You’ve probably heard someone say “a little change can go a long way”. This week, Oregon Black Pioneers saw firsthand just how true that is. During the month of July, shoppers at Astoria Co-op in Astoria, Oregon collectively contributed over $5100 for OBP!
Astoria Co-op offered OBP the opportunity to be featured as the non-profit of the month for their “Change for Community” program. The program works as follows: for an entire month, shoppers are given the option at checkout to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar in support of the featured non profit.
While OBP was originally asked to consider February for the program, the organization requested an alternate month instead. “We’re so grateful for all the Black History Month support we received each February,” OBP Executive Director stated, “but that leaves us with huge fundraising gaps during the summer”. The ability to be featured as the non-profit of the month for July was a huge boost during what are historically OBP’s slowest months for donations.
The $5100+ raised for OBP by Astoria Co-op shoppers represents the largest monthly payout for their Change for Community program to date! The gift is also the largest single donation OBP has received in 2021.
This powerful act of generosity by the people of Astoria and Clatsop County not only proves that small donations really do add up, but also demonstrates how valuable Oregon’s Black history is to people all across the state.
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Oregon Black Pioneers is an educational non-profit based in Salem. Since 1993, OBP has used research, exhibitions, and public programs to tell the seldom-told stories of people of African descent in Oregon. OBP’s vision is to be the premier source for information about Oregon’s African American heritage. For more information please visit oregonblackpioneers.org.