August Newsletter

In this month's newsletter: 

• Word from the General Manager 
• Word from the Board
• Closed Labor Day
• Save the Date: September Owner Appreciation Days
• August Owner Deals
• Run for the Board of Directors
• Puppet Making In-Person Art Class
• Art Reception 
• Round Up For Good
• Recipe Feature 
• New Products 

Word from General Manager 

Hello Cooperators!

I want to give you a quick update on our latest store changes. The Wellness Desk has been removed. Our new shelving has been installed and we are now resetting Aisle 3, Aisle 4 and making a few changes to other areas in the store. This change has given us over 100 more feet of shelf space! We can now expand sections that were never large enough to carry the variety we wanted or needed, but now we will be adding over 200 new items!

Throughout this process, we have analyzed sales by item and are discontinuing slow movers in favor of products we think our Owners and regular shoppers will appreciate! We will also give our fastest sellers extra facings to help maintain shelf stock levels and hopefully reduce the backroom space needed for overstock.

We have just a few sections left to reset. You may notice some empty space in our new sections but this won't last long! We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition. And remember, if you are having trouble finding items, please ask staff for assistance! We are happy to help. 

A couple of quick notes:

Our annual Meeting of Owners is coming soon, please watch for an email stating the date, time and location. 

If you have a candidate in mind for our Round Up for Good please be on the lookout for an email from the Co-op with the proper form. These will be sent out the second week of August. 

Thank you all so much!

Take Care!

Word from Board

A few years ago, I wrote about the benefits of cooperative enterprises like our own Common Ground Food Co-op (CGFC). Much has changed globally, nationally, and locally since then, but our values have stayed the same.

Unity, community building, and transparency in our institutions matter more than ever. As CGFC prepares for its upcoming Board of Directors election, owners are encouraged to consider running for a seat. Whether your passion is sustainable agriculture, social equity, or economic development, your voice is essential to shaping the Co-op’s future.

Next year’s directors will play a pivotal role in steering the Co-op’s direction, upholding cooperative principles, and representing the diverse interests of our owners. The Board may also have the opportunity to welcome a new General Manager and work side by side with them to shape what’s next. Unlike traditional corporations, where decisions are driven primarily by profit, cooperatives like ours prioritize democratic control, member participation, social responsibility, and sustainability.

As a CGFC Board member, you can be part of the change you want to see in your community.

Why run for the Board?

Here’s what I’ve come to believe Board membership represents:

Community Representation: Board members act as stewards of community interests, ensuring decisions align with the Co-op’s mission and values, whether that means supporting local producers, promoting environmental sustainability, or expanding community outreach.

Governance and Accountability: Board members oversee strategic planning, financial management, and policy-making, ensuring transparency and accountability to owners. This is where you help shape the policies that benefit the whole community.

Leadership and Innovation: Board service is a chance to bring fresh perspectives to the table with new sustainability initiatives, expanded owner benefits, or improved cooperative services.

Building a Stronger Community: Running for the Board strengthens the bonds between owners and creates more opportunities for collective decision-making, building a more resilient, vibrant local economy.

To learn more about board responsibilities, the election process, and how to nominate yourself or others, visit the link below or reach out to a current board member. Nominations close August 11th, 2026. We’d love to hear from you!

Closed for Labor Day

Common Ground will be closed on Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Owner News

News for our Co-op Owners

September Owner Appreciation Days

Wednesday, September 9th - Tuesday, September 15th

Owner Appreciation Days are coming up in September! 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).

All owners who shop during Owner Days and use their 10% discount will receive a special coupon book with exclusive deals from September to November, 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!

August 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.

Run for the Board of Directors

Applications are being accepted until August 11th

We have 6 seats open for the 2026 Board of Directors elections! Common Ground's directors play a pivotal role in steering its direction, ensuring adherence to cooperative principles, and representing the diverse interests of its owners.

Running for the Board is a testament to one's dedication to community, cooperative values, and the vision of a sustainable future. It is a chance to make a meaningful impact, contribute expertise, and ensure that the Co-op remains a vibrant and resilient institution for generations to come.

Whether you are a longstanding owner or new to Common Ground, consider stepping forward and running for the Board! Together, we can strengthen our cooperative, uphold its values, and create positive change in our community.

Classes & Events

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

Puppet Making In-Person Art Class 

Wednesday, August 26th from 5:30 - 7:30pm

Join local artist & creative, Emily Alley for an evening of happiness, magic, and fabric arts! 

Students will learn how to create their own puppet in this beginner friendly art class. This is a no-sew puppet therefore no experience is necessary. All materials will be provided & you are guaranteed to leave class with a new best buddy! 

$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 Gallery Reception

Friday, August 14th from 4-6 pm

Join us for an evening of art and community. We will be opening up the classroom on August 14th to celebrate local artist, Olga Uribe! Stop by the classroom to meet Olga, admire her work, connect with your local community, and enjoy light refreshments.

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!

July's Round Up For Good Grant

 More than $5,135 raised for 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.

August's Round Up For Good Grant

Proceeds benefit Solidarity Gardens

Mission: Solidarity Gardens is a community-wide initiative to support our neighbors in growing and sharing free, fresh, healthy food with those in need. We cultivate better food access in the Urbana-Champaign community by connecting volunteers to our sixteen affiliate community gardens as well as our four public produce-donation sites, which receive thousands of pounds of produce each year. We also provide our low-income and immigrant residents with more than fifty free garden plots, tools, and resources to grow their own food. We are #NeighborsFeedingNeighbors #CultivatingCommunity

Project Proposal: Solidarity Gardens supports sixteen community gardens throughout Urbana-Champaign where food is grown for donation, following organic practices. Our network donated over 4,000 pounds of fresh produce last year to neighbors in need. To achieve this, we coordinate the collective expertise and resources of the Urbana Parks District, the Cunningham Township Supervisor's office, and Sola Gratia Farm.

Funding from this grant would go directly toward providing our Affiliate Gardens with many necessary upkeep materials including compost to amend soils, plant starts, replacement irrigation supplies, fencing and trellising, signage, and packaging and processing materials. To fully support our many affiliate gardens in the ever-growing solidarity network, each year’s upkeep costs are estimated around $8,500. This grant would ensure that our community gardens, which have become fixtures in Urbana-Champaign--such as the gardens at the Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office, Meadowbrook Park, CUPHD, Douglas Park, the Red Herring, and Victory Park--will have beds in good repair, healthy soil, fencing, and most importantly, food-producing plants that will feed our community with much desired local, organic, fresh produce.

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.