Donations Program

CO-OPS: GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNTY

As soon their donation request crossed my desk, I knew immediately that Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota’s benefit was not only an ideal donation recipient, but also that I’d want to attend the event personally. Their talk, “Connecting Paths to a Healthier World: Stopping Pesticide Drift, Transitioning to Organic Farming,” featured nationally known speakers currently engaged in important scientific and legislative work.

The first speaker, Susan E. Kegley, PhD, (Senior Scientist, Pesticide Action Network North America), invented the pesticide drift catcher used in several Minnesota farming communities. Kegley’s drift catcher allows citizens to collect evidence showing that pesticides used in conventional farming do indeed drift into residential neighborhoods. Armed with scientific proof, activists are better able to promote legislative change. In fact, in the coming years, the MN Department of Health will begin monitoring its own cadre of drift catchers—and hopefully develop stricter pesticide regulations as a result. Panelists Bill Hamilton (Environmental Youth Council) and Carol Dansereau (Farm Worker Pesticide Project) have each worked with Kegley’s drift catcher to support their organization’s work. Click the links to learn more about their endeavors.

It was completely gratifying to spend an evening with such smart and devoted folks. And, the event organizers were truly grateful for the donated food that contributed to the night’s success. To see a list of all our donation recipients for fiscal year July 2007-June 2008, click here.

Green Patches
The Green Patch program encourages shoppers to reduce waste and reuse canvas, cloth, or other durable shopping bags—and supports two “green groups” chosen by member vote each year. Every time a shopper uses their own cloth or canvas grocery bag, they receive a Green Patch worth five cents. By shoppers donating their Green Patches, the co-op generates an average of $2,000 to $3,000 for local environmental nonprofits each year.

This year’s Green Patch groups are the Youth Farm and Market Project and the Land Stewardship Project’s “Farm Beginnings” program.

Member-owners of Linden Hills Co-op are invited to nominate a Green Patch group for the 2009 program year—just download the Nominations Form, read and follow the nominations guidelines, and submit your suggestion to the co-op no later than August 15, 2008.

Kids Learning about Food and Farming

Linden Hills Co-op and Linden Hills Natural Home were founded by people who wanted to give back to their community, and we are pleased to continue that thirty-year tradition. We are a contributing co-op to the Midwest Food Connection, a program that provides free lessons about food and agriculture to elementary students in schools around the Twin Cities. For more information on the program, visit their website, download the Midwest Food Connection’s program brochure brochure 06.pdf or their most recent annual report below.

Our Food Shelf Partner
We contribute 15 to 20 thousand pounds of food and dollars to Joyce Emergency Food Shelf every year, through donations from shoppers and periodic fundraising events. Joyce Food Shelf is located in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis at 1219 West 31st Street; for food shelf hours and information, call 612-825-4431.

Community Contributions Fund
We also offer modest donations to local nonprofit organizations through our Community Contributions Fund. Organizations may request a donation voucher, which can be used to purchase goods from the co-op or Linden Hills Natural Home, or gift cards, which may be used as door prizes or silent auction items. Download a Word copy of our application form and program requirements if you’d like to learn more about the program and submit an application.

Is your nonprofit community organization interested in applying for a donation from Linden Hills Co-op? Please download the following Donation Request Form to learn how.