April 2022 Newsletter
The Children's Fair is a fun and FREE event where kids can have fun while parents, grandparents and caregivers can explore services and business in the county. This year's theme is "Get Moving!". The fair is on Saturday April 30th from 9:00am-1:00pm at the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids.
FRFC is partnering with Get Fit Itasca and their gardening program, "One Vegetable, One Community" to promote their veggie of the year: CUCUMBERS! We'll be assembling 500 planting kits including seed packets, soil and pots ready to distribute at the Children's Fair.
We almost have enough volunteers but are still looking for:
2 more owners to help with assembly: 3 hours commitment. Sunday, April 24th from 1:00-4:00pm in the classrooms at the YMCA.
2 more owners to help set up our booth and hand out planting kits during the event. 3 hours commitment. April 30th from 8:00-11:00am at the IRA Civic Center.
Email Shara if you are excited to volunteer & help FRFC encourage kids to get moving in the garden and grow some cucumbers!
Two exciting opportunities available!
It's an especially thrilling time to join the board as we ramp up towards:
Finding our site
Securing funds
Hiring a general manager
Planning store layout & products
A board term lasts for 3 years (or less if you are filling a vacancy) and provides opportunities to:
Represent and engage with other co-op owners
Grow your existing skills and cultivate new ones
Expand personal and professional networks through co-op development
Directors take their responsibility to represent our owners seriously… and they also enjoy the rewards of serving, including having an inside scoop about the co-op’s development! As active volunteer owners, directors are ambassadors for the co-op who are fully engaged in the work needed to build our store. It's so fulfilling to play a key role in creating this hub for fresh local food and ideas!
Raising the funds to open our store from our owners with a Capital Campaign is a tried and true practice in the cooperative industry. In fact, our friends at Oshkosh Food Co-op recently opened their gorgeous new store in downtown Oshkosh, Wisconsin by exceeding their $1.5 million fundraising goal and raising over $1.6 million from their owners and community members during their Community Investment Campaign!
Oshkosh Food Co-op began their campaign in the fall of 2019 and raised nearly $900,000 out of the gate. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the Oshkosh community pulled together to fund their store. Despite the impact of the pandemic, over 600 owners (nearly HALF of their 1200 owners!!) and community members invested $1.6 million in the Oshkosh Food Co-op.
Imagine what we can do here in Itasca County if half of our over 929 owners (to date) invest in our upcoming Community Investment Campaign! We’re so excited to fill you in on the campaign details...stay tuned for more info in the coming months!
Book Club chat - April 7th at 6:00pm!
(Send us an email for the details!)
"Why We Sleep"
by Matthew Walker, PhD
Neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker provides a revolutionary exploration of sleep, examining how it affects every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. He also provides actionable steps towards getting a better night’s sleep every night.
Pick up this great book and join our book club! Anyone is welcome to our quarterly discussions regardless of how far you got through the book.
Check out the flier for the Garden Social hosted by our friends at Get Fit Itasca, One Vegetable One Community, and Itasca Community Gardens!
Owners are encouraged to join Work Sessions & Board Meetings!
Email us if you are interested in joining one of our teams.
GM Search Team
Sunday, April 3rd, 6:30-7:30pm
Planning strategies to find the best future store General Manager.
Capital Campaign Planning Team
Monday, April 4th, 6:30-7:30pm
Planning & implementing the capital campaign.
Work Session
Tuesday, April 5th, 6:00-7:30pm.
Open to all owners!Click to join via Zoom
Marketing Team
Wednesday, April 6th, 6:00-7:00pm
Marketing, graphics, & social media.
COMMUNITY EVENT - Garden Social
Thursday, April 7th, 5:00-7:00pm at the YMCA
Celebrate the gardeningseason with other gardeners, get info on local community gardens, and free cucumber seeds from One Vegetable One Community. Light snacks and refreshments provided. All are welcome!
CO-OP EVENT - Book Club
Thursday, April 7th, 6:00-8:00pm
Lively discussions around a variety of topics!
Site Selection Team
Tuesday, April 12th, 7:00-8:00pm
Locating, researching, & comparing possible store sites.
Board Development Team
Tuesday, April 12th, 6:00-7:00pm
Strengthening our board through education & policy creation.
Board Meeting
Tuesday, April 19th, listening session 5:30-6:00pm
Open to all owners!Click to join via Zoom
Board meeting follows listening session 6:00-7:30pm
Open to all owners!Click to join via Zoom
CO-OP EVENT - Children's Fair Kit Assembly
Sunday, April 24th, 1:00-4:00pm at the YMCA
Assembling planting kits to distribute at Children's Fair.
COMMUNITY EVENT - Children's Fair!
Saturday, April 30th, 9:00am-1:00pm at the IRA Civic Center
Fun & education for the whole family! FRFC will be there, too.Learn more here.
Grand Rapids Farmer's Market
Online ordering for in-person pick up is available for the winter season! Visit their website for more details and to place an order:
http://www.grfarmersmarket.org/
Thank you for keeping in touch with Free Range Food Co-op!
Know somebody who should be a Free Range owner? Forward this email and ask them to click the link below to visit our website and sign up.