2020 Round for Partners Recipients

APRIL

Summer reading addresses the problems of what is referred to as “summer slide”, where children slide out of practice with reading or forget what they’ve learned. Studies show that reading just 6 books over the summer has a significant impact on summer slide.

The Vaughn Public Library summer reading program provides free, fun and educational programming for youth and adults during the summer months, and also facilitates positive relationships with literacy and promotes visiting your local library, a free resource to all citizens!

Currently the summer reading program serves 300 children and adults and involves 15-20 adult and teen volunteers.

The program staff will use chip funds generated in the month of April for the following expected costs for the 2020 Summer Reading Program.

• Healthy Snacks provided during programming. 2019 Cost: $500
• Program materials such as; materials for crafts, activities and guest performances. 2019 Cost: $1500
• Toward in-kind staff wages. 2019 Cost: $1500

Look for staff from The Vaughn Public Library in store during the month of April! Staff will host several “story time” events for children in our community room during the month. Look out for those events on our calendar. They will also set up a table for parents and other interested parties to learn more about the 2020 summer reading program and schedule!

MAY

For 40 years, CHA has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for homeless pets and strives to make our community a better place for all pets and their people. In 2019, 327 cats and 333 dogs were adopted into forever homes within the Chequamegon Bay. To ensure that animals arrive into their homes healthy, the Chequamegon Humane Association (CHA) treats all animals suffering from illness or other ailments. All animals adopted must be current on all vaccinations, be micro-chipped and also be spayed or neutered. Costs for these services in 2019 were $59,631.54. It is not uncommon for the organization to spend upwards of $300 per shelter animal.

CHA will use chip funds generated in the month of May for the following areas and expenditures:

• Health & Wellness Budget – the largest expenditure for the Chequamegon Humane Association.
• Offset any unexpected expenses so that remaining budget funds can be used for initiates such as; low cost spay & neuter program, pet food shelf, staff training and reduced adoption fees for seniors.

CHA will hold adoption events in the co-op parking lot during the month of May! Look out for them to be in store during Be Kind to Animals Week, celebrated May 3 – May 9.

JUNE

The Gogebic Range Health Foundation (GRHF) enhances and increases area resources in promotion of healthy lifestyles. GRHF accomplishes this goal by providing grant moneys to local organizations with projects that enhance the Gogebic Range in becoming the healthiest place to live, work and play. GRHF focus’ on four areas of health which include, clinical care, health behaviors, social/economic and the environment.

The foundation has funded over $320,000 to 30 organizations that have implemented initiatives that improve the health of the Gogebic region.

GRHF will use chip monies generated in the month of June to increase the amount of funding available for area organizations. GRHF’s grant giving programs are fully funded via fundraising and from donations throughout the fiscal year.

Look for members of the Gogebic Range Health Foundation in store talking about their services and potential grant recipients in June!

JULY

The Ashland School Garden was created in 2010 with the mission to provide all students of Lake Superior Elementary School with a hands-on, culturally sensitive, curriculum driven, garden-based learning experience in order to cultivate a connection to the nutritious foods that they eat and the community they are a part of. Yearly support of the garden is solely dependent on individual donations and teachers who have been purchasing seeds and plants. Currently all garden work is provided by volunteers.

Last year all students Pre-K through 5th grade accessed the garden through teacher led visits and volunteer driven events held in the space. In the past these events have included; cider making, harvesting root vegetables, a sampling day with fresh salsa, apples and pickles and finally making maple syrup!

Ashland’s School Garden will use funds raised through customer round up donations for the following:

• seeds & seedlings
• compost
• timber to maintain the existing space
• student driven garden fundraising event costs such as, pumpkin patch and perennial plant sales events.

Look for Ashland’s School Garden to be in store in July, sharing information about how to get involved and also giving out native seedlings started by students!

AUGUST

The BRICK Ministries serves low income residents of Ashland and Bayfield Counties. Currently the food shelf serves an average of 1,526 individuals and 683 households per month via its four pantries located in Ashland, Cable, Cornucopia and Mellen. An eye popping 15.8% (Ashland County) and 14.2% (Bayfield County) of residents were living in poverty in 2019. The program is an essential resource for the food insecure members of our community.

The BRICK hopes to advance the program’s capacity to distribute locally sourced produce to food insecure customers. The 2020 Food Shelf program budget totals $577,920, of which 85.65% is garnered via in-kind donations. The BRICK will use funds generated via customer register round ups in helping to provide fresh foods to families and individuals in need of this essential resource.

The BRICK and The Chequamegon Food Co-op will hold an ice cream social as an additional fundraising event in the month of August. All proceeds from this event plus funds raised through customer chips during the month of August will be donated directly to The BRICK Ministries.

SEPTEMBER

ReSource ReUse Store was established as a collaborative effort between the Alliance for Sustainability and the Greater Chequamegon Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Chapter. ReSource is a home improvement store and donation center that sells gently used home products and surplus building materials to the public at a fraction of the retail price. The store also regularly donates materials to groups such as Ashland Cares (in support of the communities homeless population), Stage North Groundlings and other local theater groups (for their theatrical productions), Big top Chautauqua (tent maintenance needs), and local educators (in need of art and vocational class project supplies).

Moneys generated from donated register round up funds during the month of September will go toward expansion of services and capacity building. Currently all profits generated by in-store sales are allocated to staff wages, and the store would like to better serve the community by expanding services such as, pick-up and delivery services and expand the capacity of floor displays.

During the Month of September, look for the ReUse Store trailer parked in the co-op parking lot. The trailer will be staffed and will accept your gently used donations. Folks will also have the opportunity to purchase materials from the trailer.

OCTOBER

EverGrow Learning Center (EGLC) is a non-profit childcare center based in Ashland, WI, which opened its doors in November 2019 and is licensed to care for up to 94 children. EGLC focus is to have 51% of enrolled children be from low income families utilizing state grants and subsidies to help cover costs. State programs do help with enrollment fees, however they cannot be used for initial enrollment and registration fees, which amount to up to $230 per child. Some families cannot cover these costs, especially when needing care for two or more children. To bridge the gap for these families, EGLC is seeking scholarship funding, so that families can re-enter the workforce, continue education or participate in treatment programs for addiction recovery. EGLC’s goal is that every child be eligible to enroll for childcare services, regardless of their families financial situation.

EGLC will use funds raised during the month of October to cultivate a sustainable scholarship fund for low-income families in need of care.

Look for EGLC board members and staff in store in the month of October, helping to raise awareness of its organization and mission, by tabling and helping to bag & carry out groceries for customers. We hope to have artwork from center children hanging in store all month!

NOVEMBER

Ashland Area Development Corporation (AADC) offers one-on-one consulting to aspiring entrepreneurs and local non-profit founders and in 2018 AADC expanded its educational role by offering group classes in topics such as business plan development, marketing, social media and succession planning. In 2020 AADC plans to expand its offerings by adding hands-on training focused on business software such as Quickbooks and Microsoft Excel.

Funds generated from customer’s rounding up in the month November will be used for supplies that will:

• support classes for rural entrepreneurs who farm or produce value-added food products
• increase the number of people in Ashland County who launch web-based businesses
• assist parents with small children to attend training
• funding for instructors who for classes that require specific software knowledge or expertise
• purchase of 4 laptops with installed software to be used in locations where the internet is not readily available

Look for AADC board members, employees and interns in store in the month of November, helping to raise awareness of its organization and mission, by tabling and helping to bag & carry out groceries for customers.

DECEMBER

Spark is a launchpad for local entrepreneurs who are looking to showcase ideas and gain momentum to start a business within the Chequamegon Bay area. Spark provides gap-services to entrepreneurs who do not qualify for existing fund services and provides services such as, start up support, legal services, marketing services, financial planning and entrepreneurial coaching. Spark aims to empower local entrepreneurs to take the next step in their business by sharing their idea with the community. Overall Spark creates a deeper sense of community and seeks to develop a strong local economy for the Chequamegon Bay region by bolstering new business ventures to the area.

Spark will utilize customer round up funds from the month of December for its 2021 Spark entrepreneurial event ($6000). Along with providing support services to entrepreneurs, Spark holds a yearly competition where one contestant who has the best business plan wins $5000 in startup funds for their business idea. In 2019, Spark awarded entrepreneur Amy Trimbo of AdventureUs the moneys. Since, Amy has opened a retail location in Washburn and hired 2-3 employees to help her in production of her Snow Sleeves, Dog Leashes, Face Guards and gear repair services. The event is held in April each year.

Look for Spark in store during the month of December, they plan on creating a display with their 2019 & 2020 award recipients, they’ll highlight their community impact and educate shoppers about their mission and upcoming events.