July Newsletter

In this month's newsletter: 

• Word from the GM
• Word from the Board
• Art Gallery  
• July Owner Deals 
• Summer Side Salads In-Person Cooking Class
• Cheese Making In-Person Cooking Class
• Round Up For Good
• Recipe Feature 
• New Products 

Word from the General Manager

Hello Cooperators!

This past week we started a new project here at the Coop! We removed the Wellness desk at our main entrance to create additional space for a few categories that require expansion. Shelving will be added to the created space. A few categories will shift but should remain close to their original locations. Most moves and expansions will be in aisles 3 and 4. You will see more varieties of condiments, international foods, pasta, sauces, and dinners. 

As always, please request items you would like to see us carry here at your favorite locally owned and operated grocery store. We want to hear from you! Also, if you know of a local farm or producer whose products we do not carry, please let us know. We truly wish to support as many local farmers and producers as our space allows. 

Please be careful in the summer heat: stay hydrated, avoid overexertion, and take cooling breaks when necessary. 

I hope to see you all soon in the Coop!

Gary

Word from Board

On Tuesday, August 18th at 6pm in the Flatlander classroom, the Engagement Committee is excited to present a mini documentary about Mollie Engelhart from Kiss the Ground's Stories of Regeneration. 

The mini-doc features Mollie Engelhart, a regenerative farmer at Sow A Heart Farm in Fillmore, CA. Looking for innovative approaches as a chef and farmer, she began using food scraps from Sage, her plant-based bistro and brewery, to provide compost for her farm. Kiss the Ground is an audience-supported nonprofit that promotes regeneration and healthy soil for both human and planetary health. 

Have an idea for a book to read for book club or a documentary to watch? Let us know. We would love to hear from you! If there is enough interest and positive feedback regarding the mini-documentary, we may host a viewing of the long-form *Kiss the Ground* documentary. 

Flatlander Gallery

On July 10th, Olga Uribe, local Urbana resident, will be installing her work in our Flatlander Gallery. She will have a collection of paintings that tell the story of her life and those she loves. Keep your eye out for an update on when her Art Reception will be! 

For those of you who are interested in installing your work in our Gallery space, please apply at the link below! We are working on filling up our 2027 schedule. Our Flatlander Gallery is a space dedicated to connecting the community, facilitating educational opportunities focusing on healthy living, and providing access to local artists. This multi-use space is ideal for integrating the arts into the urban environment and creating partnerships among artists, the community, and businesses.

Owner News

News for our Co-op Owners

July Owner Deals

Dozens of sales every month for Owners

Owner Deals are bigger and better than ever, 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!

Summer Side Salads In-Person Cooking Class

Friday, July 24th from 5:30 - 7:30pm

Learn how to make delicious summer side salads with local chef, Carl Reisman! Perfectly paired with a seasonal refresher. Salads include:

• Soba Noodle Salad with eggplant, mango & shrimp.
• Melon & Berry Salad with honeydew, cantaloupe, fresh blackberries, feta & pistachios. 
• Black Bean Salad with quinoa, avocado, sliced radishes, and seasonal greens, tossed in a lemon garlic dressing. 
• Hibiscus Berry Refresher with blackberries, apple cider vinegar, local honey, bitters & soda water.  -

$40/person - Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their ticket.

Cheese Making In-Person Cooking Class

Tuesday, July 28th from 5:30 - 7:30pm

Join us & Ernesto Rodriguez of El Molcajete Sauces for a hands-on cheese-making
experience celebrating the rich culinary traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico!

During this interactive class, you'll learn about Oaxacan culture and cuisine while discovering the traditional techniques used to make two iconic cheeses: Queso Fresco and Quesillo, also known as Oaxacan cheese.

$40/person - Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their ticket.

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!

June's Round Up For Good Grant

$5,208 raised for Eastern Illinois Foodbank

Mission: EIF is the primary food source for a network of 160 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and other programs working to feed our neighbors facing hunger. In the last fiscal year, we distributed more than 11 million meals (25% of which was fresh produce) to local families, children, seniors, and veterans experiencing food insecurity in our communities.

Project Proposal: Funds received from the Round Up For Good grant will support our Foodmobile program, which has evolved in recent months to have a greater impact. The need is higher than ever: our pantries are serving 90% more people now than they were in 2022. The evolution of our Foodmobile program in recent months allows us to meet our neighbors where they are, and to provide nutritious food to neighbors in approximately 100 rural and underserved communities across our 18-county service area. Each dollar we receive enables us to deliver three meals to members of our community facing hunger.

July's Round Up For Good Grant

Proceeds benefit The Refugee Center

Mission: Since 1980, the mission of The Refugee Center has been to provide services essential to refugee and immigrant resettlement in East Central Illinois, including orientation, translation, referral, liaison, public benefits assistance, social service counseling, advocacy, job placement, and supportive employment services.

The Refugee Center also aids in the exchange and preservation of the respective cultures of our clients. As an organization, we believe in the inherent worth of all human beings, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation, or cultural heritage.  

The Refugee Center was created by Vietnamese refugees as a way to help other newly arrived refugees acclimate to American culture, and to provide services commonly needed by this population. Since then, The Refugee Center has expanded its scope to assist all refugees, immigrants, and asylees.

Project Proposal: The Refugee Center will continue to use Common Ground Round Up For Good funds to purchase essential items for newly arrived refugees. These funds will ensure that refugees are placed in a safe, clean, and well-stocked home when they begin their new lives in the CU community.

The Refugee Center is proud to report that we’ve had a very successful first year as an affiliate resettlement agency under the United States Council of Catholic Bishops! Since September of last year, we’ve successfully resettled 89 refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders in Champaign-Urbana and surrounding cities through the Reception and Placement program. These individuals have come from Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, and the majority of them arrive with no existing ties to the community and no support other than The Refugee Center. Refugee arrivals are entitled to a range of services from our organization, including safe and secure housing, application for public benefits, employment search assistance, and cultural orientation to their new country and community, among many other services. The majority of these arrivals become financially independent by their third month in the country, and Round Up For Good funds have been essential to that success.

Over the course of the next fiscal year, we plan to welcome 120 refugees from all over the world. While these newcomers receive a resettlement stipend from the federal government, it is not sufficient to meet all of their needs. Imagine trying to restart your life with only $1,325 per family member! The cost of setting up a new home can easily eat up the majority of a new arrival’s resettlement stipend, which is intended to cover all expenses during their first 90 days in the country. The Refugee Center will continue to use Common Ground funds to purchase home supplies and toiletries that are essential to newly arrived families. A fund designated for home supplies has allowed The Refugee Center to purchase supplies in bulk and take advantage of sales, rather than purchasing more expensive individual items for families as they arrive. Additionally, it enables us to reserve each client’s resettlement stipend for the growing costs of living, like rent, utilities, groceries, and essential seasonal clothing. Finally, a small portion of the funds will be reserved to maintain some essential cleaning supplies for the resettlement team to use in cases when housing has not been adequately cleaned by property management. Round Up For Good funds will be used to provide our newcomer families dignity, security, and comfort in their new homes in the CU community.

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.