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Food Co-Op Resources

A look back at the Food Co-Op.


Our final food deliveries from the co-op took place on MARCH 18, 2011. We are pleased to have been able to serve so many with this service. It was not just the needs we were able to met with providing affordable food, but the peoples lives that were touched through this service, both volunteers and participants. Below you will find some testimonies and information about what our food co-op was about. If you are starting your own co-op, please contact us if you have any further questions.


A Word From Alayne,
Our Co-ordinator
Cathie Gives Back
in Volunteering
   

Participants

Anyone on a fixed or limited income was welcome to participate in food co-op. A typical co-op member would be one receiving income assistance, pensioners, someone entering the work force at a part-time salary with limited income, or someone experiencing financial hardship.

 Co-op Volunteers Explain
Why They Come To Help
Dean Describes His Experience
As a Co-op Client

 



Start Your Own Food Co-op

It's easier than you think to have a food co-op in your community.  Here are the materials we use to publicize and organize the food co-op. 

 

 

Sample database files for recording client information in ways that sort delivery routes, provide labels for boxes, and organize an inventory for shopping are also available upon request.  Call the office at 604-215-0335 or write us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Our co-ordinator is available to visit your community with helpful information to help you get started.


How we ran the Co-Op


Some of the Details about the Food Co-Op and how we ran the program.

Placing Orders

Orders needed to be made by the end of the day on Wednesday for delivery or pick-up on Friday. It was essential to know early if a participant was ordering because fresh foods were purchased for the number of individuals who were participating in co-op that week.

Pick up date

The co-op operated on Fridays. Food was delivered to the following areas: 33rd Avenue and North to Coal Harbour, Boundry Road and west to Main Street and West End. Other orders could be picked up at the co-op or arrangements made for a convenient meeting place within the delivery areas noted above. Delivery or pickups were  scheduled between 12 - 2pm or 2 - 4pm on Fridays. Note: The Participant had be home during delivery times or arrange for someone to receive the food for you, otherwise the order was not delivered that week.

Payment

It was suggested that payment for the entire month be made right after "cheque day" so food was available throughout the month on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.  Payment had to be made in advance of receiving food. Payment could also have been made when food was picked up or delivered. Only cash or money orders were  accepted, no cheques.

13th Week Free Bonus and Discounts

  • For those who order $25/week and pay monthly there was a discount price of $90/month, saving $10/month.
  • Forthose who order $12.50 weekly and pay monthly there was a discount to $45/month, saving $5/month.
  • Once a quater, there is a 5 week month. For those who become regular monthly order co-op members, this extra week (the 13th week) is given free.

Standard Package Contents

Costs of the food packages were kept to a minimum through bulk buying. Therefore, the contents of the packages are set. On occasion, minimal adjustments are made, if possible, for people suffering from food allergies. However, any combination of food packages can be ordered from week to week throughout the month. For example, a $25 package can be combined with a $12.50 package. Or, a $25 package can be ordered one week and a $12.50 package the next week and so on.  We sugested participants look in their cupboards and order packages based on what they need.




Available Food Packages

The food package details that we offered are listed below, or you can view our Printable co-op brochure (pdf).  The brochure included package details, ordering and delivery information.


$25 Packages

One Adult Package ($25)

Frozen Foods:
  • Meat: Pork chop, hamburger, chicken, ham, bacon, beef, burger, stewing beef, sandwich meat, hot dogs.
  • Vegetables: Corn, peas or mixed beans, broccoli / coliflower mix.
  • Other: Hash browns and fench fries, perogies, margarine.
Fresh Foods:
  • Potatoes, carrots, onions, broccoli, 2each bananas, apples and oranges.
  • 1L of milk, 1L of juice, 6 eggs
Dry Goods:
  • Pasta sauce, kraft dinner, 2 cans of soup, 2 instant noodles servings, 3 each of hot and cold cereal, sugar, rice, bread and 2 servings of pasta.

Family Fruit and Veggie Package ($25)

  • 6 each of bananas, apples, oranges, potatoes,carrots,onions
  • 3 servings of broccoli
  • Frozen veggies ( 3 of 3 different types)
  • 3 packages of perogies ( 6 - 8 perogies in each package)
  • 2L of juice
  • 2 loaves of bread
  • 4 cubes of margarine

Family Meat Package ($25)

  • 5 serving each of pork chops, hamburgers, chicken, ham.
  • 1 dozen eggs.
  • 2 packages each of bologna and of hot dogs.
  • 2 loaves of bread

Family Variety Package ($25)

  • 4L milk and 4L of Juice
  • 4 canned meals and 4 cans of soup
  • 4 tuna or luncheon meat services
  • 6 hot cereal packages and 6 cold cereal packages.

NOTE: From time to time a variety of items were donated, They include baked goods, yogurt, juice, soup etc. They are often "dated" items from warehouses. These were passed on to participants free of charge for them to enjoy in addition to the package contents they had purchased.


$12.50 Packages

$12.50 General Package
Frozen Foods:
  • Meat: 4 different meat packages, and 1 sandwich meat package and 1 hot dog package.
  • Vegetables: 2 different vegetable packages
  • Other: Perogies, margarine, potatoes.
Fresh Foods:
  • Potatoes, carrots, onions, broccoli, banana, apple and an orange.
  • 6 eggs
Dry Goods:
  • Pasta rice, pasta, soup, tuna, vegetable, Instant noodles, cereal (2 hot and 2 cold), sugar

$12.50 Meat Package

  • 2 x 5 packages of meat
  • 1 package each of Hot dogs, Sandwich meat and tuna
  • 6 eggs

$12.50 Fruit and Veggie Package

  • 6 pieces of fruit
  • onions / potatoes, carrots, broccoli
  • 6 frozen veggies, 2 frozen potatoes, perogies
  • 6 eggs
  • 1L juice
  • 1 mushroom soup

$12.50 Canned Goods Package

  • 1 stew, 2 soups, 1 baked beans or meat balls
  • 2 pasta meals
  • 1 luncheon meat
  • 2 tins of tuna
  • 1 vegetable
  • 1 juice crystals

High Protein/Low Carb Package (PC Package) $10
  • Meat: 2 chicken, 1 pork chop, 1 hamburger, 4 hotdogs, 1 can tuna
  • Fruit:  2 bananas, 1 orange, 1 apple
  • Vegetables: carrots, broccoli, 2 frozen veggies
  • Dairy:  1L 2% milk, 6 eggs

High Fibre $10
  • Nuts and Seeds:  100g Trail mix; 2 Granola bars
  • Fruit and Vegetables:  2 Bananas, 1 apple, 1 orange, broccoli, bean mix, peas, carrots)
  • Legumes:  1 can baked beans, 1 can chili
  • Wheat:  1 whole wheat bread, 3 servings bran flakes/shreddies, 3 servings oatmeal -- quick oats or instant oatmeal
  • Protein:  1/2 dozen eggs; 2 cans tuna fish


Recommendations

For one week of healthly living we recommend:
  • For one adult: $25 (normally the adult package)
  • One adult and a small child - a combination of a $25 package and a $12.50 package.
  • Two adults - 2 x $25 packages or  combination of packages totalling $50.
  • A family of 4 to 6 people - one each of the $25 meat, fruit and veggie, and variety.