Co-op Shoppers “Give Up!” to the Tune of $25K

The Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op has locations in Grandin Village and Downtown Roanoke.
The Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op has locations in Grandin Village and Downtown Roanoke.

Since establishing the “Give Up!” program in October 2013, Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op’s shoppers have contributed over $25,000 in loose change to 14 different local organizations in the Roanoke Valley.

At the two co-op locations in Roanoke – Grandin Road and Downtown Roanoke – co-op cashiers ask shoppers if they want to Give Up! at the register. Customers can then choose to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and donate that money to the local organization featured as that month’s Give Up! recipient. The question that first caught customers off guard a year ago has now become an integral part of the co-op’s mission to support the community and encourage its customers to do the same.

“One of the founding principles of our cooperative is to promote stewardship and community involvement with our owners and customers,” said Bruce Phlegar, General Manager of Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op. “Give Up! has, for just pocket change, allowed our customers to collectively support amazing organizations in the valley with real cash to aid their work.” So far, over 50,000 contributions have been made at co-op registers.

Reading Seeds, a program that donates new books to at-risk youth in Roanoke City Public Schools and TAP Head Start, received $2,209 from co-op customers’ contributions through Give Up! in May 2014. “We couldn’t believe how fabulous it was to see how much money was being raised,” said Amy Hatheway, Reading Seed’s cofounder and organizer. Reading Seeds used the money to purchase 700 new books.

A different local organization is chosen as the Give Up! recipient each month and featured at both Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op locations. This month Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op’s Give Up! recipient is Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley. The co-op is currently accepting applications from organizations for the 2015 Give Up! campaign.

Visit www.roanokenaturalfoods.com/giveup to apply. The application deadline is December 1, 2014.

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