December Newsletter

In this month's newsletter:

• A Word From The General Manager
• A Word from the Board of Directors
• Board Book Club
• Owner Appreciation Days
• December Owner Deals
• State of the Plate Speaker Series
• Punch Needle Ornament Workshop
• Sponsor a Co-op Family Recap
• Holiday Gift Guide
• Holiday Hours
• Round Up For Good
• Recipe Features
• New Products

A Word From The General Manager

Hello Cooperators!

I hope your holiday season is going well so far!

I want to take this month's newsletter to update everyone on our new coolers that will be arriving in early January. We do not have exact dates yet, but we plan to replace a majority of the back wall coolers - including our kitchen grab n' go section, fresh meat, shredded cheese, sushi, protein substitutes, frozen bread, frozen meat, and frozen seafood sections. 

Our Marketing Department has been hard at work applying for a state grant to update our very old and inefficient coolers. The grant pays for roughly 75% of the cost of the new coolers, so we had to take advantage of this outstanding opportunity! Qualifying for this grant will save our little Co-op a lot of money on future repair costs and will reduce our overall energy usage. 

This will be a rather large project for us, so I want to forewarn all of our Owners and regular shoppers that there will likely be some organized chaos going on while we remove the old coolers and set up the replacements. Our amazing staff will do their best to keep as many of the products you need available for purchase. We would just like to ask you in advance for your patience and understanding during this project. 

Please stay safe and warm this winter!

Gary 

A Word from the Board of Directors

Happy holiday season from your Board of Directors! This month, we'd like to introduce one of our newest board members, Maggie Etienne. We reached out to her with a few questions so we can all get to know her better. 

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

Maggie: I have been living in Champaign-Urbana for the last 25 years and during that time the Common Ground Food Co-op has been an important community resource. As a long-time member, I have benefited from the positive environment there— whether it’s the amazing bakery and prepared foods, the community bulletin boards, or the cooking classes. The Co-op has been a treasure for me and my family so I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to contribute something back. 

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

Maggie: I am proud to serve on the Board and help further its commitment to provide a healthy food source to our residents while also supporting local farmers and businesses. It matters to me that we try to be good neighbors, whether through our Food for All program, our donations to local non-profit organizations or our educational programs. 

Question: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the Co-op today, and how should we address them? 

Maggie: Like all small businesses, the Co-op must address rising expenses for access to top quality products while also supporting and training staff and keeping costs affordable for our members and patrons. This is a difficult balance and the Board has been working diligently to plan for the future while protecting our missions.

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

Maggie: Collaborative and informed decision making is key. We have multiple stakeholders and provide opportunities to listen to their opinions and learn from them.  The Board itself is constituted of multiple committees and task forces that can focus and research specific issues before proposing solutions to the wider group. Decisions are well studied and deliberated before any action is taken. 

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

Maggie: I come to the Board with a 30-year legal background and nearly 15 years of managerial experience as a university administrator. But it’s possible that my most relevant experience has been as a Co-op member and mother of two who has had to manage a household, struggle with the daily “what’s for dinner” question and pack fun and healthy school lunches while consistently “rounding up” to support our community. 

Board Book Club

Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Tuesday, December 16th, 6:00 - 7:00 pm 

Join our Board of Directors for their monthly book club! Stop by the Flatlander Classroom every 3rd Tuesday of the month for a discussion.

December's book is Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal.

Owner News

Owner Appreciation Days & Owner Deals

Owner Appreciation Days

Owner Appreciation Days are our special sales celebration where all of our Co-op owners get great store-wide deals! Owners will receive a 10% discount off their entire purchase of one shopping trip of their choice (excluding Co+op Basics, alcohol, and items already on sale).

Plus, there will also be exclusive owner deals, free Golden Ticket items, and the chance to win one of four amazing raffle giveaways!

Owners will also receive a special coupon book with exclusive deals from December to February (including an additional 10% storewide discount).

Owner Deals

Dozens of sales every month for Owners

Owner Deals are bigger and better than ever! We have a brand new set of owner-exclusive deals for December. Dozens of amazing products will be on sale for owners for the entire month of December.

Educational Programs

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

State of the Plate

December 11th, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Healthy Champaign County's Food Access Alliance presents the State of the Plate Speaker Series, monthly presentations to inform and inspire participation in the upcoming March 26, 2026 Food Summit

On Thursday, December 11th, join us for our next topic highlighting "The Role of Food in our Celebrations and Traditions, Shared through Stories" with speakers Sirisha Bhandaru, cook and culinary instructor, and Yanabe Schroeder of UIUC Native American House.

Punch Needle Rug Ornament Art Class

Monday, December 15th, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm 

Learn the art of punch needle and make your own food-themed rug ornament from start to finish in this class led by Brittany Heyen of High in Fiber Rugs. Keep the tools and enough materials to make more at home with your new skill!

Participants will choose their ornament pattern from various food-themed options including egg, carrot, avocado, corn, eggplant, strawberry, banana, peach, and kiwi.

Registration is $35. Co-op Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their registration. 

 Announcements 

Sponsor a Co-op Family Recap, Holiday Gift Guide, Round Up For Good, and more!

Sponsor a Co-op Family Recap

We would like to express our thanks to all the generous individuals who donated to our Sponsor a Co-op Family Initiative! You have improved the lives of so many families this month.

In just a month, we were able to raise $12,500 in donations and have distributed $100 grocery stipends to over 100 Co-op Food For All Families in need. There has been a continual outpouring of gratitude from our recipients creating such tenderhearted conversations. Many recipients have shared that this stipend truly makes their family's Thanksgiving possible and provides such relief during an already expensive holiday season. This initiative highlighted kindness and compassion of our Co-op community and was another positive reminder that we are stronger together.

This Sponsor a Co-op Family Initiative is still on-going, so you are welcome to donate or apply for funds.

Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Giving season is upon us and Common Ground has got you covered! We have so many amazing products to give to everyone on your list this year. Browse our Gift Guide for themes featuring locally made products, winter ambiance, for the foodie, and more!

Holiday Hours

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!

November's Round Up For Good Grant

$5,333 was raised for our Food For All Program

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing total!

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." 

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."

December's Round Up For Good Grant

Proceeds Benefit Crisis Nursery

Mission: Crisis Nursery creates an "Island of Safety" dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect by providing 24-hour emergency care for children and support to strengthen families in crisis. Crisis Nursery is the only emergency-based child care facility in Champaign County that is open 24 hours, 365 days a year for the entire community to access with no fees or income eligibility.

Project Proposal: The $5,032 grant we received from Common Ground last year was transformative. It enabled us to provide over 335 hours of crisis care, each hour making a lasting impact on a child's life by offering safe shelter, nutritious meals, and warm clothing. Additionally, it allowed our dedicated staff to offer invaluable care and support, walking alongside families during their most challenging times. An average stay for a child at Crisis Nursery is about 8 hours, and with the Common Ground grant, we facilitated more than 40 visits, each one playing a crucial role in stabilizing families and protecting children from harm.

By investing in our Safe Children program, Common Ground will be a catalyst for profound positive change in the lives of those who need it most. With this grant, we will say YES to more children and families experiencing crisis, guiding them toward a brighter future and a stronger community. As we look to the future, we envision a world where more children can grow up in a nurturing and secure environment, and every family is empowered to thrive.

Recipe Features

We've been cooking up some tasty recipes for your enjoyment!

New Products

Take a look at all the new items across departments!

Thanks for Reading!

Enjoy the coupon below on your next shopping trip.