Wheatsville Co-Op Raises $181K For Austin-Area Nonprofits

Officials of Wheatsville Food Co-op operators of a pair of full-service, natural foods cooperative grocery stores in Austin recently celebrated the raising of more than $180,000 to area nonprofits. Wheatsville customers at the store at 3101 Guadalupe St. or 4001 S. Lamar Blvd. are given the option throughout the year of rounding out their total grocery bills to benefit a featured nonprofit. Largely through those spare change collections at check-out, $181,393 was raised in 2018 to benefit groups performing important work in the community. Ten benefiting nonprofits were honored at a late January ceremony centered on the contributions made through the Community Action Fundraiser. District 5 Austin City Council member Ann Kitchen, an "owner" of the co-op, was on hand to help celebrate the achievement. While the stores are open to all, customers can secure "owner" status via a yearly membership fee that yields special discounts during promotions.