Community Donations
Donations are given to community organizations. Priority is given to local organizations and events involved in promoting holistic health, improving the environment, focusing on food and nutrition issues. We do not donate to fundraisers for individuals or families, but we are happy to post information about these on our community bulletin board near the restrooms.
We offer gift cards in the range of $10-$25 for use at fundraisers, meetings or other one-time events. We do not provide food or deli trays.
Our donation program does not subsidize partisan or religious organizations. Recipient organizations are eligible a maximum of twice per year (including "Give Where You Live/Round Up" donations).
Requesting a Donation?
Please fill out the donation request form (link below) and return it to a cashier at least 2 weeks in advance. Include a copy of your program flyer or any additional info about your organization.
To request a donation, fill out our Community Donations Request Form and email it to charlene.elderkin@viroquafood.coop or drop it off in the front office at the Co-op.
Give Where You Live!
Our Give Where You Live donations program allows our owners and shoppers to "round up" to the nearest dollar for the nonprofit of the month each time they check out. These organizations are elected by VFC Owners through a yearly ballot.
VFC Owners may nominate a local community organization with a 501c3 status to be listed on the annual ballot. Nominated organizations must have missions consistent with VFC’s mission and Co-op Principles. Political organizations are not included. Religious organizations that offer services, such as a food pantry, may be included as long as those services are open to all community members and not used for proselytizing. Organizations with a low vote count are removed from the ballot until they are re-nominated by a VFC Owner.
To nominate an organization for the ballot, email organization name, one sentence description, and website to charlene.elderkin@viroquafood.coop by Sept 1, 2019 to be included on the 2020 Ballot.
2019 Give Where You Live Recipient Schedule
January Living Faith Food Pantry Offers a choice program where each participant makes food selections within categories that best meets their personal needs and tastes. The pantry provides recipes and samples to help participants become familiar with the wide variety of produce that is seasonally available. They also offer many organically grown foods which substantially increases the variety of food distributed!
February Couleecap Takes action to find innovative strategies to combat poverty. Couleecap helps people in need with housing, food, transportation, and more.
March Vernon Trails Vernon Trails is a non-profit organization committed to developing and maintaining sustainable roadways and trails, while continuing to create access for human powered users.
April Community Hunger Solutions Dedicated to increasing access to healthy food by providing food pantries with surplus fresh produce from local farms.
May Driftless Humane Society Stray animal care and adoption services. DHS is funded by memberships, donations, bequests and user fees.
June Viroqua Farmers Market Hosts more than 50 vendors each week, all of whom are within a 100 mile radius of Viroqua. These farmers, growers, bakers, crafters and artists are eager to tell you all about the products and goods they produce. Open May through October.
July WDRT – Driftless Community Radio WDRT 91.9FM is a listener-supported and programmed, non-commercial, volunteer-run, educational radio station in the Driftless Region of southwest Wisconsin.
August Youth Initiative High School Holistic Waldorf education for grades 9-12. Emphasizes the development of student responsibility, initiative, and citizenship in all aspects of school life.
September Viroqua Farm to School Integrates fresh, local foods into the school lunch programs in area schools while teaching kids about healthy nutrition and the path of food from farm to fork.
October Cooperative Community Fund As the Viroqua Food Co-op endowment fund grows, interest earned each year increases and allows the VFC to give out more and/or larger grants to nonprofits and/or cooperatives in our community.
November Bethel Butikk Food Pantry This community food pantry is sponsored by Bethel Home & Services, plus 18 local churches which provide food and monetary assistance to eligible families.
December Kickapoo Valley Reserve The KVR Educational Programs offer hands-on environmental learning opportunities that promote positive environmental values to people of all ages.
2018 Give Where You Live Recipients
Thank you to our Co-op Owners for participating in the Give Where You Live Donations Program (formerly known as 1% Wednesday) by turning in your donations ballot. The following schedule is a list of the 2018 nonprofit recipients.
January 2018 The Ark
February 2018 AlterAtions and the CATsNIP Clinic
March 2018 Passages, Inc
April 2018 Driftless Humane Society
May 2018 Community Hunger Solutions
June 2018 McIntosh Memorial Library
July 2018 Vernon Trails
August 2018 Door of Hope
September 2018 Youth Initiative High School
October 2018 Cooperative Community Fund
November 2018 Bland-Bekkedal Center for Hospice Care
December 2018 WDRT – Driftless Community Radio
2016-17 1% Wednesday Recipients
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July '16 August '16 September '16 October '16 November '16 December '16 January '17 February '17 March '17 April '17 May '17 June '17 |
Vernon Co Farm to School Program WDRT – Driftless Community Radio Passages, Inc (800) 236-4325 |
July '17 Kickapoo Valley Reserve
August '17 Valley Stewardship Network
September '17 Viroqua Farm to School
October '17 Cooperative Community Fund
November '17 Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School
December '17 Bethel Butikk Food Pantry