The Positive Change program raises money for local non-profit organizations working to better our community. We believe in the power of change and the power of community – Positive Change combines these two beliefs into one powerful program. The Positive Change program is one of the many ways the Co-op fulfills the seventh cooperative principle: Concern for Community.
Next time you check out, say “I’d like to round-up for Positive Change,” and we’ll round-up the total of your purchase to the nearest dollar, or you can donate any desired amount. Each month, the selected non-profit organization receives 100% of the donated funds, plus an additional mini grant from the Co-op (currently $400 each month). Annually, the Board of Directors selects one Positive Change recipient to receive an additional grant from our Cooperative Community Fund. Thank you for contributing to positive change and making a difference in our community!
Our Family Farms
Round up this May to help support regenerative agricultural practices! Our Family Farms educates and inspires farmers, policy makers and the community at large to support regenerative agricultural practices.
Our Family Farms is a small volunteer led non profit with the capacity to perform large tasks that create transformational change. Our Family Farms envisions a thriving, sustainable food and agricultural system with seed diversity and farmable land for generations to come. They educate and inspire farmers, policy makers and the community at large to support regenerative agricultural practices. Our Family Farms is committed to protecting traditional GMO free seeds and the farmers growing them by creating GMO free Seed Sanctuaries.
Prior to being a nonprofit organization, Our Family Farms was a farmer led political action committee with the goal of protecting our family farms from GMO crops. A critical first step in this effort was the passage of the Family Farms Measure 15-119 on May 20, 2014. The community voted in favor of the Measure by 66% of voters! This Measure laid the groundwork for creating a GMO free seed sanctuary in Jackson County, which is a world class seed growing region. When a lawsuit was filed shortly after the campaign, they helped defend the Measure in federal court and won again!
Our Family Farms will use the Positive Change funds to host a Seed to Supper farm tour. The community will engage and learn more about the ins and outs of the methods used by Medford Food Co-op farmers to grow and source seeds that feed the GMO free Jackson County community. Regenerative farming techniques used to mitigate climate and drought issues will also be discussed.
Our Family Farms
Round up to support family farms this August! Our Family Farms has shifted from leading a successful campaign banning GMO crops from Jackson County to teaching and inspiring farmers, gardeners, and seed savers to use regenerative agricultural practices, connecting the dots between healthy soil, preserving native pollinator habitat and reversing climate change.
Our Family Farms educates and inspires farmers, policy makers and the community at large to support regenerative agricultural practices. They offer educational programs about a variety of topics related to regenerative agriculture, soil health, and how these practices can sequester carbon rather than releasing it in the atmosphere, and can help restore and maintain native pollinator habitat.
Positive Change funds will be used to support the general operations of Our Family Farms, including the educational programs like Weed Control Alternatives to Plastic, Seed Saving, and On-Farm Workshops. Funds received in 2020 were applied to their Farmworker Fire Housing Fund to help displaced farmworkers who lost their homes in the Almeda and Obenchain fires.
We turn spare change into Positive Change for local non-profits.
The Positive Change program is for organizations seeking direct financial support. Positive Change recipients for 2025 will be selected by our owners in the 2024 Annual Election. If you or your organization would like to be notified when the 2026 application is available this fall, please contact us.
If you are seeking a food or gift card donation, please complete our Donation Request Form.
Spare change really adds up.
A few cents here and there add up to big impacts for our local non-profits.