February Newsletter

In this month's newsletter:

• Store Update
• Smiley Politely Instagram Takeover
• Art Gallery
• Owner Deals
• Upcoming Owner Appreciation Days
• Flatlander Classroom Poster
• Winter Roots Virtual Cooking Class
• Plant-Based Inks Art Class
• Pasta Making In-Person Cooking Class
• Round Up For Good
• Recipe Features
• New Products

Store Update

Hello Cooperators,

Things are happening around the Co-op! Our exciting refrigeration upgrade as begun. Last Friday, we received our new and improved coolers that will soon house a majority of our refrigerated foods. Installation will occur over the next few weeks, and we will do our best to ensure seamless shopping for all our customers. We are grateful to have received DCEO funding from the State to cover a considerable amount of this renovation.

Smile Politely Instagram Takeover

Wednesday, February 25th

Common Ground Food Co-op will be doing a Smile Politely Instagram Story Takeover on Wednesday, February 25th, showing you behind the scenes of their daily operations, departments, and programs. There will be never-before-seen scenes of the Co-op, staff Q&A, and Co-op Trivia. 

Art Gallery

Hope Begins Here Installation

Stop by the Flatlander Art Gallery to see the newest installation featuring the work of 7-18 artists from Cunningham Children's Home. Each piece allows the viewer a glimpse into their world full of emotion, hope, and healing.

Cunningham Children’s Home is an exemplary child welfare and educational services agency providing caring support and therapeutic intervention to more than 953 youth and families each year through comprehensive programs including residential treatment, special education, and community-based services.  

In art, students engage in artmaking activities that not only align with the national visual art standards, but are also specifically designed to be therapeutic and address the above-mentioned disorders.  In this sense, the process is just as important as the final product.  Much healing comes from just engaging with art materials, and that engagement along with the final art piece not only boosts their self-esteem but improves students’ fine motor skills, mood, helps to keep them focused in the present while also enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking skills. 

Art Gallery Reception & Artist Talk

Monday, March 2nd, 4 - 6 pm

Join us for the Art Gallery Reception and Artist Talk for Dr. Ian Wang. Light refreshments will be served.

Literati painting in Chinese is 文人畫. It is emphasizes personal expression, emotion, and inner spirit over realistic depiction. It blends calligraphy, poetry, and seals.

Save the date for the Art Reception and Artist Talk!

Owner News

News for our Co-op Owners

February 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 February. Dozens of amazing products will be on sale for owners for the entire month!

Owner Appreciation Days

Save the Date!

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).

Owners will also receive a special coupon book with exclusive deals from March to May (including an additional 10% storewide discount). There will also be exclusive owner deals, free Golden Ticket items, and the chance to win one of four amazing raffle giveaways!

People's History Poster

Daniel Schreiber - Flatlander Classroom Poster

Love our Flatlander Classroom and the history behind it? We have 6 limited edition Celebrating People’s History screen printed posters featuring Daniel Schreiber, the inspiration for our Flatlander Classroom. 

The late Daniel Schreiber inspired the Flatlander Community Kitchen fund, to realize Dan’s vision of a place where amateur cooks, gardeners, farmers, foragers, and food entrepreneurs can enjoy the fellowship of food. Dan founded Flatlander Chocolate and became one of the few bean-to-bar chocolate makers in the country. He loved and supported local and artisan foods, and believed that healthy and delicious food can be affordable and a catalyst for community.

Thanks to Beth Simpson, local artist and community organizer, six 19”x25’’ posters are available for purchase for $30 each.

Classes & Events

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

Winter Roots Virtual Cooking Class

Saturday,  February 28th, 12 - 2 pm

Celebrate winter root vegetables with a local cooking class featuring Chef Ann Swanson. Enjoy a warming winter menu that highlights Roasted Turnip Soup, Braised Beef, and a Sweet Carrot Cake made with local ingredients. 

$60/ticket. Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their ticket. 

Plant-Based Inks Art Class

Wednesday, February 11th, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm 

SOLD OUT - Join Waitlist

Come paint and create with local artist and instructor, Joan Jach. Creating art for fun and relaxation can reduce stress while also encouraging greater community connection.

Joan will demonstrate pokeberry ink making and paintbrush techniques. Students will have access to a variety of Joan’s plant-based inks and paints as well as handmade paper to explore this medium. Students will take home their creation and instructions to make their own plant-based inks.

Students are also welcome to bring extra supplies (e.g. collage materials, markers, pens, etc.)

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

Pasta Making In-Person Cooking Class

Thursday,  February 19th, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

SOLD OUT - Join Waitlist

Learn how to make fresh pasta with Co-op instructor, Julia Paniago. Students will make their own pasta dough and create different pasta styles and shapes. The class will also cover simple yet delicious pesto and cream sauces that pair perfectly with a variety of pasta. Students will taste each dish and will be able to take their handmade pasta home for future recipes.

$40/person - Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their ticket. Limited seating available - only 12 seats per class. Waiting list will be made available once tickets are sold out.

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!

January's Round Up For Good Grant

$5,184 raised for Daily Bread Soup Kitchen

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing total!

Mission: The mission of the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen is to feed the hungry in our community regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. We welcome all volunteers to this service who share an unconditional regard for every human being. We provide a safe, respectful, and inviting environment in an atmosphere of hope and dignity.

Project Proposal: 

During the COVID pandemic of 2020, we began offering meals to-go. In order to make this possible, we installed a window where guests can receive a hot meal with sack lunch without entering the building. This process has allowed us to serve more people who suffer from food inadequacy while we have continue with in-door eating. Thus, the number of guests and meals has increased significantly. Currently, we are providing an average of 400 hot meals and 350-400 sack lunches daily for the most in need in our community.

The most expensive monthly expenditure we have is the purchase of protein: meat, cheese or peanut butter. We strive to provide a hot nutritious meal daily with a to-go sack lunch. We always offer a vegetarian option for guests who do not or cannot eat meat. In addition, we provide a sack lunch for each guest to take with them. Often, these meals are their only food source. If we receive funds from the Round Up For Good Ground we will purchase food items rich in protein like meat, cheese and peanut butter for our guests. Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to address the issue of hunger in our community.

February's Round Up For Good Grant

Proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood of Illinois

Mission: Planned Parenthood of Illinois is the leader in providing and promoting compassionate, comprehensive reproductive health care, education, and rights 

Project Proposal: The Round Up For Good Grant will be used to support care provision at Planned Parenthood of Illinois’ Champaign health center. PPIL Champaign provides vital sexual and reproductive healthcare to the community, including STI testing, contraceptive counseling, youth education, gender affirming care services, and medication and procedural abortion services. Funding also supports the provision of community programming on sexual and reproductive health issues, LGBTQ+ affinity organizing, and wraparound support connections. In FY24 PPIL Champaign served 4,927 patients, providing 5,235 STI screenings, 116 cancer screenings, and 1,655 contraceptive counseling sessions among other services. 

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.