Rally for Change

Anytime you check-out at City Market, you can choose to "round up" your total to the nearest dollar. At the end of the month, we donate 50% of those funds to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, 40% to an organization that aligns with our Global Ends, and 10% to a local non-profit.

In July, you collectively donated $28,789.60! 

  • $14,394.80 for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf
  • $11,515.84 for the Vermont Fresh Network
  • $2,878.96 for Vermont Cheese Council

August's 50% Partner: 

Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf

The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf is the largest direct service anti-hunger organization in Vermont. The Food Shelf provides critical nutrition assistance to more than 11,000 Chittenden County residents who struggle with food insecurity and hunger every year. Food Shelf programs provide groceries, hot meals, job training and support for thousands of our neighbors.

August's 40% Partner:

South End Arts + Business Association (SEABA)

The South End Arts & Business Association (SEABA) was founded in 1986 to provide a voice for South End businesses, and provide marketing, event, and economic development opportunities to lift up the south end.  Today, the south end is creative, funky, and eclectic with a wide variety of artists, makers, entrepreneurs and small businesses in a thriving Arts District. 

SEABA also produces the South End Art Hop, the largest arts event in Vermont which attracts over 30,000 people to the south end to engage in art, explore the south end, and become patrons of local creative businesses.  The South End Art Hop celebrates its 26th year on September 7-9, 2018.

August's 10% Partner:

Carshare Vermont

Since 2008 CarShare Vermont has been on a mission to provide an affordable, reliable, and convenient alternative to car ownership that enhances the environment and community. With 17 (and counting) vehicles throughout Burlington and Winooski, CarShare Vermont makes it easier for more people to get around with fewer cars. As a result, they drive a lot less—CarShare Vermont members report driving 2 million fewer miles annually, which translates to about a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions. Even more, about 65% of CarShare members report shedding or opting not to replace a vehicle when they join. With driving among the biggest contributors to climate change, CarShare Vermont is committed to helping even more people transition to carsharing with ease.

By giving people the choice to share cars instead of own, CarShare Vermont makes vehicle access more affordable and attainable. This is especially important in a community where access to a car is sometimes necessary. Through its MobilityShare plan, CarShare Vermont further reduces the cost of driving by offering free memberships to people and households with low to moderate incomes. It's proud that its service has provided many of its members with increased mobility and freedom over the years.

As CarShare Vermont celebrates its 10th anniversary and plans for the next decade, it remains dedicated to expanding its service and impact in the Burlington area and helping the community adapt to and embrace a healthier, brighter future with fewer vehicles. Learn more at carsharevt.org.

About Rally for Change

In October 2014, City Market updated its program for collecting donations at the register! Previously, we selected a different non-profit each month and donated 5 cents for each bag our customers reused (our "Change for Local Non-Profits" program). Every register also included tear off coupons so customers could donate to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. In addition, each year in February we sold $1 Hearts for the Intervale Center and in September $1 Lunch Trays for Hunger Free Vermont, with all donations going to each respective organization. We've consolidated all of these programs into our new "Rally for Change" program which allows customers to "round up" their order at each register, each time they check-out at the Co-op.

In the name of education, opportunity, and streamlining how we do things here at the Co-op, we created a Rally for Change program! This program allows customers to “round up” their payment at the register (e.g., a $25.42 checkout could be rounded up to $26 for a $0.58 donation). The Co-op will then donate this “round up” change to a variety of local non-profits each month (so, not just one!) that are doing amazing work in our community. Want to round up to the nearest five or ten dollars? You can do that too! Each month, we’ll share who will be receiving the donations (in our newsletter, with store signage and through staff education).

With more than 4,000 transactions each day through our registers, we all have the opportunity to share what we think of as “small change” to rally for bigger community-wide change. This new Rally program will take the place of the “tear off” coupons we have at the registers and will also take the place of our Change for Local Non-Profits (or bag refunds) program.

Not to worry, a large percentage of each month’s donation will go to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf and we anticipate that this program will actually increase their donations. Through this new program, we will also continue to offer donations to local non-profits that are on the waiting list for our previous "Change for Local Non-Profits" bag refund program (and any new ones that we add to the list!). Here’s how the donation percentages will work out each month:

  • 50% to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, every month

  • 40% to an organization that aligns with the Co-op’s Global Ends 

  • 10% to a local non-profit that may not directly align so closely with our Global Ends, but still works to make our community a better place (much like the Change for Local Non-Profits Program)

This new program gives our cashiers and staff an opportunity to engage with our customers and together we’ll both support and learn more about the organizations that make our community a better place to live. We’re excited to give it a try and are interested to hear what you think!

Past Recipients

Do you run a local non-profit that aligns with our Global Ends?

Your organization can apply to become a Rally for Change 10% Partner. We are currently filling slots 4 years out (it's a popular program and our community has many amazing non-profits!). Visit our donations page to learn how to apply.