PCC Community Markets Launches Effort to Support Communities Impacted by Ongoing Food Security Crisis

PCC Community Markets (PCC or the co-op), the largest food cooperative in the U.S., is joining forces with local businesses and community partners to address the growing hunger crisis that continues to affect hundreds of thousands of people across the region. While interruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program benefits have intensified the need for food access, PCC calls attention to the fact that food insecurity remains a persistent challenge. Visits to hunger relief organizations have steadily increased in recent years as resources have declined. Through its new rapid response initiative, PCC and its partners across Washington are mobilizing resources, volunteers and funding to deliver immediate food and relief to neighbors facing hunger.

“We are committed to expanding access to nutritious food during this critical time,” said Krish Srinivasan, PCC’s President and CEO. “As a community-owned food co-op, our mission has always been bigger than selling groceries. Even if SNAP benefits are reinstated, hunger relief organizations are seeing more need than ever before. We invite the community to join us in supporting neighbors in whatever way they can.”

PCC contributed a $50,000 seed fund to support food purchases for hunger relief organizations and invited the community to match some or all of that amount through financial or in-kind donations. The BECU Foundation stepped up in partnership, matching PCC’s contribution with an additional $50,000 to further expand the initiative’s reach. One hundred percent of the funds raised will go directly to hunger relief organizations, including food banks, community kitchens, mutual aid organizations and more. Community members are also invited to give what they can through Harvest Against Hunger’s website.

“Cooperatives are built on the idea that we can do more together than we can alone,” said Jennifer Teunon, BECU Foundation’s board president. “As food access grows more challenging across our region, we’re proud to team up with fellow cooperative PCC to support local food banks and address this urgent human need. Together, we’re helping ensure that those facing food insecurity can get the nourishment they need to thrive.”

Organically Grown Co. (OGC) has also contributed $10,000, with additional support from industry and community partners including Patagonia Provisions, Central Co-op, Primal Kitchen, Cairnspring Mills, Sound Credit Union, Parsons + Co, and Harvest Against Hunger. In total, financial and in-kind support from local businesses as well as community members have reached over $135,000 since last week.

Financial donations can be made in-person at any of PCC’s 16 neighborhood stores to support local hunger relief efforts. Shoppers may also choose to round up their purchases at checkout. So far, PCC members and shoppers have raised more than $19,000 through round-up and checkout donations since last week.

In addition to the fundraising campaigns, PCC is expanding its holiday Neighborhood Food Drive to run through November 30. PCC’s efforts build on its long-standing commitment to strengthening the local food system through initiatives such as Growing for Good, its daily Grocery Donation Program and others.
 
Strength in Cooperation

Food and grocery cooperatives across Washington are taking action to ensure their communities have access to nutrient-dense food. Grounded in community ownership, co-ops are uniquely positioned to harness collective resources and partnerships, enabling them to respond swiftly and effectively to the needs of their members and neighbors.

“Co-ops are, by design, able to respond to the needs and interests of the communities that build, shape and sustain them,” said Sue Zolan Spang, Central Co-op’s CEO and General Manager. “Cooperation is at the root of our model. By collaborating with one another, not competing, we can maximize the impact of our efforts to serve our communities and significantly multiply the amount of healthy, sustaining food that reaches our neighbors who need it the most.”

Read on to learn how co-ops are leading the way through community action.

• Central Co-op in Seattle continues to collect physical food donations for its year-round food bank partners. Financial donations made through round-up at checkout will also go directly to the same fund supporting PCC’s hunger relief efforts. Additionally, through its Healthy Community Program, the co-op offers a 10% everyday discount to restricted-income shoppers. It also participates in the City of Seattle’s Fresh Bucks Program which provides subsidies for shoppers to purchase fruits and vegetables at select retailers.

 

• Sno-Isle Food Co-op in Everett is donating and delivering 100 Holiday Meal Bags to Garfield Elementary’s Garfield EATs program, providing weekly meals for students to take home over the weekend with fresh, high-quality essentials. The co-op is also partnering with Everett High School for a food drive benefiting local food banks; Shoppers can make cash donations at the registers. In addition, they are also coordinating pop-up pantries with local businesses and organizations to distribute fresh foods to neighbors who may face barriers accessing traditional food banks due to location or scheduling hardships.

 

• Community Food Co-op in Bellingham has launched its new Lend a Hand program, offering a 25% discount to anyone experiencing food insecurity. The co-op is also extending its partnership with the Bellingham Food Bank; Through checkout donations, shoppers have already raised $200,000 and counting this year.

 

• Skagit Valley Food Co-op in Mount Vernon matched all register donations in October, resulting in a $25,000 contribution to Community Action’s Skagit Food Distribution Center. This donation brings the co-op’s Feeding Change campaign total to more than $36,000 since its launch in September.

 

• The Food Co-op in Port Townsend invites shoppers to donate any amount that they are able to at the register to benefit the Jefferson County Food Bank Association which supports the Quilcene, Brinnon, Tri-Area and Port Townsend Food Banks. The co-op is also partnering with United Good Neighbors’ Give Jefferson campaign, which funds vital programs such as the Farmers Market SNAP Match, Backpacks for Kids, Food Bank Growers and more.

 

• Main Market Co-op in Spokane continues to host its $5 Community Dinner every Thursday and has added an additional Tuesday dinner while the federal shutdown pauses SNAP benefits. Through their Pay It Forward program, shoppers have shown outstanding generosity by purchasing meals for neighbors in need with participation increasing significantly over the past week.