The Weavers Way Food Justice Committee envisions a world in which healthy food is readily accessible and affordable to all. The committee aims to achieve this goal by initiating and supporting projects addressing short- and long-term solutions to food insecurity.
Hunger 101
Do you want to learn more about some of the issues affecting our community? Here are a few helpful links to get started.
Food For All is a discount program for member-owners receiving public assistance including SNAP, Medicaid, SSDI, SSI, Military Disability, TANF-cash assistance and/or WIC. We believe that healthy food and products must be accessible to all, and this initiative is part of a wider movement across the country among co-ops as they promote food justice. Another helpful aspect of the program is that equity payments are reduced to $5 per year for eligible applicants. They will also receive a 10% discount at the register on most Co-op items. More information is available here.
We hope you will support our committee's work in spreading the word!
Calendar of Events
Here you’ll find dates, times and locations for upcoming FJC meetings, as well as future events and programming.
There are no events scheduled right now. Check back soon!
2018 Summer Food Drive
June 22-24, all Weavers Way locations
Our second annual “Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation” food drive eclipsed our first year’s collection total! By the end of the weekend, we gathered nearly 3,300 pounds of potatoes, onions and shelf-stable food for the Holy Cross Food Pantry in Mt. Airy, the Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler, St. Luke’s Germantown Nutritional Ministries and the Germantown Seventh Day Adventist Church pantry.
Many thanks to our dozens of volunteers, who spent anywhere from a couple of hours to more than 24 collecting, transporting and sorting donations under the scorching sun, cloudy skies and even an occasional rain shower. In the end, the amount of food collected was roughly 65% over the total from our inaugural summer food drive in 2017.
The Greater Philadelphia region has many incredible, dedicated organizations working day in and day out to alleviate hunger and support food justice in the area. The goal of the Weavers Way Food Justice Committee is both to initiate its own projects and to support projects of these other organizations. In that collaborative spirit, the Food Justice Committee has created a database we call Philly Foodscape as a way for us to become informed about, support and collaborate with several of these organizations. More information on this program is coming soon.
FJC Minutes
Missed a meeting or just curious what we discuss? Take a look at the minutes from our last few monthly meetings.
Want to learn more about the Food Justice Committee? We are open to all Weavers Way Co-op members and look forward to your questions, participation, and ideas.
The Weavers Way Food Justice Committee envisions a world in which healthy food is readily accessible and affordable to all. The committee aims to achieve this goal by initiating and supporting projects addressing short- and long-term solutions to food insecurity.
Hunger 101
Do you want to learn more about some of the issues affecting our community? Here are a few helpful links to get started.
Food For All is a discount program for member-owners receiving public assistance including SNAP, Medicaid, SSDI, SSI, Military Disability, TANF-cash assistance and/or WIC. We believe that healthy food and products must be accessible to all, and this initiative is part of a wider movement across the country among co-ops as they promote food justice. Another helpful aspect of the program is that equity payments are reduced to $5 per year for eligible applicants. They will also receive a 10% discount at the register on most Co-op items. More information is available here.
We hope you will support our committee's work in spreading the word!
Calendar of Events
Here you’ll find dates, times and locations for upcoming FJC meetings, as well as future events and programming.
There are no events scheduled right now. Check back soon!
2018 Summer Food Drive
June 22-24, all Weavers Way locations
Our second annual “Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation” food drive eclipsed our first year’s collection total! By the end of the weekend, we gathered nearly 3,300 pounds of potatoes, onions and shelf-stable food for the Holy Cross Food Pantry in Mt. Airy, the Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler, St. Luke’s Germantown Nutritional Ministries and the Germantown Seventh Day Adventist Church pantry.
Many thanks to our dozens of volunteers, who spent anywhere from a couple of hours to more than 24 collecting, transporting and sorting donations under the scorching sun, cloudy skies and even an occasional rain shower. In the end, the amount of food collected was roughly 65% over the total from our inaugural summer food drive in 2017.
The Greater Philadelphia region has many incredible, dedicated organizations working day in and day out to alleviate hunger and support food justice in the area. The goal of the Weavers Way Food Justice Committee is both to initiate its own projects and to support projects of these other organizations. In that collaborative spirit, the Food Justice Committee has created a database we call Philly Foodscape as a way for us to become informed about, support and collaborate with several of these organizations. More information on this program is coming soon.
FJC Minutes
Missed a meeting or just curious what we discuss? Take a look at the minutes from our last few monthly meetings.
Want to learn more about the Food Justice Committee? We are open to all Weavers Way Co-op members and look forward to your questions, participation, and ideas.
Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 31, 2017— Weavers Way, the Mt. Airy-based cooperative grocery with three stores in Philadelphia and Montgomery County, announced today that Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney will be the guest speaker at the organization's fall membership meeting Friday, Nov. 3.
The Mayor's Office says Kenney will focus on the city's sustainability initiatives, including support for urban agriculture and land reclamation and efforts to reduce food waste, as well as talking about the importance of local business. The meeting, at the Waldorf School of Philadelphia, 6000 Wayne Ave., starts at 5 p.m., with Kenney scheduled to take the mic about 6.
Kenney also intends to field questions from what is likely to be a large and friendly crowd. Weavers Way's seven-principle "Ends" statement includes protection of the environment and development of the local economy as core purposes.
Weavers Way recently opened a third store in Ambler, Montgomery County, its first outside the city. Alluding to this, Co-op General Manager Jon Roesser said, "Weavers Way's role in Northwest Philadelphia, and our mission of promoting cooperative ownership, healthful and sustainably produced products and fair treatment of people and the environment remain essential to our identity."
"We're honored and delighted to have Mayor Kenney come out to our meeting," Roesser said, "not just because he's the mayor — although that's a pretty big deal — but because his administration is working on so many of the same things we are."
As with virtually all official Weavers Way events, the general membership meeting is Zero Waste, so attendees are asked to bring their own plate and cutlery to enjoy a free buffet dinner and dessert, another feature of most Weavers Way functions. Dishes will be available to rent from the Co-op's Environment Committee.
Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 31, 2017— Weavers Way, the Mt. Airy-based cooperative grocery with three stores in Philadelphia and Montgomery County, announced today that Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney will be the guest speaker at the organization's fall membership meeting Friday, Nov. 3.
The Mayor's Office says Kenney will focus on the city's sustainability initiatives, including support for urban agriculture and land reclamation and efforts to reduce food waste, as well as talking about the importance of local business. The meeting, at the Waldorf School of Philadelphia, 6000 Wayne Ave., starts at 5 p.m., with Kenney scheduled to take the mic about 6.
Kenney also intends to field questions from what is likely to be a large and friendly crowd. Weavers Way's seven-principle "Ends" statement includes protection of the environment and development of the local economy as core purposes.
Weavers Way recently opened a third store in Ambler, Montgomery County, its first outside the city. Alluding to this, Co-op General Manager Jon Roesser said, "Weavers Way's role in Northwest Philadelphia, and our mission of promoting cooperative ownership, healthful and sustainably produced products and fair treatment of people and the environment remain essential to our identity."
"We're honored and delighted to have Mayor Kenney come out to our meeting," Roesser said, "not just because he's the mayor — although that's a pretty big deal — but because his administration is working on so many of the same things we are."
As with virtually all official Weavers Way events, the general membership meeting is Zero Waste, so attendees are asked to bring their own plate and cutlery to enjoy a free buffet dinner and dessert, another feature of most Weavers Way functions. Dishes will be available to rent from the Co-op's Environment Committee.
Officials, Lenders, Community Activists Cheer Opening of Cooperative Grocery Store
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMBLER, PA, Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 — Weavers Way Ambler was officially opened Friday with a gala ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Co-op store, attended by local officials, lenders, the Weavers Way Board of Directors and dozens of staff and delighted Ambler and Ambler-area residents.
“I think perhaps to the casual passerby, this might look like the official dedication of a grocery store,” said Weavers Way General Manager Jon Roesser in his opening remarks. “But the truth is that this is the official dedication of the manifestation of so much hard work in cooperative economics."
“The members of the Ambler Food Co-op, which is now part of Weavers Way, really do represent the cooperative model at its finest,” he said. “These are neighbors who identified a common need and pooled their resources to meet that need. Rather than wait for some out-of-town chain to come along and give them a grocery store, they said, 'Our town needs a grocery store. Let’s make it happen ourselves’. And that’s what they did, and that’s what we have.”
Roesser thanked the lenders who helped fund the $4.3 million project — PNC Bank, The Reinvestment Fund, Ambler Savings Bank, the Montgomery County Development Corporation, and especially the more than 300 Weavers Way members who provided the single largest source of financing with a $1.5 million in member loans.
Chris Hill, president of the Weavers Way Board, also lauded the people of Ambler for their ability to coalesce around a community need and fulfill it. Referring to the grassroots fundraising efforts that led to the restoration of the Ambler Theatre in 2007, he said, “I feel like Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill, the other community partners in this enterprise, have a lot to learn from you guys."
Hill teamed up with Ambler Store Manager Kathryn Worley to sever the giant red ribbon with a pair of prop scissors. On hand as honored guests and official witnesses were state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, all three Montgomery County commissioners — Joe Gale, Valerie Arkoosh and Ken Lawrence — Ambler Mayor Jeanne Sorg, members of the Ambler Borough Council and former Ambler Food Co-op President Kathleen Casey.
Worley said she was pleased with the support the store has received from the community.
“We’ve had people come in, and they’re crying, because they’re so excited that the store finally opened,” she said. “We’ve already made lots of new friends, and I’m just so happy to be here.”
Lawrence, vice chair of the board of commissioners, lives in Plymouth Township, but plans to visit the store regularly. “I think this is fantastic for Ambler and the residents of Ambler, but also for Montgomery County,” he said. “I know this is desperately needed here, so I’m glad the county could be a part of making this happen.”
Bernadette Dougherty, an Ambler resident and former Ambler Food Co-op outreach coordinator, took note of the effort that made the new location a reality. “You know that expression, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’? Well, this took a village and a half,” she said. “The folks from Ambler Food Co-op and the people from Weavers Way formed such a wonderful village, and got this beautiful store opened. And when people come in today and they start to clap, you know we did a good job.”
The store, Weavers Way’s third, opened for business Oct. 11 in a former Bottom Dollar store at 217 E. Butler Ave. in the borough of Ambler. Renovations, managed by Delaware County builder W.S. Cumby, began in early May. The member-owned Weavers Way stores are open to all and offer a range of high-quality products, with an emphasis on local, sustainable and organic; the Ambler location features a café area, an expanded prepared-foods kitchen, a full-service meat and seafood department, and an extensive selection of bulk foods, pet supplies, wellness, health and cruelty-free beauty products.
Officials, Lenders, Community Activists Cheer Opening of Cooperative Grocery Store
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMBLER, PA, Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 — Weavers Way Ambler was officially opened Friday with a gala ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Co-op store, attended by local officials, lenders, the Weavers Way Board of Directors and dozens of staff and delighted Ambler and Ambler-area residents.
“I think perhaps to the casual passerby, this might look like the official dedication of a grocery store,” said Weavers Way General Manager Jon Roesser in his opening remarks. “But the truth is that this is the official dedication of the manifestation of so much hard work in cooperative economics."
“The members of the Ambler Food Co-op, which is now part of Weavers Way, really do represent the cooperative model at its finest,” he said. “These are neighbors who identified a common need and pooled their resources to meet that need. Rather than wait for some out-of-town chain to come along and give them a grocery store, they said, 'Our town needs a grocery store. Let’s make it happen ourselves’. And that’s what they did, and that’s what we have.”
Roesser thanked the lenders who helped fund the $4.3 million project — PNC Bank, The Reinvestment Fund, Ambler Savings Bank, the Montgomery County Development Corporation, and especially the more than 300 Weavers Way members who provided the single largest source of financing with a $1.5 million in member loans.
Chris Hill, president of the Weavers Way Board, also lauded the people of Ambler for their ability to coalesce around a community need and fulfill it. Referring to the grassroots fundraising efforts that led to the restoration of the Ambler Theatre in 2007, he said, “I feel like Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill, the other community partners in this enterprise, have a lot to learn from you guys."
Hill teamed up with Ambler Store Manager Kathryn Worley to sever the giant red ribbon with a pair of prop scissors. On hand as honored guests and official witnesses were state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, all three Montgomery County commissioners — Joe Gale, Valerie Arkoosh and Ken Lawrence — Ambler Mayor Jeanne Sorg, members of the Ambler Borough Council and former Ambler Food Co-op President Kathleen Casey.
Worley said she was pleased with the support the store has received from the community.
“We’ve had people come in, and they’re crying, because they’re so excited that the store finally opened,” she said. “We’ve already made lots of new friends, and I’m just so happy to be here.”
Lawrence, vice chair of the board of commissioners, lives in Plymouth Township, but plans to visit the store regularly. “I think this is fantastic for Ambler and the residents of Ambler, but also for Montgomery County,” he said. “I know this is desperately needed here, so I’m glad the county could be a part of making this happen.”
Bernadette Dougherty, an Ambler resident and former Ambler Food Co-op outreach coordinator, took note of the effort that made the new location a reality. “You know that expression, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’? Well, this took a village and a half,” she said. “The folks from Ambler Food Co-op and the people from Weavers Way formed such a wonderful village, and got this beautiful store opened. And when people come in today and they start to clap, you know we did a good job.”
The store, Weavers Way’s third, opened for business Oct. 11 in a former Bottom Dollar store at 217 E. Butler Ave. in the borough of Ambler. Renovations, managed by Delaware County builder W.S. Cumby, began in early May. The member-owned Weavers Way stores are open to all and offer a range of high-quality products, with an emphasis on local, sustainable and organic; the Ambler location features a café area, an expanded prepared-foods kitchen, a full-service meat and seafood department, and an extensive selection of bulk foods, pet supplies, wellness, health and cruelty-free beauty products.
