Care about all people in the community

By Jennifer Angerer

Giving back to the community is an important part of New Pioneer Food Co-op's mission. One of our favorite ways to contribute each year is through the Iowa Center for AIDS Resources & Education, or ICARE, pancake breakfast.

This year, despite the economic downturn that is affecting all of us, New Pioneer continues to support local non-profits because we believe in local from every angle - supporting growers, producers, businesses, worthy causes and helping people in our community. It makes us all stronger. Our continued support is an investment in our community.

New Pioneer has been involved with ICARE for 23 years. ICARE was established by a group of volunteers in 1986 in the basement of an Iowa City church. At that time, HIV/AIDS carried with it a strong social stigma and was viewed as a disease resulting in painful death, usually within months. ICARE was founded to provide education on how to avoid infection and support for those affected.

In 1987, New Pioneer joined forces with ICARE and created the New Pioneer/ICARE Pancake Breakfast. John Higgins, New Pioneer's general manager and ICARE board member, had a vision of supporting the community in areas where others hesitated. HIV/AIDS was such a worthy cause.

New Pioneer's focus on contributing to needy, worthwhile organizations in the community has been a hallmark of its donations program and has distinguished us as an active contributor to the development of social services in our area.

Back in the late '80s, HIV was a new and feared disease. There was a lot of incorrect information on how it was spread and whether it reflected some moral failing. John asked, “How do we as a culture respond?”

At that time the U.S. population was not responding very well. But John had faith that the Iowa City/Coralville community was different from the general population. He felt New Pioneer members cared about all the people in our community.

John got the energy going! He suggested that New Pioneer and ICARE put on the best gourmet breakfast ever imagined. Twenty-three years later, that energy is still strong, with the support of a number of other local businesses and volunteers.

Join us from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 6 to show your support for ICARE. This year, we are at the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, so rain or shine, we're covered. Visit www.icareiowa.org for ticket, event and volunteer information.

Jenifer Angerer is marketing manager for member-owned New Pioneer Co-op in Iowa City. Comments: jangerer@newpi.coop