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. Every month, a different school or nonprofit-run community garden is featured, and the money raised goes directly to help cover the costs of its garden educators and infrastructure. Want to grow your community garden? Apply Now.
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. Together, in small ways, we can make a real contribution to our community. Applications for 2025 are now closed.
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.
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
Monthly Board Meeting
Our monthly board meeting is usually on the last Tuesday of the month. Everyone welcome!
Christmas Day
We’ll be closed on Christmas Day. Have a very merry holiday!
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.
Concern for Community
We support the sustainable development of our communities. We respect animal habitats, human habitats and recognize our dependence
on the Earth.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives
We actively strengthen the cooperative economy locally, regionally, nationally and internationally by working together.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.