Bloomingfoods shoppers support New Hope with Positive Change
Matching funds bring total to more than $22K
During the month of February, generous shoppers at Bloomington's Bloomingfoods co-op market took the opportunity to "round up" their purchases to support the ongoing expansion of New Hope for Families.
Bloomingfoods General Manager Dee Bohler (second from right) presents the check for $11,404.29 to (from left to right) Growing New Hope capital campaign cabinet member Sylvia McNair, New Hope for Families Executive Director Emily Pike, New Hope Development Director Jim Olsen, and New Hope Shelter Director Chase Techentin at the construction site of New Hope’s new facility. (Download full size)
Donors chose to contribute through 19,788 individual transactions as part of Bloomingfood's Positive Change program, adding up to $9,052.36. An anonymous donor matched the first seven days of transactions, generating an additional $2,350.93, for a total of $11,404.29.
This generosity was augmented by another anonymous donor matching all donations to the Growing New Hope capital campaign, New Hope's $5.75 million relocation and expansion project. Because the proceeds from February's fundraiser are being directed to this campaign, the actual impact of the Positive Change donations will be $22,808.58.
“We are proud to partner with Bloomingfoods in support of children and families impacted by homelessness,” commented New Hope’s Executive Director, Emily Pike. “The Positive Change proceeds will provide meals and healthy snacks for children in our new expanded child care and education center, along with food and supplies for our community food pantry. On behalf of the clients we serve, I thank Bloomingfoods’ shoppers and our anonymous matching gift contributors for their ongoing commitment to making positive change in our community.”
The results of February’s Positive Change program are remarkable, especially considering the fact that February is the shortest month and historically has produced the smallest totals raised by Positive Change. This year, inclement weather could have further limited the number of potential Positive Change transactions, as a result of travel advisories and store closures. In spite of these challenges, however, Bloomingfoods shoppers set a new record for the amount raised during a February of Positive Change. The previous record was set in February 2020, with a total of $11,378.46 contributed to Area 10 Agency on Aging.
About Bloomingfoods
Bloomingfoods is Bloomington, Indiana’s cooperatively-owned grocery store. Each month, Bloomingfoods offers shoppers the opportunity to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar as a donation to a different community organization through its Positive Change program. Since it started in 2016, the Positive Change fundraising campaign has raised more than $650,000 for local charities.
About New Hope for Families
New Hope for Families provides solutions for children and families impacted by homelessness, keeping families together, helping parents get back to work, and giving kids the good start they deserve.
In April of 2021, New Hope announced plans for the $5.75 million Growing New Hope capital campaign to construct two new buildings at 1140 S. Morton Street. One building will provide emergency shelter to 12 families, representing a 70% increase in the agency’s shelter capacity. The other building will house New Hope’s early childhood care and education programs, increasing the agency’s capacity from 16 to 48 children, representing a 200% increase in the agency’s current capacity.
Construction on the new site is nearly complete.