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Beth Peluse published It Takes A Village - Volunteer Sign Up! in Get Involved 2024-08-02 06:04:05 -0500
It Takes A Village - Volunteer Sign Up!
We're Open — And We Need You Now More Than Ever!
Prairie Food Co-op is officially open, and your support is what will make us thrive! As we build momentum in our community, we're ramping up our efforts to spread the word about everything Prairie Food Co-op has to offer — and we'd love your help making it happen.
Over the next few months, there will be plenty of ways to get involved: connecting with neighbors at farmers' markets, distributing door hangers in local neighborhoods, and helping plan exciting events that keep the energy going.
It truly takes a village to keep a co-op thriving, and we're so glad you're part of ours. Complete the volunteer form below and we'll be in touch with opportunities soon.
Have questions? Reach out at [email protected] — we'd love to hear from you!
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Our Community, Our Store
When is a grocery store more than a grocery store?
When it exists to serve you instead of making a profit for others. When it provides fresh and truly local products. When you and your neighbors own it.
We are building a community-owned grocery store coming in Lombard that will focus on selling as much locally and sustainably produced food as possible and keeping more money here in OUR community.
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Co-op Bylaws and Policies
Thanks to Molly Palmer Masood of East End Food Co-op for this amazing infographic!
Cooperative businesses and their boards are governed by bylaws and policies. These structures keep the business, its employees, and its volunteer board accountable to Owners and to the Seven Cooperative Principles on which we’re founded.
To read Prairie Food Co-op's Bylaws, which detail our purpose, principles, structure, and the rights and responsibilities of Owners and Board Directors, please click here.
To read Prairie Food Co-op's Policy Register, which connects our Cooperative Principles to governance at all levels – staff, management, Board, and Owners – please click here.
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ROOTED FOR GOOD
We built the store together.
Now let's build a sustainable future.Prairie Food Co-op is open and serving our community. Now we need additional working capital to grow sales, strengthen operations, and move the store toward financial sustainability. The Board and Operations team have launched several new initiatives to increase sales and attract more shoppers, with additional initiatives underway.
Invest in PFC's FutureOUR CAMPAIGN GOAL $300,000Why now?
Opening the doors was only the beginning.
After years of work and support from thousands of Owners, Prairie Food Co-op opened its doors in July 2025. Our community finally has its own full-service, community-owned grocery store.
Sales have not yet reached the level needed for PFC to operate sustainably. Like many new businesses, PFC needs additional working capital as we grow our customer base, increase sales, strengthen operations, and work toward break-even.
THE STAKES ARE REALWithout a successful capital campaign, PFC is unlikely to have the working capital needed to remain open.
Your investment gives PFC the resources and time needed to grow sales and work toward a financially sustainable future.
What your investment makes possible
Building the path to sustainability
Rooted for Good provides critical working capital while PFC works to strengthen the store and grow its customer base.
01Grow Sales
Bring more shoppers through our doors and build the consistent sales volume a sustainable grocery store needs.
02Strengthen Operations
Improve store operations and build the systems needed to operate efficiently and serve our shoppers well.
03Reach Sustainability
Provide the working capital PFC needs while we move toward break-even and a financially sustainable future.
Why PFC matters
A stronger food system starts here.
Prairie Food Co-op is more than a place to shop. It's a community-owned investment in local farmers, producers, workers, families, and a more resilient local food system.
Keep dollars local Keep more of what we spend on food circulating in our community.Support local producers Build opportunities for regional farmers, growers, and food producers.Strengthen our food system Build a more resilient and connected local food economy.Invest in community ownership Support a grocery store accountable to its community, not distant shareholders.Current Owners
Help us reach $300,000.
If you believe PFC is worth keeping in our community, now is the time to help.
1Explore your optionsReview the investment opportunities available to PFC Owners.
2Review the offering documentsUnderstand the investment terms, eligibility, and risks.
Additional ways to help PFC:
- Shop the store. The simplest and most powerful thing you can do — make Prairie Food your first stop, not your occasional one. Every basket counts.
- Bring a friend or neighbor. Word of mouth is our best marketing. Introduce someone new to the co-op.
- Volunteer for Rooted for Good. We especially need owners willing to help with fundraising outreach. Sign up here!
- Take the discount pledge. If your situation allows, consider setting aside your Owner discount until we’ve turned sales around.
This is not an offer to sell securities which is made only by the Confidential Offering Memorandum and only members who are IL residents are eligible to invest in Owner Loans and only IL residents are eligible to invest in Preferred Shares
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The Impact of Food Co-ops
Check out this inspiring report on the impacts that food co-ops have on their community.
A few highlights:
- What is a food co-op? (we hope you know but just in case....) A food co-op is a grocery store owned by your neighbors (and by you, if you choose). Unlike corporate chains, co-ops are totally independent and owned by folks in the community that shop there.
- Local Control. Co-ops are owned by their communities, not some corporate office 1,000 miles away. Instead of focusing on Wall Street investors, co-ops focus on what their neighbors want—nourishing everyone according to their budget and cooking style.
- Community-focused. In 2019, co-ops donated $8 million to community organizations. In addition, co-ops work with their communities in ways that reflect each community’s unique needs. For example, many co-ops offer community dinner nights where healthy meals are under $5,
- Sustainability - Food co-ops are working individually to reduce their carbon footprints and respond to the climate crisis by measuring and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions from electricity, fuel use, and refrigerant gases.
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Beth Peluse
Tour Marketing and Travel Guide at Zephyr Adventures and Taste Vacations