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 2027 Positive Change Program, January 1st, 2026, through August 1st, 2026.

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!

Our shoppers raised $9,398.42 for the Community Kitchen of Monroe County in 2024!

Individual from Middle Way House holding a Bloomingfoods Positive Change check for December's total. — Our shoppers raised $10,109.09 for Middle Way House in 2024!

People fromMother Hubbard's Cupboard holding a Bloomingfoods Positive Change check for September's total. — Our shoppers raised $8,804.62 for Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard in 2024!

2026 Positive Change Recipients

January – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – Bloomingfoods’ Choice

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.

2025 Positive Change Recipients

January $7,324.33 – 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 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.

February $7,877.38 – 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, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, and The Rise at Middle Way House. For eleven years the 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. In the fiscal year ending April 30, they donated over $356,000 worth of farm produce and directly paid farmers $178,000! Positive Change funds will help increase Farm to Family Fund’s impact on Bloomington’s local food economy.

March $9,735.82 – Monroe County Humane Association: Monroe County Humane Association is deeply committed to animal welfare, striving to create a world where every animal thrives. MCHA primarily focuses on the Monroe County community, offering essential programs such as the Crisis Housing Program, which provides a safe haven for pets caught in the crosshairs of human crises, from domestic violence to housing uncertainties and health emergencies. MCHA also works to reduce the number of pets in shelters through the Spay and Neuter Assistance program and make vaccines accessible through Monthly Mobile Vaccine Clinics. MCHA’s Street Outreach Program ensures veterinary care for pets in difficult circumstances like homelessness, and an Accessible Community Veterinary Clinic served over 9,700 pets in 2023. Additionally, MCHA distributes pet food (31,000 lbs in 2023) and essential supplies to those facing financial hardships, emphasizing their commitment to animal well-being.

April $8,738.38 – Indiana Forest Alliance: Indiana Forest Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to preserving and restoring Indiana's hardwood forest ecosystem. IFA will put the funds generated from the Positive Change program towards conducting critical scientific research in our forests, monitoring endangered and threatened species and the health of our forests, as well as towards occupying the halls of the statehouse fighting environmentally harmful legislation and advocating for good legislation, funding their urban forest program, working to get legislation passed through Congress to expand Indiana's only wilderness (the Charles Deam Wilderness), and funding awareness and educational programs.

May $8,440.11 – Bloomington Community Orchard: The Bloomington Community Orchard's mission is to "dream, build, and share an orchard community" while inspiring communities to cultivate thriving systems of sharing and growing food for all to enjoy. They offer weekly opportunities for community members of all experience-levels to help cultivate the flagship Orchard site, while developing their own hands-on orcharding skills to share with others. The Bloomington Community Orchard also hosts "free to the community" classes and workshops (while compensating local educators to teach them), to remove any financial barriers from residents taking a more proactive approach to participating in the local food system. As an all-volunteer nonprofit, they will invest the community's donations in more free classes and resources to help grow the community's knowledge and harvests, together.

June $8,457.23 – WildCare, Inc: Each year, more than 1,000 injured and infant wildlife come through WildCare Inc.’s doors and benefit from the on- and off-site rehabilitation care provided by our licensed animal care team. Additionally, WildCare provides educational opportunities in the South Central Indiana region, including events at WonderLab, Meadowood Retirement Community, WildCamp, and the Indiana Master Naturalist Program, alongside year-round, hands-on animal-care learning and teaching opportunities for area high-school and university students through internships and volunteer positions. They receive no federal or state funding and rely almost entirely on the generosity of our community to make possible the critical work of rehabilitating and caring for Indiana native wildlife. Positive Change funds will be utilized to continue providing high-quality and consistent care for the animals in their rehabilitative care, which are brought to them by concerned citizens in Bloomington, Monroe County, and surrounding areas. The average cost of weekly care for each animal in rehabilitation is $65. In 2023, WildCare handled 1,313 intakes during the calendar year. As of the end of June 2024, nearly 600 animals had been entrusted with their care.

July $9,085.89 – Bloomington Refugee Support Network: Positive Change funds will be used to enhance the lives of asylum seekers and refugees in our community. The Refugee Support Network is an all-volunteer group of folks committed to welcoming the stranger and helping them acclimate to life in the U.S. Bloomington Refugee Support Network exist solely on donations and grants. The money they receive is used to help their clients meet their financial obligations of rent, utilities, internet access, medical needs and transportation, including the purchase of bicycles, both new and used.

August $10,201.10 – Friends of the Library: The Friends of the Library supports the mission, vision, and values of the Monroe County Library. They advocate for the Library and support Library collections, services, programs, and staff development. Friends of the Library is the foundation that raises funding for 90% of the Library's programming. They cannot keep the Library a vibrant and free community resource without your help!

September $10,551.85 – Hoosier Hills Food Bank: Hoosier Hills Food Bank is dedicated to the elimination of hunger in south-central Indiana. HHFB makes food donations available to over 100 nonprofit organizations, including emergency food pantries, daycare centers serving low-income children, youth programs, shelters, residential homes and soup kitchens. They will utilize funding to help with food purchases, transportation, and working with local farmers and vendors to purchase food.

October $7,728.00 (total has been updated to reflect the recipient forgoing the matching funds) – Gary Food Collective Co-op: The Gary Food Collective Co-op is a community-driven initiative led by Family Life Community Center designed to address food insecurity, foster economic growth, and empower Gary residents. Funding will be used to expand its food Co-op program across the City of Gary by equipping individuals with the skills needed to successfully launch and sustain their own food co-ops, while providing residents with access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.

November $11,082.28 – Pantry 279: Pantry 279 will use the funds raised to help purchase healthy food items, such as meats, pastas, and canned foods. Near November, they use the funds to help with the Thanksgiving food needs and in the summer, they can use it to help purchase kid friendly food, such as fruit cups, granola bars, oranges, bananas, etc... As Pantry 279 is currently serving over 9000 people a month, these funds will go a long way in helping them get people good, healthy food items.

December – WFHB Bloomington Community Radio: WFHB is your community radio station in Bloomington. WFHB exists to provide an open forum for the exchange and discussion of ideas and issues, and to celebrate and increase the local cultural diversity. WFHB envisions a sustainable, diverse, participatory multimedia service that contributes to an entertained, informed, and empowered community. Funds from the Bloomingfoods Positive Change Program will directly support WFHB's ability to continue serving this community, and support efforts the station is making towards ensuring it's sustainability.