Support Flood Recovery For Local Farmers

Dear Co-op Community,

The flooding affecting our region over the past week has been devastating for so many. Communities across the area grappled with rising waters and road closures, and now property damage and heartbreaking losses. Our local farmers, many of whom operate on paper-thin margins, have been hit especially hard, facing loss of crops, damaged infrastructure, and uncertain months ahead.

As a cooperative rooted in this community for 55 years, we know our farmers are resilient. And when we support their efforts, we strengthen our regional food shed so that we can continue to feed our community locally.

For more than 20 years, the Co-op’s Farm Fund has been one of the most meaningful ways we show up for the people who grow our food. It helps our farmers look toward the future and ensures their presence in agricultural production by providing grants, farm infrastructure support, and long-term food system investments. In 2021, it supported flood recovery, and once again we will use our Farm Fund to help in this time of critical need.

Through our Making Change at Checkout program, you have raised more than $253,000 for Bellingham Food Bank. The Co-op will now redirect these PIN pad donations toward the Farm Fund’s emergency flood response efforts. Every dollar contributed will go directly toward helping local farmers recover. This may include things like repairing irrigation systems, replacing lost crops and damaged equipment, and getting fields back into production as quickly as possible.

If you’re able, I invite you to contribute at the register or online. Even small donations add up quickly when thousands of neighbors participate.

If you are a farmer who has been affected by the flooding, please reach out to us about support for your farm here. Our goal is to distribute funds within the coming weeks, and sooner where possible.

Thank you for continuing to embody the cooperative spirit by showing up with heartfelt compassion, helping hands, and meaningful support for the many folx impacted by this epic flooding. I found this quote by author Carolyn Myss to be particularly apropos:

“We are not meant to act alone when the waters rise.”

Our community is strong. Our farmers are resilient. And together, we will work toward a thriving local food system that benefits us all.

With gratitude,

Lisa Sedlar
CEO/GM