As part of Co-op principle #7, Concern for Community, the Littleton Food Co-op established the Partner of the Month (POM) program. The Littleton Food Co-op Partner of the Month program gives shoppers the opportunity to donate their spare change to local organizations every time they shop. Members vote on 10-12 local organizations to benefit from this program, rotating on a monthly basis. Folks can ask their cashier to “round-up” their purchase, or drop money in the change bins at the end of the register. 100% of donations go directly to the organizations. With community support we were able to raise over $68K in 2023. Every penny counts!
Voting for the 2025 Partners of the Month will open September 14th. Learn about all 36 Partner candidates here.
This Month’s Partner:
Round Up at the register this September to support The Center for New Beginnings!
Located in Littleton (just down the road from the Co-op!), the Center for New Beginnings provides counseling and mental health services to families and individuals of all ages. Their safe, welcoming, respectful, and confidential environment allow patients to explore their mental health needs and challenges with a licensed professional. They offer a wide range of services, including child and adolescent services, adult counseling services, substance abuse treatment, victims services for children, adults, and families, and emergency services.
100% of all Round-Up donations made at the register this month will go directly to the Center for New Beginnings so they can increase access to quality mental health care in the North Country. Learn more here.
The 2024 Partners of the Month
January – Bethlehem Trails Association
February – North Country Pride
March – PRKR and Franconia Area NEMBA
April – Free Rein Rescue and Rehab
May – Ammonoosuc Community Health Services (ACHS)
June – Above the Notch Literacy Project
July – The Pemigewasset Valley Search & Rescue Team
August – North Country Home and Hospice
September – Center for New Beginnings
October – Littleton Food Co-op Community Fund
November – Local Food Pantries
December – Friends of the Littleton Public Library
Here are the results of the election. The organization with the highest number of votes has first pic for the month they want to be Partner. This process continues from highest voted organization down until all months are spoken for.
How We Help Local Organizations
The Co-op helps local organizations raise funds and awareness in a number of ways:
- Round-Up: Customers may round up their purchases and the balance goes directly to the Partner of the Month.
- Donation collection boxes with partner branding are placed at each register.
- Messaging about our partners is included in our weekly e-newsletter, social media posts, on our website, and in our weekly newspaper ads.
- Posters and flyers are displayed on our Community Board and around the store.
- Opportunities to meet our members, including info tables, grocery bagging, and other events.
How Our Partners Are Chosen
Each year during the Summer we accept applications from local organizations, and our Members select the final Partners by popular vote. Voting is held online and we have paper ballots available as well. Only full or partial Members may vote by casting a ballot; one vote is allowed per Membership.
The organization with the most votes gets the first choice for their preferred month. Then the next organizations choose their preferred month in the order of votes earned. We divide the organizations into categories each year so that a diverse variety of groups is being supported; if any categories are not represented, we choose the organization with the most votes within a category and add it to the final list.
We reserve months to raise funding for the Littleton Cooperative Community Fund as well as area food pantries. In the event of an emergency situation that needs funding, we will contact the Partner for the month to see if they are willing to forfeit Round-Up earnings for three days.
Please note that organizations may not be a Partner of the Month for more than 2 consecutive years, but are welcome to apply in the third year.
If you have questions about our Partner of the Month Program or would like to apply, please contact our Community Outreach Coordinator, Becky Colpitts, at bcolpitts@littletoncoop.org
Apply to Become a 2026 Partner
Applications for our 2025 partner Program are now closed. If you’re interested in learning more about our program or would like to become a Partner in 2026, please e-mail bcolpitts@littletoncoop.org.
Qualifications
Partners must be:
- Locally focused
- Socially and environmentally responsible
- Non political & secular
- Located within 30 miles of Littleton
- Be a 501(c)(3) non-profit, or under the umbrella of an established 501(c)(3) organization in the area
- Have a tax identification number
- The mission of the organization should align with the Co-op’s mission & vision
- Have a plan for using any funds raised if selected
Please note that organizations that become a Partner of the Month may not apply for Partner of the Month consideration for the next two application cycles. After two years, you may apply again.
How Partners Are Selected
Each year our Members choose 8-10 organizations for our Partner program via popular vote. We want our Members to make an informed choice and also learn about the great work being done in our community, so we put together lots of promotional materials about the candidates, post flyers in the store, share posts and videos on social media, include information on our website and in our e-newsletter, and we also offer the opportunity to set up a table during our Partner of the Month Fair.
POM Archive
2023
Our Members chose the following organizations to be our 2023 Partners of the Month:
January – Bethlehem Elementary/Garden Club
February – Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN)
March – Affordable Housing, Education, and Development (AHEAD)
April – CCFHS/Response to Domestic & Sexual Violence Support Center
May – Believe in Books Literacy Foundation
June – Copper Cannon Camp
July – The Pemigewasset Valley Search & Rescue Team
August – Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT)
September – Veterans2Veterans Group
October – Littleton Food Co-op Community Fund
November – Local Food Pantries
December – New England Disabled Sports
