Feeding Change: The Co-op’s Register Donation Program

In September 2025, we introduced our newest community giving program, Feeding Change! A register donation program, Feeding Change allows shoppers to donate $1, $3, or $5 to a community group during checkout.

When we kicked off the program in September, we selected Community Action’s Skagit Food Distribution Center as the first donation group so your dollars could literally feed people and create systemic change. As usual, you showed up—donating over $67,000 in 2025! Thank you.

Because of the SNAP funding suspension, the Board decided to match the October donation total: $12,500 times two is $25,000! And since then, the Board’s Community Giving designated the Distribution Center as the recipient group for all of 2026 in an effort to help feed Skagitonians in uncertain times.

The difference between Feeding Change donations and the Growing Good Fund is that your register donations go directly toward the Distribution Center purchasing food for food banks, which is greatly needed in this moment—the Co-op writes a check every month, providing Community Action sustainability to plan ahead and flexibly meet quickly-changing community needs, such as during recent flooding.

The Growing Good Fund is an investment in food for the future, helping support local farmers, who will then provide fresh produce to food banks via the Distribution Center in the future. Feeding Change helps us all support one of the Co-op’s Ends Statements: “A better community for all through direct support, leadership, and involvement in initiatives and organizations aligned with our values and mission.”

Again, it’s important to note that giving is always optional, and there is no pressure to do so—the checkout process also allows you to pay without an additional donation. Thank you all for your generosity.