of Grocers as essential service providers. However, our employees have been here day in and day out, risking their health and the safety of their loved ones, to provide food for our community. This is not a job that can be done from home or from what is now considered a safe social distance. Our employees have worked with the utmost professionalism, care, and concern for shopper well-being.
Meet Reagan Roach, AFC Executive Chef & Prepared Foods Manager
The Co-op's general manager, Emile Amorotico, sat down with the newest addition to the co-op's management team, Reagan Roach. Get to know Reagan in the interview below - and say hi when you see him in store!
5 Things You Didn't Know the Co-op Carries for Cold, Flu & Immune Protection
- Wishgarden Herbs - Kick Ass Immune: Your total frontline immune defense!
- Oshala Farm - Oshala Fire Cider: Locally made in the Applegate. It tastes so good you could craft a healthy dressing with this fire cider!
- Mickelberry Gardens - Elderberry: Great Immune support for kids and adults. Made in Oregon.
Choose To Reuse
by Rianna Koppel, Co-op Sustainability Coordinator
At the Ashland Food Co-op, we are committed to becoming Zero Waste by 2030. Along the way, we’ve learned a lot about packaging and single-use at our store. Our owners care deeply about reducing plastic waste, and we do too!
Reusable Bags
At the co-op, we have many different bag options… So what's the best choice?
Lisa Beam: Why I'm a Board Member
Why serve on the Board of Directors at the Ashland Food Coop? This was the question that I was faced with about a year ago.
I have lived, worked and shopped in Ashland for the last 20 years. Many of those years I have actively participated on non-profit boards, civic organizations and committees. However, in the last few years I stepped away from those responsibilities to focus on family and business life.
Henry in the Garden: The Pollinator Plan
By Henry Herting, Co-op garden volunteer
It's that fun time of the year when we get to plan our gardens. This year since our pollinators are taking such a hard hit, we are planning a pollinator garden.
Some plants that are considered good for pollinators are not so good fo the gardeners. They are invasive; they are weeds. Nobody likes weeds in their garden - who likes getting down on their knee pads and clawing at deep-rooted weeds growing in places where you don't want them?
Rogue To Go at the Co-op
We are excited to announce the official launch of Rogue To Go at the Ashland Food Co-op!
Rogue To Go is a reusable container pilot program. The pilot connects five participating restaurants by offering a reusable container that can be used for meals to-go and help eliminate single-use boxes. These O2GO containers are made locally in Bend, Oregon by OZZI. The bright green containers are 100% recyclable through a specialty recycler - truly zero waste!
How can you start using Rogue To Go? Check out the steps below and follow along with a walk-through video.
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!