POSITIVE CHANGE

In 2016, Bloomingfoods introduced our Positive Change register roundup program as a community-driven fundraising campaign that offers shoppers the opportunity to round their purchase to the nearest dollar, or donate more if they wish. It is so incredibly inspiring to see how small change can make such a big impact!

we are accepting applications for our 2026 Positive Change Program January 1st, 2025 through August 1st, 2025.

The Positive Change candidates are voted on each year by our owner-members during our annual election. Once the election is finished and organizations have been chosen, organizations are assigned months based on average sales during each month and number of votes received. Organizations with the most votes will be placed in months with highest sales.

For more information about our Positive change program qualifications and how to apply, please visit https://www.bloomingfoods.coop/positive-change-application or click the button below.

Learn more!

Pets Alive team members with the Bloomingfoods Positive Change check for February 2023. — Our shoppers raised $10,704.01 for PetsAlive in 2023!

People from Lost River Co-op Market holding a Bloomingfoods Positive Change check for October's total. — Our shoppers raised $15,100.57 for Lost River Co-op Market in 2023!

Members of the WFHB team holding a Bloomingfoods Positive Change check for March 2023. — Our shoppers raised $10,211.66 for WFHB Bloomington Community Radio in 2023!

2025 Positive Change Recipients

January – Friends of Lake Monroe: Friends of Lake Monroe was founded in 2016 to protect and enhance Lake Monroe and its watershed. Lake Monroe is the sole source of drinking water for Bloomington and Monroe County. The Bloomingfoods roundup dollars will help educate the public about the top threats to Lake Monroe (sediment, nutrients, and bacteria); increase the use of conservation practices on farms and forestland in the watershed; and encourage regular septic system maintenance to avoid septic overflow. Together we can improve the quality of water in Lake Monroe and reduce the frequency of harmful algal blooms, protecting our source of drinking water for years to come.

February – Farm to Family Fund, Inc: The Farm to Family Fund purchases unsold fresh, local and sustainably grown food at half price from farmers at the close of both Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market and Bloomington Winter Farmers’ Market. This food is donated to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, Pantry 279, Community Kitchen of Monroe County, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, and The Rise at Middle Way House. For eleven years the all-volunteer organization has made a significant financial impact on the bottom line of local farmers while making local, fresh, healthy food available to hundreds of food insecure people in Bloomington and the surrounding area. In the fiscal year ending April 30, they donated over $356,000 worth of farm produce and directly paid farmers $178,000! Positive Change funds will help increase Farm to Family Fund’s impact on Bloomington’s local food economy.

March – Monroe County Humane Association: Monroe County Humane Association is deeply committed to animal welfare, striving to create a world where every animal thrives. MCHA primarily focuses on the Monroe County community, offering essential programs such as the Crisis Housing Program, which provides a safe haven for pets caught in the crosshairs of human crises, from domestic violence to housing uncertainties and health emergencies. MCHA also works to reduce the number of pets in shelters through the Spay and Neuter Assistance program and make vaccines accessible through Monthly Mobile Vaccine Clinics. MCHA’s Street Outreach Program ensures veterinary care for pets in difficult circumstances like homelessness, and an Accessible Community Veterinary Clinic served over 9,700 pets in 2023. Additionally, MCHA distributes pet food (31,000 lbs in 2023) and essential supplies to those facing financial hardships, emphasizing their commitment to animal well-being.

April – Indiana Forest Alliance: Indiana Forest Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to preserving and restoring Indiana's hardwood forest ecosystem. IFA will put the funds generated from the Positive Change program towards conducting critical scientific research in our forests, monitoring endangered and threatened species and the health of our forests, as well as towards occupying the halls of the statehouse fighting environmentally harmful legislation and advocating for good legislation, funding their urban forest program, working to get legislation passed through Congress to expand Indiana's only wilderness (the Charles Deam Wilderness), and funding awareness and educational programs.

May – Bloomington Community Orchard: The Bloomington Community Orchard's mission is to "dream, build, and share an orchard community" while inspiring communities to cultivate thriving systems of sharing and growing food for all to enjoy. They offer weekly opportunities for community members of all experience-levels to help cultivate the flagship Orchard site, while developing their own hands-on orcharding skills to share with others. The Bloomington Community Orchard also hosts "free to the community" classes and workshops (while compensating local educators to teach them), to remove any financial barriers from residents taking a more proactive approach to participating in the local food system. As an all-volunteer nonprofit, they will invest the community's donations in more free classes and resources to help grow the community's knowledge and harvests, together.

June – WildCare, Inc: Each year, more than 1,000 injured and infant wildlife come through WildCare Inc.’s doors and benefit from the on- and off-site rehabilitation care provided by our licensed animal care team. Additionally, WildCare provides educational opportunities in the South Central Indiana region, including events at WonderLab, Meadowood Retirement Community, WildCamp, and the Indiana Master Naturalist Program, alongside year-round, hands-on animal-care learning and teaching opportunities for area high-school and university students through internships and volunteer positions. They receive no federal or state funding and rely almost entirely on the generosity of our community to make possible the critical work of rehabilitating and caring for Indiana native wildlife. Positive Change funds will be utilized to continue providing high-quality and consistent care for the animals in their rehabilitative care, which are brought to them by concerned citizens in Bloomington, Monroe County, and surrounding areas. The average cost of weekly care for each animal in rehabilitation is $65. In 2023, WildCare handled 1,313 intakes during the calendar year. As of the end of June 2024, nearly 600 animals had been entrusted with their care.

July – Bloomington Refugee Support Network: Positive Change funds will be used to enhance the lives of asylum seekers and refugees in our community. The Refugee Support Network is an all-volunteer group of folks committed to welcoming the stranger and helping them acclimate to life in the U.S. Bloomington Refugee Support Network exist solely on donations and grants. The money they receive is used to help their clients meet their financial obligations of rent, utilities, internet access, medical needs and transportation, including the purchase of bicycles, both new and used.

August – Friends of the Library: The Friends of the Library supports the mission, vision, and values of the Monroe County Library. They advocate for the Library and support Library collections, services, programs, and staff development. Friends of the Library is the foundation that raises funding for 90% of the Library's programming. They cannot keep the Library a vibrant and free community resource without your help!

September – Hoosier Hills Food Bank: Hoosier Hills Food Bank is dedicated to the elimination of hunger in south-central Indiana. HHFB makes food donations available to over 100 nonprofit organizations, including emergency food pantries, daycare centers serving low-income children, youth programs, shelters, residential homes and soup kitchens. They will utilize funding to help with food purchases, transportation, and working with local farmers and vendors to purchase food.

*October – Bloomingfoods' choice

November – Pantry 279: Pantry 279 will use the funds raised to help purchase healthy food items, such as meats, pastas, and canned foods. Near November, they use the funds to help with the Thanksgiving food needs and in the summer, they can use it to help purchase kid friendly food, such as fruit cups, granola bars, oranges, bananas, etc... As Pantry 279 is currently serving over 9000 people a month, these funds will go a long way in helping them get people good, healthy food items.

December – WFHB Bloomington Community Radio: WFHB is your community radio station in Bloomington. WFHB exists to provide an open forum for the exchange and discussion of ideas and issues, and to celebrate and increase the local cultural diversity. WFHB envisions a sustainable, diverse, participatory multimedia service that contributes to an entertained, informed, and empowered community. Funds from the Bloomingfoods Positive Change Program will directly support WFHB's ability to continue serving this community, and support efforts the station is making towards ensuring it's sustainability.