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 2028 Positive Change Program, January 1st, 2027, through August 1st, 2027.

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 the number of votes received. Organizations with the most votes will be placed in the months with the 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!

Bloomington Meals on Wheels team members holds our Positive Change check for Bloomington Meals on Wheels — Our shoppers raised $10,459.01 for Bloomington Meals on Wheels in 2026!

Exodus Refugee Immigration team members holds our Positive Change check for them. — Our shoppers raised $10,033.91 for Exodus Refugee Immigration in 2026!

Community Kitchen of Monroe County team members holds our Positive Change check for them. — Our shoppers raised $10,521.75 for Community Kitchen of Monroe County in 2026!

2027 Positive Change Recipients

January – Bloomington Community Orchard: The Bloomington Community Orchard is an all-volunteer nonprofit, devoted to growing fruit trees and other perennial edible agriculture organically for the community to enjoy, while growing our orcharding skills through education and experience-sharing. The publicly owned orchard is maintained by volunteers, and the harvest is available to everyone! Positive Change funds would be used to help build an outdoor classroom to provide shade, weather refuge, and more free classes to the community, while helping us grow our compost and bokashi food-waste systems to provide sustainable on-site nutrients for growing seasons and generations to come.

February – Hotels For Hope Inc (DBA) Hotels For Homeless: Hotels For Homeless provides emergency shelter and intense individualized casework to help those in our community overcome homelessness. We use housing first principles and a wholistic wraparound approach to help those we serve not only survive but to thrive. We work with a variety of community resources to ensure those who use our services have all basic needs met including shelter, food security, and medical care. We believe everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, compassion, and respect. Funds will be used to provide emergency shelter and intense individualized casework to those in our community who are experiencing homelessness.

March – Monroe County Humane Association: Monroe County Humane Association keeps pets healthy, in homes, and out of shelters by providing veterinary care, food support, and crisis services. The February tornado resulted in the complete loss of our pet food storage facility, forcing us to rethink and rebuild how we deliver this critical service. We are expanding the capacity of our Pet Food Pantry to meet growing need and to support partner organizations across our region. Funds from this request will directly support the purchase, storage, and distribution of pet food and basic supplies. This investment will help ensure hungry pets stay fed and out of shelters.

April – Pantry 279, Inc: Pantry 279, originally started by local Girl Scout Troop 69-279, provides a weekly food pantry where guests may come for a full range of healthy food via the client choice method. We have a food is medicine approach and strive to always have fresh produce, variety of meat choices, breads, nonperishables, and options for dietary issues. We also provide weekly food delivery for our homebound guests, a Children's Summer Food Program, Thanksgiving Kindness box program, and the very popular ELF Dispatch. Currently we are serving over 13,000 people from 39 counties, 78% are from Monroe.

May – 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, and Hoosier Hills Food Bank. For thirteen years our 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. The Farm to Family Fund is committed to supporting the local food system and helping to get healthful food to those who have difficulty accessing this food. In 2025, we matched over $26,000 of SNAP benefits. We purchased almost $212,000 worth of fresh, local food at half price to distribute to our partner agencies, paying farmers about $106,000. Positive Change funds will help us to increase our impact on Bloomington’s local food economy.

June – WildCare, Inc: WildCare provides treatment for 1,000–1,500 animals per year and has taken in thousands of animals since incorporated in 2001. Additionally, WildCare does approximately 75 educational outreach programs reaching and educating up to 3,000 people each year on the environment, conservation & our native species. Funds will be used for the daily care of rehab patients as well as the 18 full-time WildCare animal ambassador residents (medical supplies, food, and enclosure or enrichment items).

July – 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 us 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.

August – WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology: WonderLab is a family-focused science museum in Bloomington, IN with interactive exhibits and programs that stimulate curiosity, encourage discovery and inspire lifelong learning. Located between WonderLab and the B-Line trail, our WonderGarden is a green oasis that features flowers, vegetables, herbs, and other plants, along with welcoming paths and seating that invite visitors to slow down, observe, and connect with the ecosystems that sustain our community. The Positive Change grant would help WonderLab deepen this sustainability work by supporting garden care, educational signage, and exhibits and family programs that highlight pollinator health, urban biodiversity, and climate-friendly practices like native planting and water-wise gardening. By investing in WonderGarden, Bloomingfoods shoppers would nurture a space where kids dig in the dirt, notice bees and butterflies, and see firsthand how healthy soil, plants, and people are all connected—planting early seeds of environmental stewardship in the next generation.

September – Hoosier Hills Food Bank: HHFB will continue sourcing local produce and bulk food from our partner in Indianapolis for items like cereal, pasta, and grains.

October – Bloomingfoods' choice – Each year, the Bloomingfoods’ Leadership Team (GMs, Marketing & Communications Manager, HR Manager, Finance Manager, and Store Managers) choose the October recipient. Our decision is based on the alignment with our mission and Ends Statement and current community needs.

November – Friends of the Library: The Friends of the Library gives funds to the Monroe Couty Public Library which provides free access to books, music and videos in both physical and digital formats, computer and internet access, Library of Things, learning opportunities and programs for all ages to participate in, Teen Spaces, Teaching Kitchen, Bookmobile and home delivery of books for people without access to the branches, research help, classes in literacy, classes for those learning English as a new language, resources for non-profit organizations, and a Mobility Aids Lending Library with canes, crutches, walkers and rollators available for checkout.
The Friends operates a used bookstore in the Library offering a wide array of reduced-price books, videos, music, games and more to the general public. We divert massive quantities of gently used media from the landfill and delight in re-homing these items to a diverse clientele including individuals, families, collectors, and educators-all while raising money to support the Library.

December – WFHB, Bloomington Community Radio, Inc: Funds collected from the Positive Change Program will be utilized in support of WFHB’s operating expenses. It is imperative that WFHB maintains its operating budget in the wake of the dismantlement of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2025 which had supported a quarter of WFHB’s operating expenses. WFHB is supported by individual donations made by the people, businesses, and grantors in this community. With this support, WFHB will remain a public, fully-accessible, educational, media platform for residents of Bloomington and surrounding areas to contribute and enjoy.

2026 Positive Change Recipients

January $8,782.17 – Beacon, Inc.: Beacon is the largest nonprofit housing provider in Monroe County, with five programs to assist those experiencing extreme poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Funds would be used to support all five programs to assist people throughout their entire journey, either in their first moment of crisis, after years of experiencing homelessness, or anywhere in between. Their programs range from providing nutritious meals and casework to overnight shelter and emergency housing. Beacon serves hundreds of people each day, thousands of people each year, and funding would be used to ensure that each client is being supported with a well-rounded approach to address all of their needs.

February $8,640.37 – Monroe County CASA: Monroe County CASA currently has 70 children on the waiting list. The desperately needed money will be used to recruit and train more CASA advocates who will represent the child's interest at home and in the court.

March $9,888.19 – Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard: MHC increases access to healthy food in a way that cultivates dignity, agency, and community. Donations will go towards fulfilling their mission to battle food insecurity in our community.

April $10,459.01 – Bloomington Meals on Wheels: Bloomington Meals on Wheels provides medically-tailored meals to Bloomington residents who are unable to prepare nutritious meals due to chronic illness, serious disability, or advanced age. Volunteers deliver two prepared meals, one hot and one cold, over lunchtime each day, Monday through Friday. Funds raised will provide meals for 40% of their recipients who cannot afford the $12 per day fee. $10,000 would provide 2,000 meals for your Bloomington neighbors.

May $9,213.16 – Area 10 Agency on Aging: Positive Change rewards will directly benefit the Mobile Food Pantry, which delivers supplemental groceries to home-bound individuals, including fresh produce from our Area 10 raised garden. Area 10 reaches over 300 individuals monthly through this service and serves over 3,400 through all Area 10 services. Area 10 also uses the support for providing emergency food services, both grocery and home delivered, whenever needed.

June $8,476.79 – New Hope Family Shelter: New Hope for Families is a community leader in social services for families in crisis. It administers one of the state’s most successful emergency shelter programs, keeping families together and equipping them to progress into stable housing, and offers a vibrant, high-quality early learning program that gives children the good start they deserve and nurtures advantages that last a lifetime. Increased food costs have significantly impacted New Hope and the clients they serve. Funds received from Bloomingfoods' Positive Change program will help provide meals and nutritious snacks for more than 50 children ages birth to 5 at the Early Learning Center, and will also support New Hope’s acclaimed “Plot to Tot” education program. “Plot to Tot” encourages young children to develop positive attitudes toward healthy foods, through age-appropriate gardening experiences and menus emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables.

July $9,164.39 – Habitat for Humanity - Monroe County: Since 1988, Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County (HFHMC) has been committed to building and sustaining affordable homeownership opportunities with local families and individuals. All families in the program qualify with a need for housing, the ability to pay back an affordable mortgage, and a willingness to partner with Habitat by volunteering at least 250 hours of "sweat equity" through homeowner readiness classes, volunteering at the Habitat ReStore, and building their neighbors' and their own homes. HFHMC is currently building homes in its third neighborhood, Osage Place, and the funds raised through the Positive Change program will be used to purchase the materials needed to build a future home in the neighborhood. Habitat builds more than houses - they help build safety, stability, generational wealth, independence, and community.

August $10,033.91 – Exodus Refugee Immigration: Exodus will use Positive Change funds to support resources and services needed to aid its clients to make a successful transition to life in the United States. Now, as Exodus enters a time when new refugees are not entering the country and immigration policy changes almost daily, Exodus is working to support refugees who have arrived in Bloomington, Indiana in the last five years. Funding will allow the Exodus to provide direct assistance to refugees in the form of housing assistance and associated basic needs, such as food, clothing, medicine, etc., for newly arriving refugees. Additionally, funding will assist Exodus to provide refugees with case management, mental health services, employment assistance, and self-sufficiency services. Grant funding will help refugees to achieve a measure of security and focus on larger self-sufficiency goals, such as obtaining employment, learning English, addressing medical concerns, or enrolling in higher education.

September $10,521.75 – Community Kitchen of Monroe County: The Community Kitchen of Monroe County is the largest free meal provider in the county, addressing hunger and food insecurity in our community. In 2024, they served 302,900 meals and snacks accomplished through two brick-and-mortar locations, their food truck delivering to low-income and senior housing facilities, and programs like Backpack Buddies (serving over 550 students), Summer Food Service Program, Senior Links, and Nutrition Links. With no eligibility requirements, the Community Kitchen focuses on serving the most vulnerable populations. Their mission is to eliminate hunger in Monroe County and surrounding areas through direct service, education, and advocacy, working both independently and in partnership with other organizations. All programs are designed to uphold the dignity of those they serve and combat the stigma associated with food insecurity.

October $9,185.72 – Monroe County 4-H: Monroe County 4-H helps young people discover their interests, build confidence, and develop the skills to make a difference in their communities. Delivered through Purdue Extension with support from dedicated local volunteers, 4-H connects youth with caring adults and meaningful opportunities to learn by doing. Through community clubs, after-school programs, camps, workshops, and the county fair, participants explore everything from animal science and agriculture to robotics, creative arts, healthy living, and environmental stewardship. Service and leadership are central to that experience. Teen Junior Leaders and camp counselors help younger children learn, organize community service projects, and practice teamwork, public speaking, and responsibility. Positive Change donations will help make these opportunities more accessible by supporting educational supplies, affordable camp and enrichment experiences, and youth leadership and service activities. Every contribution helps more Monroe County young people find a place to belong, discover what excites them, and grow into capable, compassionate adults.

November – Sycamore Land Trust: Sycamore Land Trust was founded in 1990 to preserve the beauty, health, and diversity of southern Indiana’s natural landscape through strategic land conservation and environmental education. SLT has permanently protected 11,727 acres on 60 nature preserves across southern Indiana, restoring critical habitats like wetlands, forests, grasslands, and wildflower meadows to safeguard biodiversity and provide a refuge for rare and endangered species. They maintain more than 30 miles of free hiking trails on 13 public nature preserves, providing year-round access to natural areas for people of all ages and abilities. Through their Environmental Education Program, Sycamore Land Trust connects thousands of students and community members to nature each year with hands-on outdoor learning, guided hikes, and free programming for schools and community organizations. A donation to Sycamore will help create a future in which southern Indiana has diverse and abundant habitats for native plants and animals, clean air and water, working lands that are productive and sustainable, and people who embrace the connection between a healthy environment and our quality of life.

December – Middle Way House: Middle Way House provides essential services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking across six counties in south-central Indiana. They offer emergency shelter for those immediately fleeing domestic violence, a 24/7 help and crisis line that answers more than 5,000 calls annually on average, sexual assault advocacy, long-term supportive housing, and a free youth program that gives residential children a safe and enriching space after school and during school breaks. Funding will be used for flexible assistance to remove barriers that can lead to or prolong homelessness—such as helping survivors obtain vital documents or access transportation. It will also support healing and enrichment activities for survivors and their children, like support groups, cooking club, pool passes, and bus tickets. Your donation helps ensure that families in crisis have the support they need to find safety, stability, and hope.