Common Cents
Give Back Every Time You Shop
Every grocery trip can make a difference with Common Cents. Belfast Community Co-op shoppers are invited to round up their purchase total to the nearest dollar, donating the extra change to local nonprofits chosen by Co-op owners. Together, these small contributions support organizations that strengthen our community, promote sustainability, and increase access to healthy, affordable food.
How It Works
Common Cents starts with the community. Local nonprofits are nominated by community members, and the Belfast Community Co-op reviews those nominations to create a ballot of randomly selected eligible organizations. Co-op owners vote to select 12 nonprofits to be featured throughout the year. Each organization is featured for one month and receives 100% of round-up donations.
Everyone is welcome to be a Co-op owner.
How to Become a Common Cents Recipient
Every year, we invite our community to nominate local nonprofits and community groups for our Common Cents program. Anyone can submit a nomination!
Once nominations close, the Co-op reviews eligibility and randomly selects the finalists for the ballot. Voting takes place in October by Co-op owners, and the winning organizations are announced in November.
The Common Cents recipients are then randomly scheduled throughout the upcoming year, with one organization featured each month.
Please note that organizations that have been a Common Cents recipient must wait two years before becoming eligible again. For example, an organization that received a donation in 2025 will not qualify for 2026 or 2027. However, organizations that are nominated but not selected may be nominated again in future years until they are chosen.
- 2027 Common Cents nominations will open in 2026.
- Voting for 2027 recipients will be in October 2026.
Nonprofits can be nominated online using our 2027 Common Cents Nomination Form.
Common Cents Recipients
Click a recipient’s name to visit their website and learn more about their organization!
2026 Recipients
January: Avian Haven
February: Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine
March: Hills to Sea Trail Coalition
April: WERU Community Radio
May: Niweskok: From the Stars to Seeds
June: Belfast Area High School Food & Clothing Pantry
July: Waldo County Woodshed
August: Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition
September: Belfast Soup Kitchen
October: Belfast Teen Center
November: Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County
December: Farm to Neighbor Maine
2025 Recipients
January : Maine Harvest Bucks / Belfast Farmers Market
February : Friends of Katahdin Woods and Water / Wabanaki Benefit Foundation
March : Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition
April : Colonial Theater / Hawthorne Collaborative
May : Phoenix Knights Gaming
June : Waldo County Bounty
July : Wabanaki Reach
August : Restorative Justice Project Maine
September : Waldo County Pet Food Pantry
October : Friends of the Belfast Free Library
November : Belfast Area Childcare Services
December : WindowDressers
2024 Recipients
January : Finding Our Voices
February : PAWS Animal Adoption Center
March : Habitat For Humanity of Waldo County
April : But Still I Am One
May : The Soap Closet
June : Belfast Public Health Nursing
July : Friends of Belfast Parks
August : Coastal Recovery Community Center
September : Waldo County Humane Society
October : Coastal Mountains Land Trust
November : Maine Coast Animal Rescue
December : Waterfall Arts
2023 Recipients
January : Knox County Homeless Coalition
February : Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County
March : Midcoast Conservancy
April : Protect Ancient Forests
May : Belfast Community Radio
June : RSU 71 School Garden Collaborative
July : Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine
August : Friends of Sears Island
September : Waldo County Woodshed
October : Greater Belfast Area Ministerium Food Cupboard
November : MOFGA Journeyperson Program
December : Maine School Garden Network
2022 Recipients
January : Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition
February : Waldo County Pet Food Pantry
March : Maine Family Planning
April : Belfast Area Child Care Services
May : WERU Community Radio
June : Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS)
July : New Hope Midcoast (formerly New Hope for Women)
August : Veggies for All
September : Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services
October : Restorative Justice Project Maine
November : Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program
December : Waldo County Bounty
2021 Recipients
February : Overlock Memorial Skate Park Redevelopment
March : Friends of Belfast Free Library
April : Nibezun
May : Window Dressers
June : Ecology Learning Center
July : Maine AllCare
August : P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center
September : The Farwell Project
October : Belfast Farmer’s Market Maine Harvest Bucks Program
November : Belfast Soup Kitchen
December : The Game Loft (Maine Youth Alliance)
2020 Recipients
February : Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County
March : Belfast Community Works
April : Greater Bay Area Ministerium Food Cupboard
May : Soap Closet
June : Avian Haven
July : Waterfall Arts
August : Waldo CAP C.A.R.E.S.
September : Hills to Sea Trails Coalition
October : Coyote Center for Carnivore Ecology and Coexistence
November : Aging Well in Waldo County
December : Friends of Belfast Parks
2019 Recipients
February : Lincolnville Community Library
March : New Hope for Women
April : Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition
May : Restorative Justice Project
June : Belfast Area Childcare Services
July : Come Boating!
August : Friends of Sears Island
September : Food for Maine’s Future
October : Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast ME
November : OUT MAINE
December : Waldo County Growing Project
2018 Recipients
January : Creative Learning & Performance Inc. (CLAP!)
February : WBFY Belfast Community Radio
March : Our Town Belfast
April : Peace Ridge Sanctuary
May : Belfast Maskers
June : Maine Farmland Trust
July : Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition
August : Waldo County YMCA
September : Friends of the Belfast Free Library
October : Food for Maine’s Future
November : Belfast Soup Kitchen
December : Habitat for Humanity Waldo County
Common Cents is just one way our cooperative grocery store practices ethical consumerism and supports local nonprofits. Learn more about our community impact programs.
