— from Susannah Weaver for Orcas Food Co-op —
Two years ago, Orcas Food Co-op launched a Community Shopping Day program called “3% Thursdays”. On the third Thursday of each month 3% of the gross receipts of Orcas Food Co-op are donated to pre-selected community organizations. Orcas Community Resource Center will receive 3% of the gross receipts of Orcas Food Co-op sales on Thursday, May 17.
According to the Orcas Community Resource Center: “Starting in 2015, with significant and ongoing help from the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) and private donors, OCRC began to reach out to and develop a complete public/private safety net for Orcas’ most vulnerable residents. The assistance provided is caring, confidential, and focused on helping people solve their problems, get the resources needed for their well-being, and attain self-sufficiency. Volunteer and paid staff at the Resource Center now help clients apply for health, disability, and veteran’s benefits; obtain rent, energy, transportation assistance, and food and household essentials; achieve housing stability, exit homelessness, and access special programs such as dental and vision care and job training. Counselors are available to help people weather a crisis or a run of bad luck.”
You can also Round-up at the Register all month long to donate to the Orcas Community Resource Center. It’s easy to Round Up your purchase. When your cashier asks you if you want to round up for the Orcas Community Resource Center, simply say “Yes” and you can help fellow islanders in need. If you’d like to donate more than the roundup you can do that too. Just let your cashier know the amount you want to donate and they can add it to your transaction. Donating to a great cause couldn’t get much simpler than that. April’s Round-Up for the Orcas Island Food Bank raised over $1730.
Organizations are eligible for the program based on their service to the community in the following areas: local community service organizations, organic food, healthy food for children or seniors, environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices, human rights, environmental preservation and groups with similar missions and values. The Co-op strives to collaborate with community partners to promote local organizations and their values to our members and the community at large.
If you have any questions please contact the Co-op’s Marketing Specialist, Susannah Weaver, at (360) 376-2009 or email marketing@orcasfood.coop.
