With the opening of the new Weavers Way Ambler, we’re looking for ways that the Co-op and Co-op members can have a charitable impact in all the communities we serve. 

We’ve met with numerous organizations in the Ambler area over the last year that are doing work that closely aligns with our mission. We’re already working on numerous ways to partner with them and get their message to our members. 

One of the ways we support local organizations is Giving Tuesday. On the second Tuesday of every month, our intrepid cashiers ask folks in line if they’d like to donate $2 (or more!) to a designated cause. Food Moxie, our affiliated nonprofit, has been the recipient in the past; in July, we did a test run of changing up that tradition, when our Food Justice Committee proposed raising money for the Holy Cross Food Pantry in Mt. Airy. The committee put a lot of energy into getting the word out and encouraging members to donate and we raised over $1,000. In part because of the success of that campaign, we’ve decided to go ahead and expand the list of nonprofits that will have a chance to get in front of our shoppers on Giving Tuesdays. 

Food Moxie will continue to be the recipient of six of the 12 Giving Tuesdays per year. We remain committed to supporting Food Moxie’s nutrition and farming education programs by sponsoring events and providing numerous touch points for them to reach our membership.

Here’s our plan for the rest of 2017: 

• In October, we’ll be raising money jointly for the Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association. These two organizations play a major role in protecting the environment in our entire service area, working in concert to preserve Wissahickon Creek both upstream and downstream. 
• In November, we’ll focus on area food pantries.
• In December, we will be raising funds for Food Moxie’s end-of-year giving campaign. 

With a third store, Weavers Way will be able to support even more nonprofit organizations and raise more funds to benefit the community. Stay tuned news about what we’re planning for 2018.