Our co-op community, December 2017

Find out more about community events at pccmarkets.com/events.

Tilth Alliance Food Lust

PCC was proud to sponsor Tilth Alliance’s annual fundraising gala, Food Lust, this October, a dinner celebration and auction to benefit programs that build a healthy food system and a healthy environment.

The Tilth Alliance, an organization that resulted in the merger of Seattle Tilth, Tilth Producers and the Cascade Harvest Coalition, is focused on building an ecologically sound, economically viable and socially equitable food system. It offers gardening classes, training to be a Master Composter, farm guides, and many other resources and educational opportunities.

Green Plate Special

Green Plate Special (GPS) is a non-profit organization that educates middle school students from 4th through 8th grade about gardening and cooking. PCC recently sponsored a fundraising gala where the organization raised $125K, far surpassing their goal!

Situated on a lovely quarter-acre in the Mount Baker neighborhood of Seattle, GPS offers an urban farm experience with chickens, an outdoor wood-burning oven, craft spaces, a dynamic indoor kitchen and classroom, and raised beds overflowing with organic produce. GPS partners with schools and community organizations, including Madrona Elementary, Washington Middle School, Rainier Scholars, Mary’s Place and Friends of the Children.

GPS offers after-school programs, day camps and evening cooking classes. Laura Dewell, GPS executive director, explains that the organization focuses on middle school students as an age group often overlooked and underappreciated for impact. In that sweet spot between childhood and adolescence, middle school is a crucial time of developmental transformation and growth. Opportunities at that age to develop cooking skills and connections to sustainable food systems can have positive impacts for the rest of their lives.

GPS works primarily with low-income and food insecure families and youth, providing a risk-free opportunity to try new foods, emphasizing affordability and nutrition. GPS’s mission is to “inspire and empower youth to experience food in new ways through gardening, cooking and eating together” – a mission it’s accomplishing with great success!

Farm-to-school bagged apple program

In stores now: Proceeds this fall from sales of specially marked “Farm to School” 3-pound bags of organic apples in all PCC stores will support farm-to-school programs for children throughout the greater Seattle area.

The Tilth Alliance, Green Plate Special and Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center are recipients of funds from this year’s program.

Holiday food drive

December 1 through 31

Make your dollar count by donating to the PCC Food Bank Program during our holiday food drive! All proceeds go to purchasing and packaging customized bulk food orders for our partnering food banks. Providing customized, in-house packaged items allows us to donate more food per dollar and provide culturally significant, healthy and unprocessed foods tailored to the clientele of each food bank. Help us reach our goal of $60,000 by donating online or at the register in any PCC store.

Green Lake Pathway of Lights

Saturday, December 9, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Greenlake Park

Join thousands of families, friends and neighbors for this beloved Seattle tradition. Travel the 2.8-mile path around Greenlake, enjoying the warm glow of the luminaria, music, and refreshments provided by PCC. Please bring a canned food donation for FamilyWorks to help brighten the holiday season. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lights and candles to add to the ambiance. We hope to see you there!

12Ks of Christmas run

Sunday, December 17, 9 a.m.
Heritage Park
111 Waverly Way, Kirkland

Join Snohomish Running Company for a fun, holiday-themed 12K and 5K run/walk starting and finishing in Heritage Park. The first 2,000 participants to register will receive a custom “12Ks of Christmas Toboggan Beanie” along with an amazing finisher medal, personalized bib number and chip timing. A commemorative race shirt will be available for $10. PCC Kirkland staff will be on site to hand out post-race treats. Stop by and say hello!

PCC Cooks

As the holiday season approaches and ramps up to full swing we sometimes need a reminder to slow down! Why not schedule a little time for fun with one of our PCC Cooks classes?

Reclaim the joy of holiday goodie bags by learning to make Iole's Famous Holiday Biscotti, or Brittles and Barks with chef Laurie. Improve your party hosting skills in the Easy and Elegant Appetizers class. Learn to present your food in the most pleasing way in The Art of Plating. Or maybe it’s time to just relax — let us take you on A European Christmas experience!

Whether you want to treat yourself or give your special someone an experiential gift, our classes will bring the flavor and we do all the cleaning! Registration opens on November 28 for a whole new round of classes from January to March.

December customer service star

Donna Rasmussen, Cashier at Edmonds – Outstanding service at the register and in our community!