by Brian Anderson, Board Member
With the challenging 2021 calendar year behind us and the more promising 2022 calendar year ahead, we wish to reflect on some of the Co-op’s recent charitable activities. These activities are part of the Co-op’s commitment to the community. They are examples of how the Co-op achieves one of its ends, namely, being at the forefront of a cooperative and just society that has a culture of generosity. Even when the Co-op has operating losses, as was true in the Co-op’s last two fiscal years, the Co-op budgets for these charitable activities.
Access Discount Program
One of the Co-op’s most important charitable activities is the Access Discount program. Owners who have a financial need can apply for this program and obtain a 10% discount to buy food and other products. Under this program, during the last fiscal year, the Co-op provided 1,371 Owners with discounts worth $301,778.
Double Dollars
Another significant charitable activity is the Double Dollars program. Customers with low income who use their FoodShare/QUEST card to purchase groceries are eligible to receive Double Dollars vouchers that can be used to help purchase fresh, canned, or frozen produce or seeds/seedlings for growing edible plants. Under this program, during the last fiscal year, the Co-op redeemed $59,243 worth of Double Dollars vouchers.
Community Reinvestment Fund
The Co-op provides Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) grants to 501(c)(3) and/or cooperative organizations that support projects benefiting Dane County, especially projects promoting food justice or developing cooperative businesses, sustainable agriculture, health and well-being, or social change. During the last fiscal year, the Co-op made $25,000 of CRF grants to 10 organizations. Five of the awarded grants went to supporting extensions of current programming and five grants were awarded to organizations starting new programming.
Other Donations
The Co-op also donated $94,263 to more than 25 community organizations in support of their fundraising efforts and events such as the Middleton Good Neighbor Festival, La Fete de Marquette, Madison Family Fest, the Black Women’s Wellness Expo, Youth Leadership for Social Change, and various local farmers’ markets.
Community CHIP®
All this was on top of the $309,634 of donations made by Co-op customers through the Community CHIP program.
As the year comes to a close, we are grateful that we were able to support our community and look forward to doing more of the same in 2022.