October news at the Co-op
October is typically Co-op month, to highlight how differently cooperatives do business. But instead of talking about the 7 Cooperative Principles, or the ownership benefits of being part of the Co-op, we only need to look at the past four weeks to see what being a cooperative really means.
As part of the co-op family, you've helped the entire community immensely.
You are stepping up for the seven Co-op employees who lost their homes by donating to GoFundMe accounts. As part of our staff, they each received a separate $1,000 relief check from the Co-op, along with gift certificates for food and temporary housing arrangements.
You are helping the most impacted directly. With over $75,000 in donations to the Ashland Food Co-op Almeda/Glendower Fire Relief Fund, nearly half has already been distributed to trusted recovery organizations on the ground: MRG Foundation, Unete, SO Education Service District, Phoenix / Talent Schools, Family Nurturing Center, La Clinica, and Maslow Project. And as the rebuilding mission comes into focus, the Co-op will be dedicating your donations help towards new housing efforts.
Out of the 7 Cooperative Principles, we pride ourselves particularly on "concern for the community" at the Co-op. A healthy community leads to a healthy co-op, and vice versa. Thanks for being a part of that.
There's another cooperative principle, "Cooperation among cooperatives," that has also stood out in the past month. Everyone is looking out for one another, cooperating on fundraising and relief efforts. For example, our friends at Coos Head Co-op in Coos Bay are donating round-up donations from their store to Ashland Food Co-op's fund as well as Medford Food Co-op. Additionally, the Co-op has joined Rogue Food Unites to make sure that with everything else going on, food and good nutrition isn't another worry for displaced families.
On top of all this, a huge list of the vendors and producers from the region and nation have asked, "How can we help?" And they've helped in a big way. Read more here about the many donations we've received and distributed to the community - these businesses have definitely earned a huge thanks.
The Co-op will continue to raise relief funds through October as part of the Change for Good register round-up program, and we'll keep everyone updated on social media and our weekly sales flyer email about relief fund recipients and other initiatives. We'll also have some other ways you can help out this month, so stay tuned - and thanks for being part of this caring 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:
January Change for Good Partner: Ashland Food Angels
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.