Commitment to Community Program

OUR ‘COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY’ PROGRAM IS EXPANDING!
Cooperative Principle 7, “Concern for Community”

Co-ops are all about community! As a co-op with over 8,500 members, we have the opportunity to make a difference in our community in all sorts of ways…and we want to do more to assist local organizations that are working to improve the lives of our neighbors. Please note, that the co-op doesn’t align/partner with Political or Religious organizations/facilities.

What is the Commitment to Community Program?
The Commitment to Community program rewards Shareholders who volunteer at a Windham County nonprofit with a 5% discount. For every 2 hours you volunteer, you get a month’s worth of discount.  If you have any questions, please contact Shareholder Services at Shareholders@bfc.coop or 802-246-2821.

What is a ‘Commitment to Community’ Partner Organization?

These are Windham County organizations whose missions align well with the Co-op’s, and that have signed up to partner with us. They’ve agreed to track and report Co-op Shareholders’ volunteer hours to the Co-op. Scroll down for the entire list.

Q. What if the organization I volunteer with isn’t on the Commitment to Community Partner list?
A. The application to become a Community Partner Organization is on our website here. Feel free to send this to any organization you’d like to see be a part of this program.

Q. I represent a Windham County non-profit in need of volunteer support. How can we become a Commitment to Community Partner?
A. It’s simple! Just fill out an application. You’ll need to establish a point of contact at your organization to track and report volunteer hours directly to Shareholder Services on a monthly basis.

Q. How do I sign up for volunteer hours?

A. Follow these simple instructions:

  • View the most current list of our Commitment to Community Partner organizations below.
  • Select an organization and reach out to their contact person or preferred method of signing up for a volunteer shift.
  • Sign up with the organization you choose, show up for the volunteer shift, and follow any training and or volunteer information they may provide.
  • Give your name and Co-op Shareholder # to the organization’s point of contact so they can alert us once your volunteer work has been done.

Q. How do I report my C2C Volunteers hours to the Co-op?

A. Click here and fill out a simple form to report your shareholder hours.

You will need your Shareholder Number along with the name of the Community Organization you volunteered at + the organizational contact/supervisor (the person who set you up with your work).

Here’s a list of our Commitment to Community Partner Organizations

  • Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center fosters experiences that inspire connection to the natural world and its many inhabitants. Located on a picturesque old farm in Brattleboro, Vermont. Today the former farm buildings shelter campers and school groups. The pastures and forests offer natural beauty to those who walk our trails and outdoor learning opportunities for those who attend BEEC programs.
  • Brattleboro Area Hospice was founded in 1979 and provides a broad range of volunteer-based services for living and dying well, focusing on end-of-life, bereavement and advance care planning, all free of charge.
      • Contact Hilary to schedule volunteer shifts at 802-257-0775 or hilary.farquhar@brattleborohospice.org
  • Commons Newspaper / VIM: A weekly newspaper run by Vermont Independent Media with an eye toward journalism being critical for the functioning of democracy.
      • Contact Barry Aleshnick, barry@commonsnews.org, (802)258-4931.
      • Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to Distributing papers on the walking route through downtown Brattleboro, helping the crew put labels on papers for bulk mailing, bringing bins to the post office with a dolly, and possibly driving for paper distribution (all on Wednesdays).
  • Downtown Brattleboro Alliance: To nurture and support the vitality of downtown Brattleboro through art, commerce, recreation, and education.
      • Contact 802-257-4886, to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
      • Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to, Everyone Eats food distribution in communities, coordinating organizations, Gallery Walk: set-up & breakdown, delivery of programs all over the community, and community organizing: connection of downtown organizations, businesses & residents.
  • Edible Brattleboro: Their mission is to improve accessibility to healthy food by transforming spaces in and around town into edible landscapes, interplanting greens, herbs, and fruits among the ornamentals.
      • For volunteer opportunities contact Marilyn at EdibleBrattleboro@gmail.com.
      • Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to: weeding, watering gardens, planting, helping move soil, compost to sites, operating the Share the Harvest stand…
  • Foodworks: Groundworks Collaborative operates our region’s most heavily utilized food shelf program—Foodworks—located at 141 Canal Street, Brattleboro, VT. Foodworks is a free grocery store where shoppers can come by for a supply of supplemental groceries every two weeks. We strive to be as low-barrier as possible and we will serve anyone who comes by for groceries without requiring any proof of need.
      • Contact Ben Smith at BSmith@GroundworksVT.org, (802) 490-2412 to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
      • Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to delivering food, food shelf set-up, greeting shoppers, packing boxes, and data entry.
      • Volunteer Application 
  • Groundworks Collaborative: Groundworks Collaborative was established in 2015 following the merger of two well-established organizations: the Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center and Morningside Shelter (having previously been in existence for 27 and 36 years respectively). Groundworks Collaborative provides ongoing support to families and individuals facing a full continuum of housing and food insecurities in the greater Brattleboro area.
  • Guilford Cares: Guilford Cares Inc., a non-profit organization of citizens of Guilford VT, provides free assistance to vulnerable community members to improve the quality and independence of their lives.
      • Contact Leah Gessner at guilfordcaresvt@gmail.com, 802-579-1350.
      • Volunteer opportunities include Packing groceries for the food pantry, delivering groceries, transporting to grocery stores, such as BAFC, visiting homebound folks for companionship, doing errands, and light housework.
  • Harris Hill Ski Jump: A yearly Brattleboro winter tradition of ski jumping with local and national folx and has been going since 1922.
      • Contact Liz Richards at ptrich@sover.net, 802-258-0975.
      • Volunteer opportunities include Hill markers, car parkers, ticket takers, ID checkers for the beer tent, and banner set up and take down.
  • Hilltop Montessori School: Hilltop Montessori School’s mission is for students to practice responsible independence in a caring community of curious, critical learners and thoughtful citizens.
  • Hunger Free Vermont: Hunger Free Vermont is a statewide nonprofit organization that advocates and educates to bring a permanent end to hunger in Vermont through systemic change, universal strategies, and community collaboration.
  • Insight Photography Center: Provide equitable access to photography classes and workshops that empower youth to discover and express their own unique voice and vision. In-Sight’s mission relates to the Co-ops Cooperative Principles in that we both value independence and cooperation. Our classes help students understand their individuality but we also nurture them to see themselves in relating with others.
  • Neighborhood Roots Food Collective Inc.: Neighborhood Roots Food Collective exists to support community members and local farmers in growing the food that we eat, while helping to ensure that all of our neighbors have access to nourishing, locally-produced food.
      • Contact Anna Klein at 802-488-9890 or anna@neighborhoodroots.org
      • There is a wide variety of ways to volunteer, including helping at the Guilford Food Hub by weighing and sorting food orders, cleaning up and organizing, greeting and assisting participants, and delivering orders to homes. There are also opportunities for gardening, leading and helping with skill- and resource- sharing events, and stocking and maintaining their Little Free Pantries.
  • Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT): The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont promotes organic practices to build an economically viable, ecologically sound, and socially just Vermont agricultural system that benefits all living things.
      • For volunteer opportunities in Windham County contact Eric at eric@nofavt.org.
      • Volunteer opportunities: Stretch doughs, chop veggies & top pizzas to serve at events on farms statewide with the NOFA wood-fired pizza oven.
      • Ready to sign up? Fill out this short volunteer inquiry form to be linked up with an event.
  • Planned Parenthood of Northern New England: They are working to create healthier, more empowered communities through access to reproductive health care and sexuality education.
    • For volunteer opportunities contact Logan Snow at logan.ogradysnow@ppnne.org, (802)238-9313.
    • Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to phone banking, letter writing, data entry, relational organizing, creating art, rallies, canvassing, etc.
  • Retreat Farm:  The Retreat Farm is on a mission to connect people to the land and nourish our community.  We believe that the relationship between humans and the land is the foundation of our health, sustenance, and inspiration.
    • For volunteer opportunities please contact Maggie Patari at info@retreatfarm.org or 802-490-2270.
    • Volunteer opportunities include fieldwork and harvesting for the Community Food Project, tending the Hope Garden, event support for Food Truck Roundup, and greeting visitors to the property.
  • Senior Solutions: To promote the well-being and dignity of older adults.
    • For volunteer opportunities contact: Thomas Simmons,
    • Opportunities may include but are not limited to Meals & Nutrition: Delivering Meals on Wheels, Food Prep/Clean-up at Congregate Meal Sites, Breaking down bulk pet food supplies into deliverable packets and assisting older Vermonters with errands (food shopping, doctor appointments).
  • St. Brigid’s Kitchen and Pantry: St. Brigid’s Kitchen is an agency of the Vermont Foodbank, the largest hunger relief organization in Vermont. The mission of the Vermont Foodbank is to gather and share quality food and nurture partnerships so that no one in Vermont will go hungry.
    • Typical tasks include: washing dishes, mopping, stocking, prepping vegetables, cleaning, putting meals into to-go containers, bagging individual snacks like nuts, and moving items to and from the cellar.
    • To schedule volunteer hours, contact Carolyn at carolyn.pieciak@gmail.com or 802-558-6072
  • SUSU commUNITY Farm: The SUSU commUNITY Farm is an Afro-Indigenous stewarded farm and land-based healing center in Southern Vermont that elevates Vermont’s land and foodways.
  • Vermont Foodbank: Its mission is to gather and share quality food and nurture partnerships so that no one in Vermont will go hungry.
  • Youth Services/Brattleboro Community Justice Center: Relationship is the intervention. Across 9 different programs, Youth Services/BCJC provides restorative justice alternatives for youth and adults throughout Windham County. Help to build a safer community by fostering connection.
    • Contact Kaci Viado at kaci.viado@youthservicesinc.org, (802) 258-8945, or learn more about our programs at Youth Services.
    • A range of volunteer opportunities are available, including virtual and in-person, weekly or monthly commitments.
    • Training is provided, and folks with lived experience are warmly welcomed to apply.