Cooperatives and their members are facing losses from some of the worst hurricanes in recorded history. Committed to Principle 6, cooperation among cooperatives, the Cooperative Development Foundation is partnering with cooperatives to help meet the needs of our neighbors in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Florida.
And once again, National Co+op Grocers (NCG) has stepped up with a generous match—up to $100,000—for donations made by the food co-op retail system. We thank NCG for this and the many times they have come to support cooperatives in crisis.
We have heard from cooperators in Puerto Rico that several cooperatives have been affected, including forced temporary closures, loss of crops and animal inventory, and perishable food inventory, equipment losses, and cancellation of contracts. Co-ops in the Dominican Republic are reporting loss of beef and dairy cattle as the hurricane affected key meat industry regions. Florida is assessing damage as they recover from the shock of Hurricane Ian’s impact. And in Cuba, Pinar de Rio—Cuba’s western-most province—is home to 385 cooperatives and suffered the most damage from the hurricane.
You can support relief efforts with an online donation or by sending a check to CDF at 1775 I St. NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 indicating “Disaster Recovery Fund” in the memo line. Your donation today can help CDF provide co-ops and members impacted by hurricanes with immediate and ongoing support through CDF’s Disaster Recovery Fund. CDF distributes 100 percent of donations to recovery efforts.
