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New Shopping Cooperative Helps Strengthen Community

Gradient Ocean

Tom Sarlo

May 12, 2023

Israel

Categories:

Community, Volunteering, Food, Food Insecurity

Creating a community where we live can start with a simple idea, a need, a passion, and a vision. When building a community, seeing how many people want to get involved and be a part can be unique and rewarding.


This article comes from the Jewish Federation of San Diego (USA). A married couple in Israel decided to return to their hometown in Adad, Israel, to raise their children. The couple became very active, and the wife joined other members in looking for a way to improve their town. The wife started a group called the Female Founder Group of Mothers. In their discussions, they decided to start a cooperative for food shopping.


They contacted local officials and learned they were supportive of the idea. The group wanted to start this first shopping cooperative to help the residents to shop and save from the high cost of grocery stores. They also wanted the local folks to volunteer with the cooperative.


Upon opening the store, they quickly found many people loved volunteering and wanted to join this community idea. The service provided with this one idea enabled residents to have an alternative to shop at lower prices. The membership grew and required a two-hour-a-month volunteer commitment, which was relatively easy. In the long run, the savings to the customers helped strengthen the town economically. The cooperative also partnered with local town businesses resulting in a more robust community bond.


Finding simple ways and ideas to form a community bond anywhere involves brainstorming when folks get together. In a town in Israel, a group of women came together with passion and determination to bring their community together with a common need. What are some ways in your town that can get the community together? Most towns have weekly meetings open to the residents, which are an opportunity to hear the needs and planning. Networking at town meetings is a great way to meet local folks and know their needs and issues. Being a member of a faith-based institution is another great way to meet people and get involved. When people get together for various reasons and interests, they can be a powerful force that can make a change and bring community to their town, just like the folks did in Adad, Israel. This article can inspire anyone to seek ideas such as starting an art program for after-school hours, getting folks involved in community gardens, or even building a food donation center to help those in need. The model of the community in Israel is an excellent example to use. A simple idea can become a strong community bond and bring people together.


Photo by Tara Clark on Unsplash.

Source:

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Catalog #:

0523.101.02.051223

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