Retailer Roundtable: How does your store give back?Retailer Roundtable: How does your store give back?

Margaret Mittelstadt
Director of community relations at Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative in Milwaukee, Wis.
Outpost Community Partners, started in 1993, builds a healthy, diverse and sustainable community by raising awareness about various issues through mutual partnerships. Every year, one-fourth of the earned interest from Outpost’s Co-op Community Fund endowment goes to four local nonprofits that each receive a $3,000 donation. These organizations can then partner with us on additional fundraising and outreach events.

Natalie Bennett
Owner of Lemongrass Natural Foods Market in Wenatchee, Wash.
As the owner of a small store, I’m also the bookkeeper, marketer, janitor, etc., so time is precious. However, my community is very important to me, and being an active member is not only rewarding but also builds meaningful relationships. I serve on the board of directors for the local chamber of commerce and for the Follies Guild, a women’s service group. We also donate baskets and other goodies to local fundraiser auctions.

Howard Chasser
Owner of Jandi’s Natural Market in Oceanside, N.Y.
I see Jandi’s as part of a larger community and believe it’s important to find ways to support it. We donate to almost every organization that asks. We’ve provided discounts or donations to people who’ve lost a lot to Hurricane Sandy. Education is a big part of our mission, so we speak and do samplings at local schools and fairs. And when people come into the store, education often takes priority over the sale.

Kari Bradley
General manager at Hunger Mountain Cooperative in Montpelier, Vt. For our annual Holiday Grocery Bag program, we work with vendors to gather donations and discounted products that volunteers bag assembly-line-style. Last year we distributed 600 bags of food throughout the community. We also established the Hunger Mountain Cooperative Community Fund in 2005 to support businesses and organizations aligned with our mission. This year we’ll give $7,500 in grants to projects that advance our local food system.