By Andrea Stafford, Marketing Manager

It wasn’t an easy task, but our fabulous dedicated Board of Directors Community Connections Committee met in mid-December and narrowed down the 36 non-profit group nominations made by over 100 member/owners to the 12 whom will receive Beans for Bags funds for 2019.  Remember, the Food Bank gets a jar all year long, so they are not included in this list.

Starting in 2018, we decided to handle the Beans for Bags nominations for non-profits a little differently. The main difference is that we will choose all the following year’s Beans for Bags recipients at one time to be announced at the end of December (or first part of January in this case). This new process allows non-profits an equal opportunity to get into the mix, and a clearer process for how we choose them. This process will continue annually, and members will be notified when the nominations are open for the following year (October-November). So, if you don’t see your favorite Non-Profit this year, don’t fret, you can get your nominations in for next year, as we rotate them annually 😊

And now, what you all have been waiting for -- Drum roll please…….

2019 Beans for Bags Recipients will be –

January/February – The Benji Project and Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Association

March/April – Sunfield Land for Learning and Jefferson County Farmers Markets

May/June – North Olympic Salmon Coalition and Food Bank Farm and Gardens

July/August - Peninsula Trails Coalition and Jefferson County YMCA

September/October – Community Boat Project and Local Food Council

November/December – Humane Society of Jefferson County and Port Townsend Cooperative Playschool

Thanks so much for joining us in this process!  Keep using those bags/containers because small change makes big change in our community.  Over $12,000 in donations, or 240,000 bags a year to be more exact.

ABOUT THE BEANS FOR BAGS PROGRAM -

Since its inception in 2008, the Beans for Bags program has given Co-op member/owners the choice of receiving either a nickel refund for each container or bag they bring for their groceries, or bean worth five cents which they can drop in their choice of glass gallon jars designated for three local non-profit organizations. Each bean jar stays up for a two-month cycle (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr etc.) except for The Food Bank, which is every month all year long.