Co-op Announces 2021 HCCF Awards

Twenty years ago, the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society’s Board of Directors set up a fund to support other cooperatives—the Hanover Cooperative Community Fund (HCCF). Over the years, HCCF has contributed close to $500,000 toward an endowment assisting cooperatives all over the country. Funds are raised through product sales, member and vendor contributions, and events.

In perfect alignment with Cooperative Principle 6, Cooperation among Cooperatives, HCCF supports other cooperatives young and old, near and far. And every year, the interest earned on the fund is returned to us for local distribution. The HCCF Community Project Grant and Gerstenberger Scholarship help us to do just that.

This year, we had 18 applicants (all local non-profits) and $18,500 to allocate—with a cap of $2,500 for each project. The selection committee reviewed each application carefully and chose to fund some smaller, lesser-known projects. They also considered whether the non-profit had other sources of funding and whether the non-profit had received funding from other Co-op programs, such as Pennies for Change.

The 2021 HCCF Awards are:

• Change the World Kids – Soup Kit Project - $2,500
• Friends of Canaan Village, Inc. – Flower Planters - $500
• Harford Community Coalition – Take a Bite out of Hunger - $2,000
• Hartford Norwich Holiday Basket Helpers – Food Gift Cards for Families and Seniors - $1,000
• Hartford Restorative Justice Center – Hartford Restorative Garden - $2,500
• Kearsarge Food Hub – Sweet Beet Café FREEdge Meals - $2,500
• Randolph Area Food Shelf – Skip Program – Summer/School Break Meals for Students - $2,500
• We R H.O.P.E. – 2022 UV Youth Wellness Retreat $2,500

Congratulations to all of our recipients, and thank you to everyone who applied! The decisions are never easy. We look forward to reading your applications again next year!

And thank you to our members and vendors who’ve contributed throughout the years! Your contributions really do make a difference!

2022 Timeline

• Oct 29, 2022—2022 Application Deadline
• Nov 29, 2022—Awards Announced

Stay tuned for more details.