McKendree is a Distribution Center for Food Cooperative
8/17/2011
Lebanon, Ill. — McKendree University is a distribution center for a food cooperative
that delivers fresh produce and other foods to Lebanon every other week.
The Wonders of Wellness (W.O.W.) campus organization has collaborated with the Community
Helpings Produce Co-Op, which operates in Missouri and Illinois, to offer online ordering
of fresh fruit and vegetables as a community service. W.O.W. organizes activities
and programs related to fitness, nutrition, health and well-being, both on and off
campus.
“Participation in the co-op is open to anyone who is interested. It is not limited
to members of the McKendree University community or members of the Lebanon community,”
said Dr. Karan Onstott. She is assistant professor of health promotion and wellness
at McKendree, W.O.W. advisor, and the volunteer coordinator for the co-op.
The Lebanon co-op receives deliveries every other Wednesday afternoon. Orders may
be picked up between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. inside the campus Fitness Center, the gray
building next to the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts.
Fresh produce included in the blue co-op “bags” varies from delivery to delivery but
typically contains over 25 pounds of fruits and vegetables for $23, Onstott said.
“For each delivery, the co-op purchases fruits and vegetables based on their cost
and strives to procure the best items for the lowest prices. It also emphasizes buying
items locally whenever possible. In addition, there are almost 20 pages on the website
that list additional items that are available.”
All ordering and purchasing is done online at the communityhelpingscoop.com website.
New customers must set up an account with a log-in user name and password. Payment
is made online by debit or credit card.
The first time you place an order for a bag of produce, you must purchase two large
blue bags for $1 each, Onstott explained. After that, the purchase price is $23 for
a bag of produce, plus any additional items that you choose to order. You do not have
to place an order each time there is a delivery date and you are not required to order
the large bag of produce each time.
For more information or questions, e-mail Lebanon@CommunityHelpingsCoop.com.
-McK-
