January Change for Good Partner: Ashland Food Angels

January's Change for Good Partner is

CFG: Ashland Food Angels

local nonprofit Ashland Food Angels

 

Ashland Food Angels is a local, fully volunteer grassroots non-profit which has operated daily since 1995, gathering and distributing food and other useful items to those in need in this area.

Every evening a volunteer picks up fresh, organic produce from the Ashland Food Coop. Volunteers also collect dairy, deli, and bakery items from other local shops in town and the farmers market. The food is then sorted and packed for distribution through the Ashland Emergency Food Bank, the Peace House-sponsored ‘Uncle Foods’ free meals program, the shelter in Ashland run by Rogue Retreat, and sometimes Gospel Mission. Any food that is considered unfit for people is donated to local farmers to feed their animals or add to their compost. Additionally, donated non-food items are distributed through the Hospice Unique Boutique (HUB).

 

 

CFG: Ashland Food Angels
Pamala Joy, Director of the Ashland Food Angels in her distribution center.

 

Ashland Food Angels was founded, in conjunction with the Northwest Seasonal Workers Association, to help provide food for the many families assisted by NSWA. Originally, the food was delivered to their outposts in Southern Oregon three times per week. One of the founding goals was to keep as much out of the landfills as possible! Other helping organizations joined the cause, such as Uncle Food's, Jackson County Fuel Committee, and Native American groups, and an ongoing distribution service was established.

For the first five years of the project, Pamala Joy ran the whole operation, with help from her then young adolescent daughter- moving food from stores to distribution sites in a worn out van. The sorting was done in Joy's front yard or on her side deck. Sometimes rain came and they scrambled to cover the sorting area with tarps! Eventually she was able to take over a small (but dry!) garage which they rebuilt to serve the purpose of sorting and storing food.

 

 

CFG: Ashland Food Angels
Ashland Food Angels Volunteer hard at work in the cold storage room.

 

Ashland Food Angels has helped many individuals and families over the years, and kept a great deal of waste out of landfills! The ripple effect of this project has contributed significantly to the lives of many in this area and is now so firmly in place that it will continue for many years to come. AFA differs from food banks in that they gather food for organizations to give away, and predominantly focus on fruits and vegetables, rather than nonperishables

To learn more about the Ashland Food Angels, their work, and volunteer opportunities, please visit ashlandfoodangels.org

 

 

Change for Good

Ashland Food Angels was voted on by our owners in our 2021 election to be a Change for Good Partner.

Through the cumulative register round up donations over the course of this month ~ our shoppers will help support this local nonprofit organization and the work that they are doing in our community.

More Co-op News

January Change for Good: AHS Culinary Arts Program

Hey Co-op community!

As we step into the new year, the Ashland Food Co-op is excited to continue our Change for Good program, and for January 2024, we're shining a spotlight on a program that's close to our hearts (and our stomachs) - the Ashland High School Culinary Arts Program.

November Change for Good: Rogue Food Unites

Say hello to our November Change for Good partner - Rogue Food Unites!

Rogue Food Unites (RFU) uses food to heal individuals and communities during times of crisis. RFU was formed in 2020 out of the dual disasters of the Almeda and Obenchain fires and the impacts of COVID-19 on local communities. Within a short time, RFU began contracting with the State of Oregon to supply hot meals, food boxes, and solidarity cards in Deschutes, Douglas, Klamath, Josephine, and Jackson Counties. 

Meet Nick Hardee, AFC's new GM!

The Co-op Board of Directors and staff are thrilled to welcome Nick Hardee as the new General Manager of the Ashland Food Co-op! We asked Nick to share a little bit about himself so we'll get right to it!

October Change for Good: Center for Non-Profit Legal Services

This October, the Ashland Food Co-op is proud to partner with the Center for Non-Profit Legal Services (CNPLS) for our Change for Good program. All month long, shoppers can round up their purchases to support CNPLS and their mission to provide access to justice.

CNPLS is a non-profit legal aid firm serving low-income and vulnerable community members in Ashland and surrounding areas. Their team of dedicated lawyers and volunteers work to ensure everyone has access to legal help, regardless of their ability to pay.

It's Co-op Month!

OK, you've got us, every month is Co-op Month here at AFC! But every October since 1964, cooperatives of all kinds have celebrated the cooperative difference. Here at the Ashland Food Co-op, we're excited to recognize the history, benefits, and principles behind our own co-op.

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.

Bicycle Benefits

Do you love to bike? Do you love to save money? Do you love the Co-op? Let us tell you about this awesome program at the Ashland Food Co-op! We all know biking is great for the environment and by joining Bicycle Benefits you'll be doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint, all while enjoying some pretty sweet perks.

So, what exactly is Bicycle Benefits? It's a program that rewards cyclists for their pedal power! Here's how it works:

1. Stop by the Co-op and buy your $5 Bicycle Benefits sticker

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.