Hanover Cooperative Community Fund: Providing for the Community
The Hanover Cooperative Community Fund (HCCF) is a nonprofit charitable foundation established by the Hanover Co-op’s Board of Directors in 2001. A steering committee appointed by the Board oversees administration of the fund, while fundraising is the responsibility of the Co-op’s General Manager.
In October 2007, the HCCF’s endowment reached $250,000, meeting the five-year goal set in 2002. HCCF Committee Chairman Bob Hayes promptly announced an updated goal of an additional $300,000 to be raised by the end of 2012!
The Board uses interest generated by the fund to make annual donations to local nonprofit organizations that contribute to the quality of life of Upper Valley residents. Since its inception, the HCCF has donated $18,662 to local non-profits. Donations from interest received in 2007 will be announced soon.
Contributions to the fund come from a variety of sources. In 2002, many Co-op members began donating their annual patronage refund check to the HCCF. Since then, thousands of members have returned a grand total of $87,147 in patronage refunds to the Co-op’s charitable fund. In 2007 alone, 1,116 Co-op members showed their support for the HCCF by turning in a record $19,562 in patronage refund checks!
For the past six years, Co-op employees and their families have raised money for the fund through their annual HCCF Walkathon around Mascoma Lake. They collect pledges from friends, family, and co-workers and solicit donations from vendors and suppliers. While walking around the lake, they also contribute to the welfare of the community by picking up trash.
October is National Co-op Month, and every year the HCCF is our October Community Partner of the Month, receiving contributions at the registers from members and shoppers. Additional funds are donated throughout the year by staff, members, and area businesses, and through a variety of fundraising activities, including t-shirt sales, raffles, and even a dunk tank at Dairy Day!
You do not need to be a member of the Co-op in order to support this community foundation. Donations can be made at the Service Desk in either food store, at the registers, or by mail (HCCF Donation, Co-op Food Stores, PO Box 633, Hanover, NH, 03755).
For more information, or to help fund-raise for the HCCF, call HCCF Committee Chairman Bob Hayes at (603) 643-2667 or email us.
Janet Couture
Every company has ‘em: Number crunchers. Those important people working behind the scenes. But not every company has a number cruncher as good as Janet.
Andra's Breads
From her home in north central New Hampshire, Andra House celebrates her Latvian heritage through the breads she bakes. “I learned to bake from my grandmothers, who were both Latvian,” says Andra. “Feeding people is how we show that we care.” She furthered her skills working in a Connecticut-based Latvian bakery before settling in northern New Hampshire.
