Chester's Co-op Membership Continues to Grow

Sometime revisiting the past can be unpleasant and a reminder of what you have not accomplished although you had every intention on doing so. Perhaps that would be the case with looking back at the growth of the Co-op's membership if it were stagnant. Fortunately that is not a problem that we have.
The Co-op started with 13 households, people who thought that the idea was worth giving it a try. We are estatic about our growth. We have surpassed our 100 member household membership and look forward to our continued growth.
The growth of the Co-op is very diversified which is necessary to increase the success of the Co-op's future. Our sole purpose is to serve our membership and without them we would not need to be open.
The Co-op would like to thank each owner-member old and new for joining us in bringing access to quality food at affordable prices to anyone who wants to be a part of Chester's Co-op. We look forward to accepting new owner-member applications and continuing our great success

Chester's Co-op Board President Honored

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congregation Beth Israel
542 S. New Middletown Road
MEDIA, PA, 19063

April 2, 2008

Beth Israel Honors Pioneering Chester Coop Leader

Working for the Tibetan government in-exile while only 27 years old, Tina Johnson thought she could make a difference for those in poverty and hunger. Little did she know that her calling would bring her 7500 miles east to Chester, Pennsylvania—a short drive from where she grew up. And while the landscape has changed, the drive to train and inspire others to create their own sustainable community and defeat hunger is still her passion.

Congregation Beth Israel of Media today announced that Tina Johnson of Chester has won its 2008 “Friend of the Community Award.” She is being recognized for her vision, creativity and tireless efforts to bring healthy and affordable food to the residents of Chester.

The Friend of the Community Award is given each year by Congregation Beth Israel to celebrate the efforts of volunteers and activists who have made a vital difference in the quality of life in Delaware County. The recipients of the award can be of any faith, but all exemplify the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam, or “repairing the world” through charity, volunteerism and dedication to improving the lives of others.

Ms. Johnson has been engaged with launching Chester’s first cooperative grocery market. Chester has been underserved by the market industry since the town underwent wrenching job losses and social change after World War II. There has not been a supermarket in Chester for 15 years. Currently, the 37,000 residents of the city must shop at small corner groceries or face traveling long distances to neighboring towns for food and necessities at “big box” stores and shopping malls. A variety of public health issues in the community have been associated with this lack of abundant, fresh, affordable and healthy food choices.

The goal of Ms. Johnson’s Chester Community Grocery Coop is to establish a market that brings farm-fresh food and groceries to Chester residents while motivating citizens to personally invest their money, time and energy to running the business. Each member must put up a modest membership fee and pledge to work in the business for a few hours each month. Ms. Johnson believes that this community ownership and personal stake will help drive neighborhood commitment and success for the venture.

Ms. Johnson and her Coop leaders have reached out to the farming community to bring in high quality crops direct from the fields. At the same time, she and her team are conducting outreach sessions across the Chester neighborhoods, informing residents about the challenges, advantages and rewards of joining the new venture.

The Coop board is exploring a number of creative approaches to raising the resources to start the venture, including graduated memberships fees that allow families of modest means to join, all the way to an innovative “micro-loan” program for individual donors, and participation plans for corporate partners and foundations.

Ms. Johnson took a detour from her successful employment skills training business when she met Kate Smith of the Keystone Development Council. The need for leadership of the existing, embryonic cooperative aligned powerfully for Ms. Johnson, who came aboard in 2006 to lead the group. She has recently moved to Chester to bring a true grass-roots approach to her leadership.

Tina Johnson will be honored at a ceremony to be held at Congregation Beth Israel on Friday, May 16 at 6:30 PM. The public is warmly invited to attend. For further information, contact Congregation Beth Israel at (610) 566-4645.
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Since 1998, the Social Action committee of Congregation Beth Israel has presented the “Friend of the Community Award” to individuals or groups whose work in Delaware County exemplifies the Jewish value of “Tikkun Olam,” or repairing the world. Members of Beth Israel participate in a range of community projects, such as serving home-cooked meals at the Life Shelter in Upper Darby, teaching reading to children, computer skills to shelter families in Chester and collecting donations for MAZON, the Jewish Response to Hunger.

Congregation Beth Israel is affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation and has served the Media community for more than 50 years. It is located at 542 South New Middletown Road. Its web address is http://www.bethisraelmedia.org/.
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CONTACTS:
Congregation Beth Israel (610) 566-4645
John Greenstine, Beth Israel Public Relations (610) 891-0806
jgreenstine@yahoo.com