Food For Thought - July 2019

Welcome New Faces to Food Shed Co-op!

Join us in welcoming some new faces to facilitate Volunteer Coordination and Marketing. Tessa Fisher and Emily Duthorn will be assisting with new volunteers for events and educating them on Food Shed's mission. And Michaela Notman, an intern from McHenry County College will be assisting with marketing, public relations and outreach efforts. Their energy and smiles are infectious and we are excited to have them on board!

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Tessa Fisher
Volunteer Coordinator

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Emily Duthorn
Volunteer Coordinator

Michaela Notman
Marketing & Outreach Coordinator / Intern

A few of our board members got the opportunity to give back to our community by donating supplies and serving a picnic lunch for participants in the McHenry PADS program, Compassion for Campers.

Volunteers donate and serve a picnic luncheon to those in need in McHenry and surrounding counties. They also visit and make new friends and offer encouragement for those who need a helping hand or simply to chat.

If you are interested in donating, please contact PADS McHenry County for more information and an extensive list of how to donate items needed. You can also drop off donations at Blue Lotus Temple located in Woodstock, Illinois at 221 Dean Street.
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We love our volunteers and all their hard work! We have some great events coming up to help us spread the word about Food Shed Co-op to our community. Sign up for these events are still available and we need you!

Summer in the Park | Woodstock | Sunday, July 21 | 1313 Kishwaukee Valley Rd., Woodstock, IL 60098

This five day festival has something for everyone – music/concerts, children’s entertainment, food/drinks, bags tournament, Movie in the Park and much more!

We'll need a few volunteers to represent the Food Shed at our outreach table - if you can help out - RSVP/sign-up for a shift.

Algonquin Harvest Market | Sunday, September 21 | 100 Jefferson St., Algonquin, IL 60102

Local Food, Fun & Crafters! There will be a wide variety of vendors including farm fresh produce and crafts. Don't miss this event featuring entertainment and fun for the whole family.

We'll need a few volunteers to represent the Food Shed at our outreach table - if you can help out - RSVP/sign-up for a shift.

Woodstock Farmers Market | Woodstock Square | Third Saturdays

THANK YOU to everyone who has already volunteered for Saturday, July 20th. We couldn't do this without you. We are grateful for your support.

If you still want to be a part of the Woodstock Farmer's Market, we will be there again on August 17th and will need volunteers. Come on out to the award-winning Woodstock Farmers Market in downtown Woodstock and enjoy live music and vendors offering quality produce, plants, local artisan foods, gifts and more!

If you can help out - RSVP/sign-up for a shift.

Now is the time to become an owner. Our annual owner meeting is coming up and you should be there!

Food co-ops are retail cooperatives that are owned by the people who shop there. This means that food co-ops are owned by members of the community – not outside investors.

Each member-owner has a say in decisions that affect the co-op; and instead of paying outside investors, co-ops return their profits to their member-owners in the form of patronage refunds – dividends, cash, discounts, or store credit.

Food co-ops source products from more local farmers and producers, donate proportionally more dollars to charity, have better worker wages and benefits, and give back more to the local economy than traditional grocery stores.

Mark your calendar, our annual owner meeting will Monday, September 9th at 6:30 at McHenry County College. All owners are encouraged to attend for Food Shed updates. If you're not a member, what are you waiting for? JOIN TODAY

There are many options for joining the Food Shed Co-op, including our monthly payment plan of $21/month for 10 months. For those who need a little extra help, you can apply for our Financial Assistance Fund.

So MANY reasons to join: Owner Discounts, Voting Rights, Patronage Dividends and more! Plus supporting local farmers and food artisans promotes more nutritious food choices and improves our local economy by giving back to our community!

Spread the word to your friends, neighbors and community! Be a part of something that is good for your family and community.

We're Having a Contest! Send in Your "Fresh From the Garden" Recipe and Win!

What do you love from your garden? What is fresh and local? What inspires you this time of year? Send us your favorite go to summer meal that you feel represents our community and all the goodness it offers.

Natalie, our resident foodie, will test the recipes and the winner will receive a Food Shed t-shirt and be featured in our late summer Food for Thought newsletter! We can't wait to see what's cooking! Think garden. Think fresh. Think local.

Contest is limited to the first 20 entries, because that's a lot of food! Please submit your entries no later than August 15th. Send your recipes to [email protected]