As the Russian invasion of Ukraine rages on, Americans are looking for ways to help the Ukrainian people. Throughout the U.S., co-ops and their members are assisting the people of Ukraine through their national co-op association.
National Co-op Grocers (NCG), which Greenbelt Co-op Supermarket and Pharmacy is a member of, has pledged a 100 percent match for all donations up to $100,000 made by the U.S. retail food co-op system to help support the All-Ukrainian Central Union of Consumer Societies (COOP Ukraine) so that they can continue to provide goods and services to their communities. COOP Ukraine, which includes 15,000 enterprises, 3,000 restaurants, seven hotels, 300 manufacturing businesses and shops and 300 markets throughout Ukraine, is working to maintain operations so member-owners can continue to rely on co-op goods and services. “The sense of support and solidarity we feel from around the world gives us strength,” said Illia Gorokhovskyi, board chair of COOP Ukraine, adding that the country’s cooperatives are continuing to serve their members.
“Despite these circumstances, consumer cooperatives are making efforts to provide the population with the necessities of life, primarily food, and delivering them to where it is most needed.” NCG is partnering with the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) to support cooperatives in Ukraine through CDF’s Disaster Recovery Fund. Donations can be made by sending a check to CDF at 1775 Eye Street NW, 8th floor, Washington, D.C. 20006, indicating Disaster Recovery Fund in the memo line or online at interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E332248&id=111.
(Excerpt from Greenbelt Co-op newsletter & NCBACLUSA.coop press release)