The holiday season is upon us. Amidst the shopping frenzies, family gatherings, and parties it can be hard to remember this is also a season of giving. Luckily, you have us and we are making it easy for you to give back.

During the month of November, Co-op shoppers can nourish their own families and help fight hunger in the Rogue Valley.

Over the years, Smart Chicken® and Ashland Food Co-op have teamed up to donate thousands of pounds of chicken to ACCESS, Inc. Smart Chicken® will once again donate Smart Chicken® products based on the total volume shoppers purchase at Ashland Food Co-op to ACCESS, Inc.

Here’s how it works. For every 10 pounds of Smart Chicken® you purchase from the Meat Department or the Deli, the company will donate one pound of chicken to ACCESS, Inc. ACCESS then distributes the chicken through their food share program, providing emergency food boxes to hungry families and individuals in Jackson County through a network of over 24 food pantries. The program also supplies food to over 20 agency programs serving low-income individuals.

Last year ACCESS received over 2,000 pounds of chicken!  That kind of past support of the Smart Giving Program has made the Co-op the top ranking West Coast single store in sales during the promotion. Let’s do that again this year!

Smart Chicken® has a wide range of fresh chicken products. The company was the first in the U.S. to use air-chill technology, and offers products that are both Certified Organic and Certified Humane.

Not a fan of chicken? No problem. There are many to gives through the Ashland Food Co-op. Every time you check out at the register, you have the opportunity to donate any dollar amount to ACCESS, the American Red Cross, Ashland Food Bank, or Ashland Schools Foundation. It’s as simple as telling the cashier the amount and which organization you’d like to donate to.

Happy giving!