Saint Paul, MN—National Co+op Grocers (NCG) and Food Co-ops and its members have raised more than $100K to benefit Ukraine’s cooperative businesses and its members. In an effort to support the cooperative community in Ukraine, NCG previously partnered with the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) and NCBA CLUSA. 

NCG offered a 100% pledge match for donations made by the retail food co-op system by March 10, 2022. During that period, $53,680 was donated by the cooperative community, which NCG matched to reach $107,351. 

“Our sixth co-op principle is ‘cooperation among cooperatives,’ and we hope this drive can help some of the Ukrainian community’s co-ops maintain essential services to the people of Ukraine,” said C.E. Pugh, CEO of NCG, in a press release. “We greatly appreciate members of the U.S. cooperative community coming together so quickly to make these contributions, and we are honored and humbled to match them.”

Ukraine's consumer cooperatives are suffering enormous losses, according to a press release, but COOP Ukraine is working to ensure members and owners can continue to rely on co-op goods and services. Their community is made up of 15,000 enterprises, 3,000 restaurants, seven hotels, 300 manufacturing businesses and shops, and 300 markets throughout Ukraine. 
Related: NCG, CDF Partner to Aid Ukrainian Co-ops  Lycored Helps Industry Members Spread Positivity, Necessities in Ukraine  National Co+op Grocers Invests in Black Farmers 
CDF’s Diaster Recovery Fund will continue to collect donations for COOP Ukraine and Frontier Natural Products Cooperative. They have committed to matching up to $25,000 in additional donations made through March 31. Donations will be accepted online or by check.