From the Board President: 18 Things You Can Do to Help the Co-op That You Haven’t Yet Considered

There’s a volunteer in there!

 

Our community is doing something extraordinary. Think about it. We’re joining forces together to build our own grocery store – a business that’s built by the community, for the community. This is not to be taken lightly.

Let’s look at this by the numbers. Since the Cedar Falls Food Co-op incorporated 3 years ago:

  • Close to 700 families from Cedar Falls and surrounding communities have made a financial investment in the Co-op by purchasing a share.
  • Over 60 businesses have pledged their support by joining the Co-op’s Business Partner
  • Numerous service clubs and other organizations have invited Co-op representatives to present information about the Co-op to their members.
  • And so far in 2017, dozens and dozens of individuals have contributed over 2,000 hours of volunteer service towards the goal of establishing the full-service grocery store.

In other words, the depth and breadth of support for this effort is amazing and it continues to grow. While we are nearing the finish line, the work is not yet done. What are YOU doing to help? Consider:

  1. Release your inner child and become Rooty the Carrot for an event.
  2. Show off your writing skills and pen a fun article for the Garlic Press.
  3. Do you have the world’s cutest kids? Consider having your family be a model for an upcoming photo shoot.
  4. Own a business? Invite a Co-op rep to present to your staff.
  5. More of a behind-the-scenes personality? Help with some online file transfers and maintenance.
  6. Got connections with local media? Help the Communications Team with media relations.
  7. Do you have real estate experience? The Operations Team could use your help while it reviews possible locations for the store.
  8. Dust off those WordPress skills and make the Co-op’s awesome website even more awesome.
  9. Show off your facilitation abilities and lead a group of members to develop the Co-op’s values statements.
  10. Help people spark their passion to want to support the Co-op and join our Capital Campaign Team.
  11. Begin your personal journey to becoming Steven Spielberg or Ken Burns by creating some videos about food, the Co-op, or whatever waters your garden!
  12. Does balancing a checkbook sound fun to you? Our Finance Team is looking for someone with good number skills.
  13. Don’t just follow Twitter – be followed on Twitter!
  14. Let loose your inner sleuth and become the Co-op’s go to researcher.
  15. Start planning next year’s strategic yard sign distribution plan to maximize exposure.
  16. Donate an unused space at the back of your company’s office for Co-op meetings.
  17. Become the Co-op’s archivist.
  18. Your idea here. Seriously…we welcome and value ALL input into this effort.

These are just some of the many ways you can help. Join in the fun and you too can say that you helped build the Cedar Falls Food Co-op!

Please consider helping in this effort – send me an email to let me know you’re interested, and we can discuss how to best connect you with this amazing effort!

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

 

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