From early on in its history, Seward Co-op has made it a priority to give back to the community. “Concern for Community” is one of the seven fundamental principles of cooperation and in that spirit, the co-op launched SEED in 2011. SEED is a fundraising program that provides customers an opportunity to round-up their bill for organizations that share Seward’s commitment to a healthy community.

Now we are proud to announce this community giving program has surpassed $1 million in donations! Since SEED’s inception, more than 40 percent of co-op owners and shoppers have made upwards of 2 million individual donations. Over time, the co-op has also seen significant growth in total donations. When the SEED program was launched, the average total donation was around $8,000 per month. Since opening the Co-op Creamery Café and the Friendship store, the monthly average has increased to more than $23,000! The $1-million-dollar milestone and the growth of SEED has been possible because of you, co-op owners and shoppers. Thank you!

A few SEED highlights from over the years:

Donations from SEED have benefited more than 35 different community organizations and seven different emergency relief efforts. Over the years, there have been disasters —near and far —that have warranted preempting a recipient in order to use SEED dollars for disaster relief. In each instance, the response from co-op customers was astounding.

Since 2011, the Brian Coyle Center has been a SEED recipient 15 times, and they have received the most donations of any recipient, totaling more than $260,000. The Brian Coyle Center is located in the heart of Cedar-Riverside and strives to unite people across ethnicity and generations. The funds raised for Brian Coyle have specifically supported its food shelf, wherein $1 has the capacity to purchase more than a pound of food. The support of Seward customers has made a significant difference in the lives of individuals who benefit from the Brian Coyle Food Shelf. We look forward to rounding up for them again in September.

Since opening the Friendship store in the Bryant neighborhood, we have prioritized supporting organizations near there. Sabathani Community Center’s food shelf has been a recipient four times, and they will be a recipient again in December. Customers have donated more than $79,000 to Sabathani since May 2014. Sabathani provides a space where residents can gather in a welcoming environment, build community, conduct business, and receive programs and services that move people forward.

Co-ops set a standard for the surrounding business community by our commitment to environmental and social responsibility. The cooperative principle of “Concern for Community” guides us to work for the sustainable development of our communities. When we pool our resources, particularly through efforts like SEED, we make progress towards this end. Kudos to Front End staff, including cashiers and customer service staff at Franklin and Friendship and servers at the Creamery Café. They are the engines that drive our successful SEED program!

Become a SEED recipient–we are now accepting applications for 2017. The application deadline is August 1, 2016.