The Give Where You Live Campaign is a national effort to support food cooperatives across the U.S. in building local Cooperative Community Funds.
Sponsored by the Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation, each fund will serve as a means for co-op members and shoppers to make donations to an endowment that donates to local non-profit organizations.
The interest earned by each Fund will be given annually to local groups working on issues relating to sustainable agriculture and organic food, hunger and social issues, environmental protection and cooperatives.
The Give Where You Live Campaign represents each Co-op's special effort to give back to those deserving--and hard working--groups that build community.
Give Where You Live! Because great organizations begin here.
Valley Natural Foods is a community-owned co-op serving the south metro area of the Twin Cities in Minnesota since 1977. Our mission is a healthy community and our values are FRESH (Family, Relationships, Education, Sustainability and Health). In 2005 we announced the creation of the Valley Natural Foods Co-op Community Fund to our membership at our Annual Meeting. Since that time we have included the growth of our CCF in our marketing plan. Keeping with the idea of community ownership, it will be our member-owners who decide upon our eventual CCF recipients. Each Annual Meeting will allow for a process of democratic choice.
Our strategic growth includes integration of fundraising efforts with our existing community outreach program. For instance, our co-op is a strong supporter of the arts and local food, often hosting events that honor both. Our last event was a Mediterranean-Style Brunch celebrating Apple Valley High School Honors Art students who displayed their art in a juried exhibit at our co-op. Another area high school student performed belly-dancing to carry out the cultural food theme. Member-owners purchased tickets to the event and proceeds raised went directly to our CCF. We expect to continue such combined fundraising and outreach efforts quarterly.