Cooperators in the Community Marks 2 Years

A Discount Program that Embodies the Cooperative Spirit

GreenStar’s Cooperators in the Community program, an opportunity for GreenStar members to volunteer at member-selected local nonprofit organizations and receive a 15.5% discount on their GreenStar purchases, achieved its second year in May 2025. With two dozen nonprofit community partner organizations, the program offers an abundance of opportunities for members to support the vital work of local nonprofits, have a positive impact in the community, and save money when they shop at GreenStar!

“Since 2023, we’ve welcomed a hundred attendees to program orientation,” said GreenStar’s Member Engagement Coordinator and the coordinator for the program, Laura Buttenbaum. “Members from across all generations are participating – about 28% are age 65 or above. Some participants were already volunteering with a community partner organization and then joined the Cooperator program, while others utilized the program as a jumping off point to explore volunteer opportunities.”

One GreenStar member participating in Cooperators in the Community is Mary Chapman, who recently received the honor of Volunteer of the Year by Tompkins County Office for the Aging. She was nominated by Theresa Morehouse, Volunteer Coordinator for Loaves and Fishes, one of GreenStar’s Community Partners and an organization that Mary has volunteered with for about 30 years. She renewed her membership at GreenStar just before the program launched and after hearing about Cooperators from Theresa, Mary enrolled in the program.

“I do a lot of volunteering. It’s an honor to volunteer,” Mary said. “I go to GreenStar at least once a month for flour, spices, herbs from the bulk section, fresh meat and local eggs. That discount means a lot, especially to older people,” Mary said.

Mary is among a dozen Cooperators volunteering at Loaves and Fishes. Through word of mouth, posters, social media, or blurbs in weekly newsletter, Theresa says existing volunteers get excited about the program, viewing the discount as a real incentive and ask questions to get started.

“From high school students to seniors, people are always coming and going, so we never meet our capacity for volunteers to help prepare food, cook, serve, or wash dishes,” Theresa said. “For people with a heart for good food to feed people, this is a great opportunity and great collaboration.”

Sam Queen, Volunteer Coordinator for Finger Lakes ReUse agrees that the program is attractive for returning volunteers.

“I know a number of people that were both volunteering with us and a member at GreenStar, so the program was a win for them,” Sam said. “I also know there’s people that we’ve added since the program started.”

Volunteers at Finger Lakes ReUse perform a variety of tasks – supporting the retail stores, working with Ithaca Fixers Collective, or deconstructing buildings to save usable building materials and reduce landfill waste. There’s ongoing roles to fill or events like Thursday Evening Processing to help sort, price and display items at both store locations.

“We are always in need of volunteers; we can’t keep up with everything coming in and every set of hands is so appreciated,” Sam said. “Cooperators in the Community is an incentive with the volunteer spirit that benefits more than one organization. I really think collaborations like this is going to be the future of philanthropy.”

As the program coordinator, Laura Buttenbaum works directly with nonprofit organizations seeking to become a GreenStar Partner for Change and Community Partner. She also conducts the mandatory program orientations for Cooperators, offering both virtual and in-person options.

“By building strong, mutually beneficial relationships with local nonprofit partners that rely on volunteer support, GreenStar affirms its commitment to building a positive impact in the community. Cooperators in the Community helps create resilience for our vital nonprofit partners, and provides a pathway to affordability for members,” said Laura. “There are many opportunities for members with our current partners that need people with a range of different skills, interests, and availability. I absolutely encourage anyone to explore this program as a way to strengthen our community and save.”

Learn how you can get involved at an upcoming GreenStar Orientation! Click here to learn more.