Pay Forward Goal Achieved

by Jackie Barnhardt, Outreach and Membership Director

The Pay Forward program ended December 31, 2009 raising $50,200 in equity for the co-op. 502 members paid $100 for four years of Open Harvest membership. We are very thankful to all of our members that participated in this plan. This has helped us with cash flow significantly at a time when we have finalized expansion. We appreciate your support of your community-owned coop. Your efforts will continue to help us fulfill our mission of providing good health through good nutrition into the future.

Pay Forward: Grow with us!

As a member-owner of Open Harvest, you can help us grow stronger by building your equity. From now until the end of 2009, Open Harvest features a unique membership drive designed to build equity in our cooperative and give members the opportunity to help us truly build on to our existing co-op.

Members can now Pay Forward four years of equity into the co-op in a payment of $100.

During our expansion fundraising, many people wanted to support the campaign, but found the loan program out of reach and wanted to invest in the co-op at a lower level.

The Pay Forward program is a way member-owners can invest equity in the co-op and support our expansion. Ask a cashier about how to participate.

The board voted to raise the usual equity investment to $40 effective January 1, 2010. Our investment has not been raised since the mid-1990's and still remains one of the lowest memberships of all food cooperatives.

The Pay Forward program gives memberowners the chance to pay forward four years equity at the current rate and save $60 over the next four years.

Contact Margot at the store at 475-9069, if you have questions about this.