Wheatsville Co-Op Raises $181K For Austin-Area Nonprofits

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Officials of Wheatsville Food Co-op — operators of a pair of full-service, natural foods cooperative grocery stores in Austin — recently celebrated the raising of more than $180,000 to area nonprofits.

Wheatsville customers at the store at 3101 Guadalupe St. or 4001 S. Lamar Blvd. are given the option throughout the year of rounding out their total grocery bills to benefit a featured nonprofit. Largely through those spare change collections at check-out, $181,393 was raised in 2018 to benefit groups performing important work in the community.

Ten benefiting nonprofits were honored at a late January ceremony centered on the contributions made through the Community Action Fundraiser. District 5 Austin City Council member Ann Kitchen, an "owner" of the co-op, was on hand to help celebrate the achievement. While the stores are open to all, customers can secure "owner" status via a yearly membership fee that yields special discounts during promotions.

Austin City Council member Ann Kitchen attended the Community Action Fundraiser event.

The nonprofits that benefited from the year-long drive cover the breadth of philanthropy and charity, each featured for a full month during the course of the previous year. They are:

• January: Sustainable Food Center – $12,409.14.
• February: Safe a Merger of Austin Children’s Shelter and Safeplace – $14,418.65.
• March: People’s Community Clinic – $13,893.20.
• April: Urban Roots – $14,950.48.
• May: Austin Pets Alive! – $16,036.94.
• June: Caritas of Austin – $15,378.60.
• July: Hospice Austin – $15,966.19.
• August: Workers Defense Project – $16,243.40.
• September: Meals on Wheels Central Texas – $17,003.72.
• October: Wheatsville Co-op Community Fund – $14,885.18.
• November: Central Texas Food Bank – $17,591.98.
• December: Wheatsville Co-op Community Fund – $12,615.04.

Fundraiser beneficiaries are democratically chosen by co-op owners. The ceremony, during nonprofits were awarded their donations, was staged on Jan. 29.

Max Elliott, executive director of Urban Roots, was among those attending the event. Photo courtesy of Wheatsville Food Co-op

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>>> Uppermost photo of Guadalupe Street store by Tony Cantú/Patch staff