We are Community Strong
Giving back feels good! That’s why, on behalf of our owners, we give hundreds of thousands in monetary, food and gift card donations each year and we want you to feel the love, too. Choose your own adventure below and reap the rewards of paying it forward or getting by with a little help from your friends.
The BriarPatch Difference

Cooperative Community Fund
The Cooperative Community Fund (CCF) is an endowment fund founded by BriarPatch Food Co-op in conjunction with the Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation. Each year we have a limited number of grants available to give to organizations who are making a meaningful difference within our community.

PatchWorks Program
Want to make a difference in your community and get an awesome discount at your co-op, too? Become a volunteer! PatchWorks serves to create positive, meaningful and lasting impact in our community through participation and cooperation .

Apples for Gardens.
We donate 10 cents for every pound of apples sold. We feature a different school or nonprofit-run community garden each month, and the money raised goes directly to help cover the costs of its garden educators and infrastructure. This month, we are supporting Auburn Elementary and Clear Creek School. Want to grow your community garden?

Sponsorships
BriarPatch cultivates relationships with many of the community nonprofits making a difference and builds sponsorships into the next calendar year’s annual budget. We love working with you and building a better world together!

Round Up At The Register
Each month we donate the generous pool of funds that shoppers round up to a deserving nonprofit organization. This month, Round Ups go to Gold Country Wildlife Rescue at our Auburn store and Community Beyond Violence for our Grass Valley store. Together, in small ways, we can make a real contribution to our community.

Tabling for Nonprofits
Non-profit groups and schools are welcome to apply to have a table out in front of our Grass Valley store to help serve our owners and customers.

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Patch Donations Give Back!
We’re committed to supporting a better world. We do this by giving back to the nonprofit groups and organizations who are doing good work locally and beyond.
All donation requests are competitive and given a careful and equitable review. To be considered, submit a formal application at least 30 days in advance of the time when your request is needed. BriarPatch considers donations for general core operating support and more specific project and event support. Submit only one donation request per organization per calendar year.

Community Announcements

Read It & Eat
We are excited to partner with Booktown Books, a local worker cooperative for a book pop-up shop at our Grass Valley store.

Plastic-Free July
In July, we join the #Plastic-freeJuly Movement to help reduce single use plastic! We’ve got lots of ideas for how you can do this, but really it’s up to you to pick one thing (or all the things!) and see if you can eliminate it […]

2026 Round Up at the Register Application
Round Up at the Register – BriarPatch Food Co-op Fill out the form below to be considered for a 2026 Round Up at the Register recipient. The application will close August 29th at 4pm. All 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations can apply, but priority will be given […]

Community Room Rental.
Our stores’ Community Rooms are available by reservation for meetings, classes, or other events as a community service for community groups.
Following Our Principles
We exist to serve our owners and the communities where we live. Here are the 7 principles that we follow as a co-op that guide us in our giving back programs.

Voluntary & Open Membership
We are a voluntary organization, safe and open to all people, without discrimination based on race, religion, age, social status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Democratic Member Control
We are a democratic organization governed by our owners. Elected representatives are accountable to the membership. All members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote).

Member Economic Participation
Owners contribute equitably to the capital of our cooperative. A portion of that capital is the common property of the cooperative.
Owners usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of ownership. Owners are encouraged to patronize and invest in the co-op.

Autonomy & Independence
We are an autonomous, self-help organization governed by our owners. If we enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, we do so on terms that maintain our cooperative autonomy.

Education Training & Information
We provide education for our owners and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of our cooperative. We proactively inform and engage our community about issues that contribute to our Ends.

Cooperation Among Cooperatives
We actively strengthen the cooperative economy locally, regionally, nationally and internationally by working together.

Concern for Community
We support the sustainable development of our communities. We respect animal habitats, human habitats and recognize our dependence on the Earth.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We value the contributions of a diverse group of individuals whose shared experiences enrich our community and we assert an unambiguous commitment to a culture of positive inclusive change.