Cooperative Principle #7: Concern for Community
As part of Dairyland’s Mission to improve the quality of life for cooperative members, Dairyland’s Contributions Committee manages an annual budget of charitable funds to be donated throughout the year. The committee meets monthly to review requests and make decisions on whether requests meet Dairyland’s guidelines.
Contributions support community events, specific projects for charitable organizations or general donations focused in our service territory or areas in which Dairyland employees live. Organizations are mainly non-profits and donations are targeted towards organizations and services that focus on community service, education, environmental stewardship or emergency and community crisis funds.
Recent donations approved by the Contributions Committee include:
La Crosse Area Veterans Mentor Program: A charitable mission providing mentorship to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who are experiencing legal, mental health or behavioral health problems by assisting and encouraging their utilization of Veterans Affairs benefits and community-based services.
St. Clare Health Mission: Operated with the support of interested health and social service agencies and individuals, the St. Clare Health Mission provides health care to those in need. By creating access to preventative, primary health care and specialty services, they are able to provide health care to those in our community with economic barriers.
Rusk County Farmers Market: Dairyland provided additional funding to the Rusk County Farmers Market – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Double Value Coupon Program. These programs help area residents access fresh and nutritious food by matching $10 per week of produce purchased by SNAP recipients until funds are depleted.
La Crosse Public Library: The No Run Fun Run is taking place on Aug. 20 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program. The fun “run” includes activities, live music and food trucks. Participants will experience all the fun of a run with a commemorative t-shirt and a finish line all without breaking a sweat. Proceeds from this event will be used for the new Community Creation Space, which will provide access to tools and technology and creative resources for our community.