2,016 Reasons to Celebrate
Some milestones happen because of one big event. Others happen because of thousands of small, thoughtful choices.
In June, our Co-op community reached an incredible milestone through our Beans for Bags program, for the first time in history more than $2,000 was donated to local nonprofits in a single month.
Those donations were made possible one Bean at a time.
Every time a shopper brings reusable bags to the Co-op, they have a choice. They can receive an 8¢ credit for each bag they bring, or they can choose a Bean and place it in one of our community giving jars. The Jefferson County Food Bank is a year-round recipient, while two additional local nonprofits rotate throughout the year.
In June, those Beans added up to:
$888.72 for the Jefferson County Food Bank
$561.60 for Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County
$565.68 for the North Olympic Salmon Coalition
Together, that's more than $2,000 invested back into our community in just one month.
What makes this milestone so special isn't just the number, it's what it represents. Every Bean tells a story of someone choosing to support their neighbors. Hundreds of simple decisions at the checkout stand became funding for local organizations working to fight hunger, build affordable housing, and protect the natural environment we all call home.
Beans for Bags has always been about more than remembering to bring a reusable bag. It's about recognizing that small, everyday actions can have a lasting impact when a community comes together. No single donation reached this milestone on its own. It was achieved through the collective generosity of hundreds of shoppers who chose to give back.
To everyone who has ever dropped a Bean into one of our giving jars: THANK YOU. Your small act of kindness is part of something much bigger, and together you've helped create a milestone worth celebrating.
Here's to the next Bean and the next milestone.
To learn more about our Beans For Bags Program please visit: https://www.foodcoop.coop/beans-for-bags