Monthly Newsletter

Happy New Year!

We have big goals & dreams ahead of us in 2024...

There's lots in store for us in the coming months of this new year: preparation for launching our Community Investment Campaign and working towards securing our site... Things are really starting to move along! We are so excited to see our efforts paying off and are hopeful to achieve our new year's resolution of breaking ground on a community owned grocery store!

Our dedicated owner volunteers have had many challenges thrown at them since the inception of this co-op but they continue to persevere, to achieve a vision of what a grocery store can be.

We, as FRFC owners, are dedicating ourselves to supporting and funding a future in local, sustainable, and healthy food for everyone in our community: economically, socially, and environmentally. We want to see our region thrive and build meaningful connections between ourselves, our food, and our neighbors. As fellow owners, we deeply appreciate your continued commitment and belief in this project as we work together to bring our food co-op to life!

May your New Year of 2024 be full of hope, courageousness, and kindness towards yourself, others, and your dreams.

-FRFC Board of Directors

January Calendar

Board meetings and events

Board meetings are open to all FRFC owners!

Thursday 1/4

Thursday 1/18

Board Meeting

6:30 - 8:00pm

at Oak Hill Assisted Living in Grand Rapids or

Click to join via Zoom

Board Meeting

6:30 - 8:00pm

at Oak Hill Assisted Living in Grand Rapids or

Click to join via Zoom

Team meetings

If you're interested in joining a team, email us at: freerangefoodcoop@gmail.com

Wednesday 1/10	Thursday 1/11
Marketing Team 6:30 - 7:30pm Marketing and social media	Board Development Team 6:30 - 7:30pm Strengthening our Board
Monday 1/22
Community Investment Campaign Team 6:30 - 7:30pm Planning & implementing the campaign

Not an owner yet? Click here to join OR gift an ownership

Help build your food co-op while staying warm and cozy this winter!

These opportunities are mostly remote, meaning you can help from anywhere this winter (like your couch, the cabin, or the fish house!)

Part of the fundamental reason for creating this food co-op is because we are committed to community well-being, but we need you, our owners, to advocate for us!

Create connections on behalf of FRFC to the broader organizational community of Itasca County & beyond, local business owners, elected representatives, neighborhoods/townships, schools, and pretty much anyone else who eats food!

Good manners are extremely important to us, however, writing thank-you notes sometimes goes to the wayside in the face of other daily tasks and planning that has to be completed in order for our organization to keep running.

As we approach the season of giving thanks, we are looking for a few folks to agree to write notes on our behalf - cards, envelopes, stamps, addresses, and main points provided. Click the button below to help us share our thanks with our community!

Callers will be contacted on a "as needed" basis a few weeks before the a calling campaign is set to begin.

You will get a script/talking points and a list of 10 FRFC owners to call. You do not have to use your own phone number and can instead dial into our VOIP system to make your calls through a smartphone app.

Training and directions to use the system are provided, as well as support from other FRFC volunteers.

Click here to sign up!

Cooperative principles in action!

Principle 6: Cooperation among cooperatives

On November 28th, Free Range Food Co-op owner volunteer Isaac Meyer, board chair Brandon Otway and owner volunteer Becky LaPlant met with Paul Bunyan Communications Cooperative CEO Gary Johnson and Marketing Supervisor Brian Bissonette to update them on the co-op's progress, and to learn how PBC may be able to help/support FRFC going forward.

Did you know? The cooperative principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice. Principle 6 states that Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

Tell us which events and classes you want to see!

We want to strengthen connections within our ownership and community while having fun.

Click below to tell us which options you would like to participate in, including ideas for classes or events you'd like to see us host or one you could help with by sharing your favorite skills or crafts.

Take the Survey!

Get your co-op merch here

Looking ahead to our exciting next steps of development, we are also looking at a pretty big price tag for necessary services, consultants, and operating costs. Your donation will go directly to help cover necessary costs for the development of our community-owned food co-op, including:

Legal services ($5,000 - $10,000)
Consultant fees ($20,000 +)
Site studies & architect fees for potential sites ($15,000 +)

Avenues you can use to help:

Get Fit Itasca has graciously offered to support FRFC by serving as our fiscal sponsor. Tax-deductible donations can be made by mail or in person through Get Fit Itasca. Please note: we cannot accept donations mailed to our PO Box.

Make check payable to "Get Fit Itasca"
Write on the memo line: "Free Range Food Co-op"
Deliver in person or mail to: "Itasca County Family YMCA, 400 River Rd, Grand Rapids, MN 55744"

Donate online through CDS, a national cooperative supporting growth and development of other cooperatives:

Visit: https://www.givemn.org/donate/Cooperative-Development-Fund-Of-Cds
Select "Free Range Food Co-op" from the list
Complete your donation
*10% of each donation goes to CDS to cover administration fees

Miss the last co-op board meeting?

Catch up by reading the latest meeting minutes on our website:

November 30th Board Meeting Minutes

December 14th Board Meeting Minutes

CSA orders placed in the current month will receive 4 weekly deliveries throughout the next month. Order now for delivery starting the first week of February: https://www.solidrockgrowers.com/

Simply check the box at checkout if you are a FRFC owner, and a portion of proceeds for each monthly CSA share will be donated back to the co-op! Choose from two sizes of CSA shares to delivered fresh every week, or pick up a variety sampler or lettuce pack!

Grand Rapids Farmers' Market

Shop the market online for in person pick up each Saturday until April!

Online ordering available through the Open Food Network - more details found there!

Know someone else who should become a Free Range owner?

Forward them this email and ask them to click the link below!

Become an Owner