November Newsletter

In this month's newsletter: 

• Word from the General Manager 
• Word from the Board
• Thanksgiving Hours 
• November Owner Deals
• Acrylic Still Life Art Class
• Brazilian Virtual Baking Class & Meal Kit
• Turkey Preorders
• Grab n' Go Thanksgiving 
• November Field Day Campaign 
• Art Installation 
• Round Up For Good
• Recipe Feature 
• New Products 

Word from General Manager 

Hello Cooperators!

I hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween!

At the co-op, we know that our relationship with owners and shoppers is key to our success. We take pride in the service we provide and continually look for ways to improve it.  To that end, we’re excited to introduce a new, additional way to hear from you!

Beginning in November, we’ll randomly invite shoppers to complete a short survey using a link printed on their cash register receipts. Customers who complete the survey will receive an offer for $5.00 off a future purchase.

This new option is in addition to all the other ways you can share your ideas or questions. As always, you can contact us via:

• Phone- Give our store a call anytime!

• Website- Use the Contact Us page to send us a message

• Social media- Share your co-op stories with us

• In person- Chat with us about what you love and how we can do better

We value your feedback and we look forward to hearing more of it!

Take Care!

Word from Board

The Common Ground Food Co-op Board is excited to introduce our newly elected Board member, Andrew Stumpf!

What motivated you to join the board of Common Ground, and what do you hope to contribute to its mission?

I was motivated to join the board to give back to community I have been involved with for many years. I am really excited to help the board continue the important work in helping the Co-op achieve its goals.
 

How do you see the role of the co-op in supporting local farmers, sustainable practices, and the community?

The Co-op offers another outlet/market for local farmers to sell their products; importantly year round. Especially for small and growing companies who use sustainable practices and recommended by the community who have limited opportunities in the larger grocery outlets.

How do you approach decision-making in a cooperative setting where multiple stakeholders have different priorities?

My approach would be to receive input from all of the stakeholders and identify, if possible, a way forward that addresses as many of the priorities as possible. I look to the other board members and GM for input and guidance.

What skills or experiences do you bring to the board that help strengthen Common Ground’s leadership and operations?

Having worked in the grocery business for a short time, I have an understanding about the operations. Also, serving on several boards and commissions I have experience working in a collaborative environment where there are different priorities.
 

What is the most important thing you would like the Common Ground Community to know about you?

I am a compassionate and hard worker who values the opinions of others.
 

Welcome to the Board, Andrew!

Thanksgiving Hours

Owner News

News for our Co-op Owners

November Owner Deals

Dozen of sales every month for Owners!

Owner Deals are bigger and better than ever before, with dozens of products on sale all month! With updates happening behind the scenes, be sure to keep your eye out for our changing cycles. Each one brings a fresh set of deals, so there’s always something new to discover.

Classes & Events

Every month, we host both In-Person and Virtual Classes in our Flatlander Classroom!

Acrylic Still Life In-Person Art Class

Thursday, November 5th 10th from 6-8pm

Join featured artist Sydney Bruner in the Flatlander Classroom for a creative evening of painting, hands-on fun, and community! Discover the beauty of local flowers as Sydney shares her acrylic painting expertise, offering helpful tips, techniques, and inspiration along the way.

Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or looking to refine your skills, this welcoming workshop is the perfect opportunity to learn something new, get creative, and connect with fellow art lovers.

$40/person - Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their ticket. All sales are final after 48 hours. Refund requests made after this period will not be accepted. Limited seating available - only 12 seats per class. Waiting List will be made available once tickets are sold out.

Brazilian Virtual Baking Class

& Meal Kit

Saturday, November 14th from 12-2pm

Join us for a Virtual Brazilian Baking Class led by local chef Julia Paniago! Learn to make delicious Brazilian baked treats while cooking along from the comfort of your own kitchen. Whether you're an experienced baker or just getting started, this interactive class is a fun way to explore Brazilian flavors from home. 

The menu:

Baked Cocada
a traditional, tropical dessert that transforms the classic street-side coconut candy into a warm treat. Made by mixing shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, butter, and eggs. The mixture is baked until the inside becomes rich and custardy while the top forms a golden crust.

Carrot Cake with Brigadeiro Style Chocolate Frosting

a vibrant dessert that offers a different experience from American carrot cake. Finished with a glossy, Brigadeiro frosting, a traditional Brazilian fudge made from sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and butter.

$45/ticket - Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their ticket.  All sales are final after 48 hours. Refund requests made after this period will not be accepted. Limited seating available - only 12 seats per class. Waiting List will be made available once tickets are sold out.

Art Reception

Friday, November 20th from 4-6pm 

We are happy to welcome in a new local artist into our Flatlander Gallery on November 9th! Allie Janae will have her stained glass artwork up from November until mid December. We will be hosting an Art Reception to celebrate her work on November 20th from 4-6pm. Please join us! 

About the artist: 

Hi! I'm Allie Janae,

A queer, AuDHD stained glass artist born, raised and reside in Urbana IL. I stumbled into the art of tiffany style stained glass during a high school internship at my local art glass supply store.

The owner said if I wanted to work there I had to learn stained glass. That less than one year experience has turned into a nine year adventure falling more in love with the craft with each new creation.

Over the years I’ve developed a style that’s whimsical and fun with bold color combinations and concepts, currently pulling inspiration from clowns and nature (especially the sky and celestial themes).

I spend my days enjoying the wonders nature has to offer, thrifting vintage items and playing with glass, acid, and a 400+ degree iron. (naturally!! :)

Turkey Preorders

Choose Local this Holiday Season

Get a jump start on your holidays by pre-ordering your local, pasture-raised turkey from Triple S Farms. Select your preferred turkey size, receive special holiday coupons, and be entered into a raffle to win a free turkey!

Local turkeys are available in a range of sizes but are in limited quantities this year, so place your order early!

Triple S Farm local frozen turkey sizes

• Small frozen turkeys (12.1-14 lbs): $9.29/lb
• Medium frozen turkeys (14.1-18 lbs): $8.29/lb
• Large frozen turkeys (18+lbs): $7.29/lb (SOLD OUT)

A $25 deposit is required for pre-orders. Preorders are not honored until an online payment has been made. The deposit will be deducted at the registers at the time of pick up.

Grab n' Go Thanksgiving 

Friday, November 20th to Wednesday, November 25th

Join us for this year's Grab n' Go Thanksgiving! Our kitchen and bakery have created a full menu to supplement your special holiday meal. Our Grab n' Go case will be transformed with delicious dishes made from scratch. Grab entrees, essential side dishes, seasonal pies, and more! 

Field Day Campaign

November 4th - November 17th 

This November, get ready for gatherings with friends and family with big savings on all Field Day products! Stock up on staples like rice, pasta, beans and olive oil. Save on tons of spices and herbs, as well as baking essentials including sugar, vanilla and chocolate chips. Find the food you want for holiday meals like gravy, pumpkin puree, and stuffing mix. During this promotion, Food Co-ops across the country are making a collective donation to North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS). Food Co-ops will donate $0.05 for every Field Day product sold. NATIFS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous food systems and promoting cultural preservation within Native American communities.

By addressing economic disparities, food insecurity and the loss of Indigenous food knowledge, NATIFS aims to restore health, wealth and cultural identity to Indigenous populations. The organization's commitment to promoting Indigenous foodways education, facilitating food access, and revitalizing ancestral knowledge underscores its mission to create positive social impact and support underserved communities.

Community News

Round Up For Good Update

Take a look at the incredible impact we made together to raise funds to support some of local community projects right here in Champaign-Urbana!

October's Round Up For Good Grant

 More than $4,744 raised for Champaign County Humane Society

Mission: To instill respect, kindness, and compassion for animals as community values.

Project Proposal: The funds raised through the Round Up For Good grant will be used to support our program to provide affordable spay and neuter services to residents of Champaign County. With increasing homeless animal populations, affordable spay and neuter programs help keep animal populations in at a healthy level.

November's Round Up For Good Grant

Proceeds Benefit Common Ground's Food For All Program

Mission: "Common Ground's mission is broken up into 4 Ends that guide our organization.

• End 1: The Co-op is the center of an inclusive, vibrant community. 
• End 2: The cooperative movement is strengthened. 
• End 3: The Co-op serves as an educational resource on food issues.
• End 4: The local food movement is equitable, robust, and environmentally sound.
• End 5: The Co-op supports our community's resilience while ensuring its own economic stability.

Project Proposal: "Food For All is our food accessibility program. One aspect of our fourth end is to ensure that healthy and affordable food is accessible to all people. Food For All was created to do just this, and through grant donations and fundraising, we have been able to keep this program going. A Food For All grant will cover full owner equity, giving members all of the same benefits that owners receive. They also get a 10% discount on our entire produce section as well as on all Co+op Basics products. All of the funds raised through Round Up For Good will go directly towards providing our customers with that 10% discount."

Recipe Features

We've been cooking up some healthy and affordable recipes for your enjoyment!

New Products

Take a look at some of our new items and fan favorites!

Thanks for Reading!

Enjoy the coupon below on your next shopping trip.