It's Time for the Food for All 5K
The annual race supports a program to greatly strengthen the buying power of SNAP/EBT users when shopping at the Fredericksburg Food Co-op.
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On April 27, runners and walkers from across the region will be gathering for the Food for All 5K. The run supports the Fredericksburg Food Co-op’s signature program, Food for All, which helps those who qualify for the SNAP/EBT card to significantly stretch their purchasing power.
Here’s how the Food for All program works. When shoppers use the SNAP/EBT card to pay for their purchase, the Co-op gives 20% of the total purchase back to the customer in the form of Carrot Cash tokens. This “money" can then be used at any time for free fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.
The program is quite popular. In January, for example, 65% of shoppers using SNAP/EBT also redeemed Carrot Cash tokens.
“One of our core values is our commitment to this community,” says Rich Larochelle,
who serves on the Co-op’s Board of Directors as its Treasurer. “We’ve been looking for ways to make healthy food affordable for everyone. This Food for All program, and the race that supports it, is an extension of that core value.”
Compounding the power of Food for All is the Virginia Fresh Match program, which deducts 50% off the price of fresh fruits and vegetables when shoppers use their SNAP/EBT cards.
This program is popular across Virginia, and the Co-op is reimbursed for the costs. The Fresh Match program is also popular at Farmers’ Markets across the state.
The Food for All program, by contrast, depends entirely upon the support of the community for its funds. And the Fredericksburg Food Co-op is “the only grocery store between DC and Richmond,” says Co-op Board vice president Els Van Wingerden, “that offers a Food for All program.”
What the Food for All 5K needs now are sponsors to underwrite the race and program. All of the proceeds, save for the limited costs to sponsor the race, go directly to support the Food for All Program. Sponsorship levels start at $250 and climb to $2,500.
More about the Co-op
To those unfamiliar with the Fredericksburg Food Co-op, the store is located at 320 Emancipation Highway in Fredericksburg’s Lee Plaza Shopping Center. It opened its doors in the teeth of the pandemic in 2021 - the Food for All program started that same year.
The Co-op is community-owned and was able to open its doors thanks to member-owner loans. Anyone can become a member-owner of the Co-op, but one need not be a member to shop there.
Joining requires a one-time $200 investment per household, which comes with benefits, including an extra 10% of Co-op Deals, sharing of profits earned based on the amount of shopping the member does, and a voice in electing the Board of Directors.
More important, members buy into the Co-op’s core values.
Local - The Co-op prioritizes using local vendors.
Sustainability - The Co-op is committed to saving energy. It doesn’t use paper or plastic bags; rather, volunteers take used t-shirts and turn them into grocery bags. The Co-op has given away thousands of these.
Community - The Co-op is inclusive, and works on the idea that it’s a place where ideas and people can come together.
Financially Successful - Finally, the Co-op is committed to running a community-owned grocery store that is financially stable and successful.
These core values are reflected in their relationship with the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank. “Last year we donated $5,000 of non-perishable items to the Food Bank,” says Larochelle. “This included a significant number of items during the Thanksgiving season.”
Supporting the Food for All 5K delivers a great deal.
20% of SNAP/EBT customers’ total purchase price is returned in the form of Carrot Cash, good at any time for fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables.
Food for All is awarded on top of the Virginia Fresh Match program, which takes 50% off the price of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, further stretching shoppers’ buying power.
Organizations and individuals are supporting a great community of people committed to giving back, and improving the health, of all area citizens.