Happy Thanks-chicken!
We know, we know, November is all about turkey. But let us not forget the other, other white meat this holiday season. Chicken. This poultry meat often gets the spotlight, but during the month of November it is well deserved. Why? Because all month long, every time you purchase a Smart Chicken® product at the Co-op you help feed a hungry family in the Rogue Valley.
Here’s how it works:
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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.
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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.
For over 10 years, Smart Chicken® and Ashland Food Co-op have teamed up to donate thousands of pounds of chicken to ACCESS, Inc.
Last year ACCESS received over 1,800 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 or a meat eater? No problem. There are many ways to give 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.
Whether you’re stocking up on chicken or donating a dollar at the register, we thank you for your giving spirit this holiday season. Happy holidays from our Co-op family to yours!
More Co-op News
The Co-op Community Classroom - Learn from local educators!
Located at 300 N Pioneer St, just behind the Co-op, sits our lovely community classroom. Here, we host delicious cooking classes, free lectures, sustainability classes, health and wellness events, cookie parties, community dinners, board meetings, and more! Owners get discounts!
You can find all events happening in the classroom at ashlandfood.coop/events, or look around the store as you shop for information teasing our upcoming classes.
If you are interested in TEACHING a free or paid class, you can contact education@ashlandfood.coop for more information.
Meet our January Change for Good Recipient
"Moving people from crisis to stability," Opportunities for Housing Resources and Assistance or OHRA is a non profit organization whose mission is to help low-income people build better lives. This is done by offering both hope and access to various social services,
"We encourage those in need on the path to self-sufficiency."
December Change for Good: Jackson County Fuel Committee
If you’ve lived through even one Rogue Valley winter, you know the cold settles in quickly. The frosty mornings, the long dark evenings, the kind of chill that lingers no matter how many layers you put on - winter can be tough. And while many of us can manage with the help of heaters, woodstoves, and warm homes, thousands of families in our community struggle to access the heat they need to stay safe and comfortable. That’s where the Jackson County Fuel Committee (JCFC) comes in!
November Change for Good Recipient
Meet our November Change for Good Recipient: The Siletz Health Clinic
Celebrating Indigenous Food and Traditions
Each October, when so many across the country celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, the Ashland Food Co-op pauses to reflect on the land we call home, the people who've cared for it, and how food and connections to the land can help us return that inheritance in a positive way.
September Change for Good: Siskiyou Field Institute
This month, your Change for Good donations support Siskiyou Field Institute (SFI), an organization that helps people connect with one of the most biodiverse regions in North America: the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion.
Meet our August Change for Good Partner - Ashland Schools Foundation
August's Change for Good partner is a perfect fit for this month as our kids head back to school. Ashland Schools Foundation (ASF) is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting quality education in Ashland's public schools. You may have run in the Monster Dash or noticed the "Perk Up for Students" sign at our local coffeeshops - these are just some of the (fun and delicious) ways you are already supporting ASF.
Welcome to the Board!
We are happy to welcome two new Directors, Evan Archerd and Elizabeth Walsh, to the Board! And we're thrilled to have Joanna Wnorowski Pecoraro continuing to serve!
July Change for Good Partner: White Oak Farm
This month, we’re proud to support White Oak Farm, an inspiring organization that blends sustainable farming, environmental education, and community nourishment—right here in Southern Oregon.
Bee the Change: Supporting Pollinators, Art, and Education with Bee Girl
Here at Ashland Food Co-op, we’re buzzing with excitement about our July Change for Good partner: Bee Girl / Bee Regenerative! This local nonprofit is doing some bee-autiful work to protect pollinators, restore habitats, and teach the next generation how to care for the tiny creatures that keep our food systems thriving.
Bee Girl + Bee Regenerative: More Than Just a Name
May Change for Good: Food & Friends
Each May, Ashland Food Co-op highlights a local nonprofit doing vital work in our community—and this month, we're proud to feature Food & Friends, the only Meals on Wheels program serving Jackson and Josephine Counties.
April Change for Good: ScienceWorks
ScienceWorks: Growing Sustainably, Connecting Community