In April, PACA committed to sharing half of every unrestricted dollar we raised through the end of June within our co-op community. Back in late June, we distributed $12,500 to five cooperative projects in the form of $2,500 grants.

Over the summer, we distributed another $7,500 to three PACA member co-ops. This is cooperative economics and mutual aid in practice, y’all! Learn more about these three co-ops below.

Childspace is a worker-owned early childhood education provider with three locations in West and Northwest Philadelphia. In addition to fulfilling their essential roles during a pandemic, Childspace is also advocating as a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to #SaveChildCare and pass the federal Child Care Is Essential Act.

Project Learn School is an independent cooperative K-8 school in Mount Airy. PLS staff did thorough research on CDC guidelines and Pennsylvania regulations, deliberated, and engaged its community to develop a reopening plan that centers both creativity and care.

South Philly Food Co-op is a start-up community owned grocery store, opening this fall. (Learn what their opening day will be by joining their October 1st general membership meeting, open to the public!) COVID hit when they were about 6 weeks from finishing construction on their store, forcing a slow-down toward that milestone. In the meantime, they’ve gotten creative with launching a Basics Box program for nonperishables, partnering with Bunny Hop and Rowhouse Grocery along the way to distribute food to folks who need it.