Spare Change Supports Local Charities

PITTSBURGH - April 10, 2014 - PRLog -- In its inaugural year, East End Food Co-op shoppers contributed a total of $12,909.92 to local charitable organizations through the Register Round Up program!

In April 2013, the East End Food Co-op introduced the Register Round Up Program. The program’s concept is simple: As customers are rung up for their purchases, they are asked if they want to round up their total to the nearest dollar, this difference is then donated to a charity selected by the Co-op. Although this rounding up may only cost a few cents to the customer, when combined with all the other customers’ spare change, it results in a significant contribution.

A thank you note from Shirl Regan, President/CEO of the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, helps highlight how spare change can really add up: “Thank you for your donation through the proceeds of Register Round Up! Your contributions provided almost 7,000 clients access to the specific programs and resources they need, so that they can heal from trauma and move on to safe, productive lives.”

The East End Food Co-op elects a different organization each month to receive the donations. Priority is given to local organizations that support causes related to nutrition, education, food access, and sustainability, and whose missions are in line with the Co-op’s Ends Statement:

The East End Food Co-op exists to enhance the physical and social health in our community. To these ends, we will create:

·         A sustainable member-owned business open to everyone

·         An ethical and resilient food infrastructure

·         A vibrant, dynamic community of happy, healthy people

·         A creative vision to transform the future

Organizations are recognized during their Round Up month with a write-up in the Co-op’s monthly newsletter, The Co-operator, through the Co-op’s social media channels, and in-store with signage at each check out. Organizations are also welcomed into the store where they can hand out brochures and promotional materials and chat with shoppers about their organization’s mission and the work they do in the community. The Co-op does not retain any portion of the proceeds from each month of Rounding Up; everything is donated to that month’s charity.

Organizations that were selected as 2013/2014 Register Round Up recipients include:

Shady Lane
Clean Water Action
Food for Change
POWER (Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery)
Institute for Responsible Technology
Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Faison K-5
Nine Mile Watershed Association
Just Harvest
Children’s Institute
Grow Pittsburgh
Bike Pittsburgh

With the exception of the month of October, Register Round Up receipts have been chosen for the remainder of the calendar year. They include:

Hope Haven Farm (June)
Braddock Youth Project (July)
Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center (August)
Shady Lane (September)
Backpacks for Hunger (November)
Neighborhood Learning Alliance (December)

Local organizations that wish to be a 2015/2016 recipient of the Register Round Up can find the application form and criteria online at www.eastendfood.coop/co-op/community/donations.

The Register Round Up program helps the Co-op fulfill the seventh cooperative principle: concern for community.  It also gives Co-op shoppers an easy way to give back to local charitable organizations that are providing great work in Pittsburgh communities.

East End Food Co-op has been serving the community since 1980 and is owned by over 10,700 members. Best known for the Bulk Foods and Produce Departments, the Co-op specializes in a variety of organic and local products. The store also features a vegetarian Café, which serves fresh soups, hot entrees, deli salads, and sandwiches that are all made in-house daily.


For more information, please visit:

www.eastendfood.coop/co-op/community/donations