October is National Co-op Month and we’re creating Positive Change for our Cooperative Community Fund (MCCF). In honor of Co-op Month, Organic Valley will match your October Positive Change donations to the Cooperative Community Fund up to $500, with an additional $500 match from MFC.

MFC’s Cooperative Community Fund is a Give Where You Live campaign administered by Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation (TPCF). TPCF invests the assets in cooperative development funds across the country – helping to grow food co-ops, credit unions, housing cooperatives, and other cooperative enterprises. As the fund grows, the interest earned is given annually to local organizations.

Not only does our Cooperative Community Fund help grow cooperative businesses across the United States, it also gives back to local non-profits working on issues related to sustainable agriculture and organic food, hunger and social issues, environmental protection, and/or cooperatives. Our Board of Directors selects one Positive Change recipient annually to receive an additional grant from the Cooperative Community Fund.

To date, our Cooperative Community Fund has generated the following community donations: 2020 Unete Immigrant Fire Relief Fund $624.21; 2021 Pollinator Project Rogue Valley $941.98; 2022 Children’s Advocacy Center $614.52; 2023 Rogue Farm Corps $749.59; 2024 Rogue Climate $1,043.42.

To learn more about the Medford Food Co-op Cooperative Community Fund (MCCF) and how our owners contribute, click the button below.To learn more about the Medford Food Co-op Cooperative Community Fund (MCCF) and how our owners contribute, click the button below.

Help Rogue Valley Farm to School provide hands on garden and nutrition education for local elementary schools! Farm to School serves as a bridge between local food producers and cafeterias working to get farm fresh whole foods onto the lunch line.

Rogue Valley Farm to School educates children about our food system through hands-on farm and garden programs, and by increasing local foods in school meals. They inspire an appreciation of local agriculture that improves the economy and environment of our community and the health of its members.

The Digging Deeper School Partnership Program was launched in 2018 as a targeted effort to support a culture of health and project-based learning in school communities. RVF2S works with schools to identify a focused grade; then their staff offer a layered approach of program delivery to ensure that education about living and eating healthy is intertwined in classroom subjects and beyond to give students a rich, meaningful educational experience. Programs include school gardens, Harvest of the Month, Harvest Meal farm field trips, farm to cafeteria, as well as professional learning communities to support teachers.

Funds will be used to support the Digging Deeper School Partnership Program. Rogue Valley Farm to School currently has 9 school partners (all 5 elementary schools in the Central Point School District, all 3 in Phoenix/Talent District, and Phoenix High School) providing a layered approach to cultivating and understanding of the natural world, local food system, nutrition and an appreciation of fresh whole foods.

Help Rogue Riverkeeper advocate for clean waterways for drinking, recreation, and fish in the Rogue River Basin!

Rogue Riverkeeper's mission is to protect and restore clean water, native fish and healthy communities in the Rogue River Basin through advocacy, accountability, and community engagement. Enforcement of the Clean Water Act is at the heart of Rogue Riverkeeper's work. They are deeply committed to the health of our urban tributaries, particularly Bear Creek. In partnership with other local entities, Rogue Riverkeeper works to maintain Bear Creek's health as a vital habitat flowing right through our backyards. They monitor water quality, organize and lead community efforts to remove trash and invasive plants, and collaborate with partners to improve watershed health and aquatic habitats.

Positive Change funds will be used to support Rogue Riverkeeper’s participation in the Bear Creek Stewardship Day clean-ups, operate a lab and sampling program to monitor waterways for water contact safety, and publically share water quality results on the Swim Guide.

Help the Growers Market provide educational demonstrations for the community at the Thursday Medford Markets!

Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market strengthens community connections and provides access to fresh local food. RVGCM connects farmers and makers with consumers, educates the community about how their food is produced, and raises awareness about sustainable growing practices. Meet your neighboring farmers, ranchers, specialty food producers and handcraft artisans, and enjoy products sourced from Jackson, Josephine, and Siskiyou Counties. Markets are bursting with fresh produce, handcrafted products, artisan food, and community vibes. Experience the best local flavors at RVGCM – all while cultivating community!

Funds will be used to bring back educational demonstrations. Positive Change funds will help with staffing, supplies, and outreach in implementing demonstrations to help teach community members skills like how to plant a garden, planter box gardening, wool spinning, fruit tree pruning, and more.

Help install more pollinator gardens in fire-impacted areas, expand educational programs, and grow more native plants to increase pollinator habitat in the Rogue Valley!

Pollinator Project Rogue Valley inspires, engages, and educates about the ecological importance of native pollinator species and the diverse native plant communities essential for their survival - and ours. They are committed to the creation and restoration of pesticide-free pollinator corridors throughout the Rogue Valley.

PPRV's From Fire to Flowers Pollinator Gardens program works with homeowners and businesses impacted by the Almeda fire to design and plant pollinator gardens to help restore our native ecosystem. Their Habitat Academy and Pollinator Pals programs offer workshops and hands-on learning opportunities for adults and youth on the topics of native pollinators and native plants, and the importance of protecting pollinator populations and their diversity for our food systems and ecosystems. The Growing Pollinator Gardens program engages volunteers and the public in their native plant demonstration garden and propagation nursery. The Rogue Buzzway program, in partnership with Southern Oregon University, maps pollinator landscapes to illustrate and encourage the connectivity that pollinators require to increase their populations and their diversity of species.

Positive Change funds will support the From Fire to Flowers Pollinator Gardens program to install more pollinator gardens for homeowners and businesses impacted by the Almeda Fire; the Growing Pollinator Gardens program to increase the size and scope of the propagation nursery and grow more plants for the community; and the Community Education program to reach more schools and other educational venues.

Help provide lifesaving interventions and safety for children in our community who experience abuse, sexual assault, or witness violent crimes.

The mission of the Children’s Advocacy Center is to meet the needs of children and families in our community by providing a community-based, child-focused center that facilitates a compassionate multidisciplinary approach to the prevention, treatment, identification, and prosecution of child abuse. They provide forensic interviews, medical evaluations and care, therapy interventions, advocacy and support for children up to 18 who have experienced abuse or witnessed violent crimes.

There is a correlation between chronic medical and social conditions over the span of the lifetime and childhood trauma like abuse. Those who experience abuse, if left unresolved and untreated, are likely to develop a number of chronic health conditions like obesity, substance abuse, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, suicide ideation and completion, and many others according to the Adverse Childhood Experiences study. CACJC's method of intervention is proven to be highly effective in mitigating these outcomes for the children they serve.

Positive Change funds will be used to support the provision of therapy, forensic interviews, medical services, advocacy, and support services.

Support clean energy solutions and Rogue Climate's youth internship program!

Rogue Climate's mission is to empower Southern Oregon communities most impacted by climate change, including low-income, rural, youth, seniors, and communities of color, to win climate justice by organizing for clean energy, sustainable jobs, and a healthy environment.

Rogue Climate's programs and campaigns are focused on energy justice, stopping new fossil fuels, community resilience, and youth leadership development. They do this work through leadership development, political education, fostering conversations, and campaigns for policies that benefit our communities over the special interests of the largest corporations. Last year, Rogue Climate:

• Passed Oregon’s Emergency Heat Relief Bill with statewide partners to invest millions into air conditioning, air filters, and cooling centers for low-income Oregonians.

• Supported monthly supply and resource navigation pop-ups for Almeda fire survivors alongside the Rogue Action Center and other partners.

• Advocated to ensure the bills their coalition passed in 2021 through the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign were implemented with equity at the forefront.

• Trained 16 youth through their Organizing Internship and supported the Rogue Climate Action Youth Team to launch an electrification campaign.

• Coordinated the installation of 50+ energy saving ductless heat pumps in Klamath County.

• Hosted community conversations to learn more about local priorities regarding Floating Offshore Wind proposals for the South Coast.

• Celebrated the ultimate defeat of Jordan Cove LNG.

Thanks to the work of our communities over the last 10 years, Rogue Climate has become one of the leading climate justice organizations in Oregon. From stopping Jordan Cove LNG, to passing one of the strongest clean energy bills in the country, to supporting our community in the aftermath of the Almeda Fire.

Rogue Climate will be organizing to stop the newly proposed GTN XPress pipeline expansion project, ensuring our communities are better prepared for the impacts of climate change through the development of resilience hubs, and supporting local campaigns to transition away from methane gas and towards electrifying our homes and businesses. They will also be developing a program to address community concerns regarding climate change impacts on water access.

Positive Change funds will be used to support youth leadership development programs including bi-annual internship programs to empower youth to take action on climate justice within their communities. The internship is designed to inspire and develop the next generation of climate leaders and community organizers, especially those most impacted by climate change.

Support SOU's Annual Spring Powwow, a community celebration of Indigenous cultures organized by the SOU Native American Student Union!

The Native American Student Union (NASU) at Southern Oregon University (SOU) assists American Indian, Alaskan Natives, and Indigenous Peoples in maintaining cultural values while pursuing their educational goals. NASU emphasizes the support of, the safety of, and the educational success of the Native American community. The Native American Student Union (NASU) provides a respectful and welcoming space for Indigenous peoples and allies of the Rogue Valley (and beyond!) to create, plan, and learn as a community. NASU at SOU puts on annual events that bring culture into the spotlight, and consistently provides support to the students they serve. They provide their members with the space to be in touch and in love with their culture.

Funds will be used to support the annual SOU Spring Powwow. NASU's Spring Powwow is the largest event on SOU's campus and serves hundreds of people annually, Native and non-Native alike.

SMART Reading is a children’s literacy nonprofit that serves kids in Oregon’s highest-need schools and marginalized communities with two ingredients critical for literacy and learning success: shared reading time and books to keep.

SMART Reading’s mission is to spark joy and opportunity through the magic of a shared book. Their vision is an Oregon where all children can realize their full potential through reading. Founded in 1992, the program combines early childhood reading support, adult mentorship, book ownership, and community engagement to positively impact literacy outcomes. SMART Reading provides a meaningful way for Oregonians to make a direct impact in their communities.

Reading matters. It’s an early gateway skill that paves the pathway for future success. Without it, kids are simply less likely to graduate high school, find employment, or successfully avoid hardships like poverty, homelessness, hunger, and other injustices. Lower literacy rates don’t just hurt individual children; they hurt us all. They impact the future health and prosperity of Oregon. They add strain on social and health services, impede our economic growth, and weaken our workforce. SMART Reading’s founders understood this when they grew a grassroots nonprofit focused on children’s literacy. They understood that literacy is not just our education system’s challenge, but one for local communities, businesses, foundations, congregations, and neighbors.

Funds will be used to buy books, ensure the safety of children and volunteers through background checks, train SMART Reading Site Coordinators and Readers, and purchase supplies for programs.

Round up in January to support bird and habitat conservation! Klamath Bird Observatory is advancing bird and habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships.

KBO achieves bird conservation in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the ranges of our migratory birds. Emphasizing high-caliber science and the role of birds as indicators, they inform and improve natural resource management. Recognizing that conservation occurs across many fronts, they also nurture an environmental ethic through community outreach and education. They owe their success to committed donors, volunteers, staff, and partners who demonstrate that each of us can contribute to a legacy of abundant bird populations and healthy land, air, and water. Since birds serve as the “canary in the coal mine” (we have lost one in four birds since 1970), this research is extremely valuable in making conservation policy decisions in this era of climate change.

In addition to scientific research and community science, KBO also emphasizes community education. They provide free bird walks and talks throughout the year, which connect people to nature, provide relaxation and educate participants about our environment and birds. They strive to include our valley's varied populations, including the Spanish-speaking population, through a special project called Bird Conmigo.

KBO’s Bird Conmigo is a community outreach project focused on serving the BIPOC community of the Rogue Valley. This project consists of free bilingual (Spanish/English) educational bird walks in Medford city parks open to any community member. The project includes the valley’s first bilingual bird brochure produced by KBO. Bird watching is a great meditative tool that can reduce stress and blood pressure. To this end, KBO supports the involvement of everyone in bird watching and habitat conservation to improve the health of our community. Birds are also indicators of environmental health, and KBO strives to improve the health of our environment directly through public outreach, education, and research. Positive Change funds will be used for bilingual outreach materials and staff time on the Bird Conmigo project.

Round up in December to support the only Meals on Wheels program serving Jackson and Josephine counties! Food & Friends delivers meals to older adults who are unable to shop or prepare meals, while also providing vital social contact and a regular safety check for recipients.

Food & Friends strives to cultivate an equitable approach to improving the health, well-being and independence of older adults and adults with disabilities through nutrition services, meaningful social connections, and opportunities for education. They deliver meals to the homes of older adults who are unable to shop or prepare meals due to illness, injury, or disability. Meals are also available for eligible adults with disabilities.

Their volunteer drivers deliver more than 16,000 meals each month to individuals living independently at home, who, for health reasons, cannot make their own meals. An additional 3,000 meals are served each month at their 10 congregate senior dining sites with the help of our volunteers. Food & Friends typically serves over 235,000 meals to approximately 3,000 people in Jackson and Josephine Counties each year. Positive Change funds will be used to provide Meals on Wheels for local seniors who are home-bound due to age, infirmity, or frailty.

Maslow Project provides basic needs and support for youth and families experiencing homelessness in the Rogue Valley. They empower homeless youth to thrive independently through supports that stabilize and engage in all aspects of life.

Maslow Project’s mission is to offer every homeless child and youth the probability of success and the opportunity for a better life. They do this by providing resources for basic needs, removing barriers to education and employment, and fostering self-sufficiency in a collaborative and empowering environment. Maslow Project services have a wrap-around approach, including: Essential/Emergency Needs and Safety-Net Services; Street Outreach; Family and Youth Advocacy; Case Management; and Enrichment/Harm Reduction Opportunities. 

Their overarching goal is to bring stability into the lives of the homeless youth they serve, so they are able to remain in school, graduate from high school, and transition safely and successfully into adulthood. Maslow Project’s early interventions also have a strong preventative element. By addressing adverse childhood experiences as quickly as possible, they can mitigate the effects of those experiences and prevent the long-term impacts that they can have on the physical, mental, and behavioral health of the youth experiencing homelessness.

In 2021, Maslow Project successfully served 2,700 individuals, provided ongoing case management to 459 individuals, helped 170 fire effected families, provided 1,966 emergency hotel stays, and of their case managed youth, they had a graduation rate of 88% – three times the national average of homeless youth! Maslow Project serves Jackson and Josephine counties with one resource center in Medford and one in Grants Pass.

Positive Change funds will provide Maslow Project’s clients with the foundational basic needs. Providing items like clothing, food, school supplies, shelter, and other basic needs allows clients to focus on the more impactful goals they want to achieve like education or career goals.

October is National Co-op Month and we’re creating Positive Change for our Cooperative Community Fund (MCCF). In honor of Co-op Month, Organic Valley and Equal Exchange will match your October Positive Change donations to the Cooperative Community Fund up to $500, with an additional $500 match from MFC!

Not only does our Cooperative Community Fund help grow cooperative businesses (like food co-ops and credit unions) across the United States, it also gives back to local non-profits working on issues related to sustainable agriculture and organic food, hunger and social issues, environmental protection, and/or cooperatives. Our Board of Directors selects one Positive Change recipient annually to receive an additional grant from the Cooperative Community Fund.

To learn more about the Medford Food Co-op Cooperative Community Fund (MCCF) and how our owners contribute, click the button below.

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.

Round up this April to help conserve the bees! The Bee Girl Organization (BGO) aims to conserve our bees by regenerating bee habitat and inviting people to fully understand the importance of bees to our food system and wild landscapes.

The Bee Girl Organization’s mission is to educate and inspire communities to conserve bees, their flowers, and our countryside. The key to bee survival is nutritionally dense floral landscapes created with regenerative methods. Regenerative agriculture reduces and eliminates the need for pesticides and creates healthy soil for a diversity of flowers to thrive in.

Funds will be used to support ongoing work. BGO’s method to ensure bee health through propagating a diversity of specific bee-friendly flowers is embedded in the regenerative agriculture movement through their “Regenerative Bee Pasture” project. BGO will continue to listen to the bees through the data they gather that points toward improved seed mixes and farming techniques and they will continue to listen to what the farming and ranching community needs and what they are excited to give, to create healthier spaces for our bees, people, and planet.

Round up this March to support community members fleeing violence! The Community Works Dunn House Shelter provides the only place in our community for victims fleeing violence to go immediately for safe housing. The Dunn House Shelter serves over 250 survivors annually – 65% of those are children.

Community Works brings hope, support, and empowerment to those impacted by violence. They provide safe housing, 24/7 crisis intervention, support groups, and ongoing outreach services.

Funds will be used to support the basic needs of Dunn House Shelter residents. Without access to these basic needs, it is nearly impossible for someone to focus on their healing and the support being offered at the Dunn House, and without access to vital needs it is nearly impossible for someone to become self-sustaining and move from the Dunn House into more stable housing.

The Dunn House Shelter has been providing emergency housing since the 1970’s. Staff provide 24/7 wraparound supportive advocacy services to those fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. Community Works is the only agency in Jackson county that provides these services. Previous Positive Change funds were used to help build fencing and a laundry facility for Community Works transitional living apartment units.

Round up this February to help provide food for hungry neighbors! The Medford Food Project is an innovative way to fight hunger in our community.  You want to help, and they make it easy to work together to fight hunger and strengthen our community with their green bag program.

Every two months — on the second Saturday of every even month — Medford Food Project’s 185 Neighborhood Coordinators pick up bags of healthy nonperishable food that 2,800 neighbors food donors leave outside their front doors. They leave empty green bags for next time and take all the donations to local food banks. It’s that easy! In 2021, Medford Food Project collected over 220,000 pounds of food, equivalent to 176,692 meals.

The Medford Food Project has three main goals: to provide a regular supply of food to hungry neighbors; to create new neighborhood connections and strengthen the community; and to serve as a model for other communities. They are the largest grassroots all volunteer organization in Jackson County.  Year round they work to combat food insecurity in our community and the Student Hunger Strike Force program has proven to be a significant benefit to their mission while providing the students with meaningful volunteer opportunities.

Funds will support the Medford Food Project’s student program: the Student Hunger Strike Force (SHSF). The SHSF works with students from several Jackson County high schools to provide a meaningful volunteer opportunity that fits into their schedules and service hour requirements and provides a valuable resource to the Food Project. During the school year, students work with the Food Project to do ongoing food drives, and/or sign-up new food donors for the MFP. This helps keep donor levels from declining through attrition. The program teaches students important leadership and communication skills and empowers them to make a real difference in their communities, while also providing a meaningful credit for their college applications and resumes.

Round up this January to help provide equal access to justice! The Immigration Law Project at the Center for NonProfit Legal Services provides equal access to justice, as well as safety, security and services for immigrant youth and children living here in the Rogue Valley.

The Center for NonProfit Legal Services mission is to secure justice for, and protect the rights of needy persons residing in Jackson County so that such persons shall not by reason of being in financial need, be denied equal protection under the law. The Immigration Law Project at CNPLS assists Rogue Valley residents with applications for citizenship, legal permanent residency, DACA, and other family-based applications. They prioritize families and individuals experiencing violence and unsafe living situations, and a recent influx of children and youth has expanded their work to include additional services for these most vulnerable populations.

There is an emergent need to support children and youth in Jackson County who have arrived in the United States as asylum applicants with their families, as vulnerable youth, or as unaccompanied minors. According to statistics gathered by human rights organizations, this is a troubling new trend. The number of children making the treacherous journey alone and unaccompanied, has doubled each year since 2011. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says children leaving Central America are doing so for varied reasons, including violence and persecution, and expresses concern for children who may face harm if returned home. Children fleeing violence should be able to tell their stories and have continued access to asylum procedures in the United States.

The Immigration Law Project at CNPLS already has a high caseload assisting adult and minor survivors of crime, and so the Positive Change funds will assist with an expanded program to include helping unaccompanied minors and vulnerable youth to make sure that these young immigrants are safe in the United States. This entails filing guardianship applications, dependency petitions, and immigration applications. It is the duty of CNPLS to provide equal access to justice for these children and vulnerable youth, who have no other recourse.

Round up this December to provide affordable housing for fire survivors! Habitat for Humanity is working with local community partners on the rebuilding process from the wildfires in 2020. New homes will be constructed and sold with affordable mortgages to fire victims.

The Rogue Valley affiliate of Habitat for Humanity serves Jackson County, and provides an opportunity for affordable homeownership through newly constructed homes, as well as renovations. Qualified applicants must be low income and have a substantial need for housing, as well as have a documented ability to repay a mortgage. In addition, the organization provides home repairs for low income home owners, including ramps and disability access.

Funding will be used to purchase construction material for homes to be built within the fire zone of Talent and Phoenix. All repayments from the sale of the home will be used for future projects. The first two Almeda Survivor construction projects began in Talent in 2021 and there will be a continued focus on the area for years to come.

Maslow Project provides basic needs and support for youth and families experiencing homelessness in the Rogue Valley. Maslow Project's vision is that every homeless child has a voice and a choice to shape their dreams.

Maslow Project empowers homeless youth to thrive independently through supports that stabilize and engage in all aspects of life. They provide access to basic needs such as hygiene, food, clothing, as well as advocacy and case management to help navigate housing, mental health, education and other necessary services in our community. Providing the basics helps this vulnerable community focus on achieving their goals.

Positive Change funds will provide Maslow Project’s clients with the foundational basic needs. Providing these items allows them to focus on the more impactful goals they want to achieve like education or career goals. Previous Positive Change funds provided access to food, hygiene, and baby items for those in need, including diapers for babies, food for hungry students, and feminine hygiene products for those in need.

October is National Co-op Month and we’re creating Positive Change for our Cooperative Community Fund (MCCF). In honor of Co-op Month, Organic Valley and Equal Exchange will match your October Positive Change donations to the Cooperative Community Fund up to $500, with an additional $500 match from your very ownd Medford Food Co-op!

Not only does our Cooperative Community Fund help grow cooperative businesses (like food co-ops and credit unions) across the United States, it also gives back to local non-profits working on issues related to sustainable agriculture and organic food, hunger and social issues, environmental protection, and/or cooperatives. Our Board of Directors selects one Positive Change recipient annually to receive an additional grant from the Cooperative Community Fund.

To learn more about the Medford Food Co-op Cooperative Community Fund (MCCF) and how our owners contribute, click the button below.

Round up to educate children about food & agriculture this September! Help educate children about where their food comes from and the connection local agriculture has to the health of individuals, the local economy, and the environment.

Rogue Valley Farm to School educates children about our food system through hands-on farm and garden programs, and by increasing local foods in school meals. They work to inspire an appreciation of local agriculture that improves the economy and environment of our community and the health of its members.

Positive Change funds will be used to support Rogue Valley Farm to School’s school garden program and general operations. Previous Positive Change funds helped support food boxes and garden education programs for the children in Phoenix-Talent School District.

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.

Round up to support displaced pets this July! Since 1928, SoHumane (Southern Oregon Humane Society) has been dedicated to improving the lives of pets and people through shelter, care, adoption, and public education programs to promote the compassionate and responsible treatment of animals.

SoHumane’s mission is to improve the lives of pets and people through sustainable education programs, adoption, and spay/neuter. They are a no-kill shelter that allows animals all the time they need to find their forever home. Their goal is to save and find homes for as many animals as possible. In addition to adoption services, SoHumane helps relieve local shelters from overcrowding, and offers harder-to-adopt animals – like seniors and special needs animals, giving them the treatment and time they need.

Positive Change funds will support displaced pets – supplying nutritious well-balanced food, busy buckets, enrichment toys, bedding, and any other items to enhance the animal’s life while waiting for their forever home. Funds will also provide training and treatment for those animals that need a little extra help.

Round up in pursuit of safe homes for local children this June! Your donation will help to train and support new CASAs (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to advocate for local children.

The mission of CASA of Jackson County is to provide specially trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the pursuit of safe and permanent homes. CASA envisions all children and their families living in safety, free of addiction, domestic violence, and poverty so they can engage in our greater community in a healthy way that benefits all.

CASA of Jackson County will use the Positive Change funds to train and support new CASA volunteers to advocate for more than 800 local children annually. Previous Positive Change funds were used to support outreach and training of new volunteer CASAs. CASA had over 250 volunteers in 2020! The average length of service is 48 months and each CASA will serve an average of 3 children each per year. Once they train one CASA, they can serve up to 12 children.

Round up to help save the bees this May! Your donation will support the Bee Girl Organization’s Regenerative Bee Pasture project which is developing a path toward healthier soils, increased pollinator diversity, and more nutrient rich food.

The Bee Girl Organization (BGO) mission is to educate and inspire communities to conserve bees, their flowers, and our countryside. The BGO aims to conserve our bees by educating people, especially kids, on bees’ importance through our programs focused on community classes and events.

The BGO is excited to use the Positive Change funds to specifically support their Regenerative Bee Pasture project through the purchase of tools and seeds. The United States has more acres in pasture than any other land use so determining best management practices that regenerate soil, pollinators and healthy food has far-reaching benefits for a broad range of stakeholders. BGO is already hard at work with local and regional collaborators on this project and are excited to have Diamond Bar Beef testing the outcome of their systems, techniques and tools on part of their grass-fed herd. Through partnership with regional labs including OSU’s Honey Bee Lab, Eastern Washington University’s microbiology lab, and Washington State University’s Bread Lab, they are collecting solid data showing the link between pasture and soil diversity and health. The Positive Change funding received in 2020 contributed to the strong foundation BGO laid for the Regenerative Bee Pasture project, as well as their ability to remain nimble during the pandemic as they transitioned their education and fundraising efforts to online platforms.