Concern for Community

Cooperatives are guided by seven main principles. Principle seven is concern for community. As a co-op, we strive every day to work for the sustainable development of our neighborhood and community through policies accepted by our ownership.

Over the last four decades, our grant programs, food donations, paid staff volunteer service hours and other giving projects have built community gardens, fed hungry families, brought local produce into our kids’ classrooms, expanded fresh food access for SNAP-EBT users, and much, much more.

Change Matters

Our Change Matters program makes it easy for shoppers to help local community-enrichment organizations by making small change donations at the registers that add up to meaningful contributions. Shoppers can round up their totals at the Wedge Lyndale, Wedge Table and Linden Hills Co-op!

We are no longer accepting Change Matters applications for the 2019 year. Please check back here in fall 2019 for the 2020 proposal guidelines.

2019 Change Matters Recipients and Product Partners 

January Upstream Arts TOTAL RAISED $12,637.52
February TC Food Justice TOTAL RAISED $9,515.79
March Minnesota FoodShare TOTAL RAISED $13,509.79
April The Aliveness Project TOTAL RAISED $13,626.12
May Tubman TOTAL RAISED $14,891.56
June Canine Inspired Change $14,414.52
July Hopewell Music Cooperative North $14,028.05
August Midwest Food Connection
September Friends of the Mississippi River
October  My Very Own Bed
November Open Arms of Minnesota
December Center School 

We’re excited to announce that we’ve expanded our Change Matters program. We recruited local vendors to donate a portion of their co-op sales, in addition to the donations we collect from customers at the register. Now you can support our Change Matters groups by rounding up at the registers and purchasing these delicious local products!

2019 CHANGE MATTERS PRODUCT PARTNERS – HELPING TO INCREASE OUR REGISTER ROUND UP DONATIONS
January: Peace Coffee donated 25¢ for every pound or package sold to Upstream Arts for $490 in total.
February: Seven Sundays donated 50¢ to TC Food Justice for every product sold, for a total of $100.
March: Fizzeology donated $1.00-1.50 to Minnesota FoodShare for every pint and quart sold, for a total of $103.
April: Ames Honey will donate 50¢ to The Aliveness Project for every 9 oz. and 18 oz. jar sold, for a total of $53.50.
May: Seven Sundays will donate 50¢ to Tubman for every product sold, for a total of $233.50.
June: Forage Kombucha will donate 10% of total sales to Canine Inspired Change, for a total of $350.
July: WiscoPop! will donate 50¢ to Hopewell Music for every Ginger Sparkle 4 pk. sold, for a total of $48.
August: Gustola Granola will donate $1 to Midwest Food Connection for every package sold.
September: Pranarom will donate 10% of total sales to Friends of the Mississippi River.
October: Feral Kombucha will donate 10% of total sales to My Very Own Bed.
November: Spoon Optional will donate 10% of total sales to Open Arms of Minnesota.
December: B & E’s Trees Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup will donate $1 to Center School  for every half-pint sold.

Thank you for your support! Together we raised  $145,731.87 for our 2018 Change Matters Recipients!

January Frogtown Farm TOTAL RAISED $9,536.70
February Land Stewardship Project TOTAL RAISED $8,359.04
March Minnesota FoodShare TOTAL RAISED $13,010.87
April Tanka Fund TOTAL RAISED $13,222.54
May Midwest Food Connection TOTAL RAISED $12,296.01
June Appetite for Change  TOTAL RAISED $12,970.78
July Herbivorous Acres TOTAL RAISED $12,603.58
August The Sheridan Story TOTAL RAISED $13,514.74
September Pajama Pride TOTAL RAISED $13,042.80 
October St. Stephens zAmya Theater Project TOTAL RAISED $10,304.56
November Open Arms of Minnesota  TOTAL RAISED $13,012.34
December The Food Shelf at Hennepin County Medical Center TOTAL RAISED $13,857.91

 

Thank you for your support! Together we raised over $100,000 for our 2017 Change Matters Recipients!

January 2017– Minnesota Internship Center TOTAL RAISED $7270.15 
February 2017 – Simpson Housing Services TOTAL RAISED $10,135.16
March 2017 – MN FoodShare March Campaign TOTAL RAISED $14,799.67
April 2017 – College Possible TOTAL RAISED $9739.24
May 2017 – Midwest Food Connection TOTAL RAISED $8451.15
June 2017 – Neighborhood Roots TOTAL RAISED $6793.61
July 2017 – 24th Street Urban Farm – Mashkiikii Gitigan TOTAL RAISED $8439.22
August 2017 – Kulture Klub Collaborative TOTAL RAISED $6563.18
September 2017 – North Country Food Alliance TOTAL RAISED  $12,878.12
October 2017 – Early Childhood Family Education TOTAL RAISED  $6,364.11
November 2017 – Open Arms of Minnesota TOTAL RAISED $9,396.46
December 2017 – Vail Place TOTAL RAISED $7,612.74

Donations Request

The Wedge and Linden Hills Co-ops support community events with donations in the form of $50 gift cards. These can be used as prizes, silent auction items or to purchase food for the event. We do not donate food or deli items. Requests must be made at least two months prior to the date needed.

We give preference to organizations and events whose mission relates to cooperatives, environmental sustainability, food, or agriculture. In addition, we give preference to other organizations and events that serve or benefit communities served by our co-ops. Non-profit (501c3) status is preferred but not required. Organizations are eligible for one donation per year.

Please use our contact page to send your request. Select “donation request” from the drop down menu and include the following information:

Name and contact information (email and/or phone number)

Organization name, website, email, phone number, and address

Non-profit 501c3 status

Event date(s)*

Brief description of event and who it benefits

How our co-ops will be acknowledged

Local Partners

At the Wedge and Linden Hills Co-ops, we cultivate relationships with local growers, producers, educators, food justice advocates and change-makers for a more sustainable world. We show our commitment to these communities through the support of our many local partners:

True Food Chef Council

The True Food Chef Council is a partnership between MPS’s Culinary and Nutrition Services and the Minneapolis restaurant community that pioneers new school recipes, engages with students in lunchrooms, and raises awareness about healthy eating habits. The Wedge is a proud member of the Chef Council, and collaborates with other members to promote MPS’s commitment to direct sourcing of local foods, scratch cooking and healthy eating.

True Food Taste Tests

Each year MPS’s elementary and middle schools host three lunchtime taste tests that expose students to new recipes, and encourages them to be adventurous eaters and think critically about their food. The Wedge and Linden Hills Co-ops are the primary sponsor for the True Food Taste Tests, an important way to foster lifelong healthy eating habits in kids from an early age.