April 1 marks the start of a new season of Beans for Bags donation recipients, featuring four amazing local non-profit organizations that Co-op Owners voted on last October.
First Alternative’s Beans for Bags program supports sixteen different community organizations with monetary donations of approximately $4,000 each year. When you shop at both Co-op locations and use a reusable bag or box, you can pick up a green token from the register. On your way out of the store, you can then use your token at our Beans for Bags displays to vote for the non-profit of your choice. At the end of each quarter, we tally up the votes and that determines what percentage of our quarterly donation each non-profit organization will get.
Take a moment to learn about the great work of this quarter’s featured non-profit organizations:
Co-op Recycling Center
The Co-op Recycling Center provides multiple resources for most of your recycling needs in Corvallis and the rest of the valley. They are the only place in town where you can recycle Styrofoam, and are a focal point in South Town that helps fulfill the community’s needs for recycling items that would otherwise go to the landfill. In an average year they recycle 3,700 lbs. of metal, 1,420 cubic yards of Styrofoam, 840 cubic yards of commingled items, and 510 cubic yards of glass. The center is operated on a zero-dollar budget; community support is vital
to its success.

Jackson Street Youth Services
Helping youth 24/7/365 by promoting safety, stability, and well-being. They work to prevent homelessness by showing a path to long-term success through building positive relationships and skills for self-sufficiency. Their vision is to end youth homelessness by providing necessary services to youth either currently homeless or at risk. It’s crucial that youth and families are aware of their services and how to access them. They can be reached at 1(800) 901- 2904 or at www.jsysi.org. As one youth said, “I was broken inside. I felt worthless and unwanted. I will never forget how hard the staff fought for me; they were my advocates when no one else was.”

South Corvallis Food Bank (SCFB)
SCFB’s mission is to increase sustainable food security in South Corvallis by providing emergency food boxes, information, and opportunities with compassion and respect. With food prices increasing and the end of pandemic benefits, they have seen a rapid growth in demand for food in 2023. They are currently providing food boxes to over 2,000 individuals each month.

Vina Moses Center
Vina Moses Center strives to support low-income and under-resourced community members facing a wide variety of challenges and hardships through a network of resources and services to build resilience and improve wellbeing. Vina Moses Center’s mission is to support all individuals and families living in Benton County through times of hardship and financial troubles by providing no-cost clothing, household materials, food, and other basic necessities at the center daily. The center relies on community donations, personal monetary donations, and
volunteers who upkeep the center. Emergency financial assistance is provided to support those unable to meet their urgent needs with things like housing, utilities, prescriptions, identification, laundry, and gas. Annually, Vina Moses Center hosts a Giving Tree program, providing holiday meals and new gifts to kids, families, and seniors, as well as a Back-to-School program, providing students with necessary apparel and school supplies as they head back into the classroom. In the past year, the center has been