Introducing Our 2027 Common Cents Recipients
We are blown away by the number of nominations and votes we received this year! It’s been our best year yet, and we’re so excited to support these well-deserving organizations in the year ahead.
Through the Common Cents program, we support local nonprofits and give back to our community with every grocery trip to the Co-op. Common Cents invites Co-op shoppers to round up the total of their purchases to the nearest dollar, donating the extra change to support a community organization whose work contributes to local resilience, sustainability, and access to affordable, healthy food.
2027 Recipients:
January: RSU 71 School Food Support
In RSU 71, they are working in partnership with the Belfast Soup Kitchen and the Good Shepherd Food Bank to help support their students and families with supplemental food support, through a Friday backpack program in their elementary schools. Students at THMS and BAHS are encouraged to make food self-selections through a Kindness Pantry, which is located in each of their buildings. They are also implementing a Kindness produce distribution market on the first and third Tuesday of each month, for members of the community to select fresh produce that will be located behind THMS from 9-11am.
February: PAWS Animal Adoption Center
At PAWS, the mission is to provide care for homeless dogs and cats until they can be placed in permanent, responsible homes, while promoting humane values in the community through outreach and educational programs. They envision a humane world for every animal and are guided by compassion, advocacy, respect, education and support. These values shape every program they offer, from sheltering and adoption to community-based services like the Pet Food Pantry, Community Cares Clinic, and partnerships with local organizations, to ensure that everything they do centers the wellbeing of both animals and the people who love them.
March: The Wild Blueberry Collective
The women of the Wild Blueberry Collective are pulling together to save not only land, but a long tradition in Maine of blueberry growing and harvesting. Their goal is to preserve the land and give it back to the community to be used as a valuable resource, for harvesting, hiking, and learning, through classes offered by collective members. Maine has lost over 100,000 acres of wild blueberry land in less than 100 years; the Collective intends to save some of this unique and special glacial-carved landscape.
April: Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
MOFGA is a membership organization built on educating, advocating, and connecting Maine’s agricultural community. MOFGA equips farmers with technical assistance, mentorship, and financial support to build viable, organic operations and advances equity by working to grow a membership that reflects Maine’s diverse farming communities. MOFGA convenes farmers, policymakers, and neighbors around shared challenges from PFAS contamination to pressures facing an aging farmer population, and builds lasting connections through events like the annual Common Ground Country Fair.
May: Safe Harbor Sanctuary
Safe Harbor Sanctuary is a local non-profit animal rescue. Their mission is to provide a safe place for neglected, abandoned or unwanted animals. They strive to be advocates for animals in need and provide education and resources to address the over-population of cats and dogs.
June: Belfast Community Radio
WBFY provides a wide variety of musical entertainment and content to area residents, but most importantly, it gives residents who want to share a passion with the community a microphone and broadcast time to do that. Over 80% of their programming is locally produced by volunteers, with diverse content ranging from swing music from the ‘30’s to youth radio dubstep, from country to rock, blues, showtunes and classical. Their streaming broadcasts have listeners worldwide so family and friends of their hosts can hear them wherever they live.
July: Peace Ridge Sanctuary
Peace Ridge Sanctuary rescues and cares for animals suffering due to neglect, abuse and exploitation. Peace Ridge has three sanctuaries (including Little River Sanctuary in Belfast) that provide permanent, safe homes to over 650 rescued animals, including donkeys, cows, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, turkeys and dogs and cats. Peace Ridge also stewards and protects over 2,000 acres of farm and forest land for wildlife and habitat protection.
August: Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Waldo County
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program in Waldo County provides age-appropriate books mailed monthly to children's homes until their fifth birthday at no cost to the family. Home libraries are essential in promoting early literacy. This program serves children in all of Waldo County and is supported by local libraries, schools and community organizations.
September: H.O.M.E. Inc.
Founded in 1970, H.O.M.E. Inc. has a long history of providing essential services and resources to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. H.O.M.E. aims to meet people where they are - whether in need of diversion services to avoid homelessness, or navigation services once in shelters, the H.O.M.E. team meets each person with dignity and support. All services and programs are organized and equipped through a dedicated corps of volunteers and staff, many who went there first for help.
October: Waldo Community Action Partners
Waldo Community Action Partners (WCAP) believe that a stronger community begins with people caring for one another. Their work in the community reflects the cooperative values of self-help, equity, solidarity, and social responsibility by helping individuals and families overcome challenges, build stability, and create brighter futures. Through their programs and partnerships addressing basic needs, housing stability, energy assistance, food security, transportation, and family well-being, they bring people together to share resources, remove barriers, and create opportunities for their friends, families, and neighbors.
November: Homeworthy
Homeworthy is a comprehensive services organization working to end the cycle of homelessness through innovation and collaboration around affordable housing as well as reaching whole families through a family shelter and youth program. Homeworthy believes in the social responsibility of supporting our most vulnerable community members. They maintain the dignity of their neighbors who are experiencing homelessness by using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach to breaking cycles of poverty and ending homelessness.
December: Waldo County YMCA
It is the mission of the Waldo County YMCA to promote the physical, mental, social, and spiritual development of the communities we serve. Their areas of focus include youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The YMCA is guided by its core values: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
