City Market Donates Proceeds from 20th Annual Tree Sale

For the past 20 years, City Market has held a COTS Tree Sale to benefit Burlington’s Committee on Temporary Shelter. This year, City Market once again sold fresh balsams from Moffatt’s Tree Farm in Craftsbury, Vermont. The Co-op sold 660 trees from Wednesday, November 29 through Friday, December 8 and the net proceeds were donated to COTS. City Market staff, Co-op Members, and community volunteers assisted customers with trees throughout the sale.

This Annual Tree Sale has truly become a community event with almost 90 volunteers working 248 volunteer shifts and community members supporting COTS through tree purchases and additional donations. Burlington’s Committee on Temporary Shelter is Vermont’s largest service provider to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They are a nationally recognized, Vermont nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, services, housing and prevention outreach to families and children.

John Tashiro, City Market’s General Manager shares that, “We’re proud to be in our 20th year with this impactful community event. It takes such a cross-section of City Market staff, Member volunteers and community members to make this annual event such a success. Support of the community in this and many other ways is what sets City Market, as a cooperative, apart from other grocers. COTS’ staff work tirelessly to make a difference for our community members this winter and all throughout the year; we’re honored to be able to offer them a donation to support this work.”

Tashiro presented a check totaling $10,500 to COTS Director of Development & Communications Becky Holt this week. The annual Tree Sale to benefit COTS has been held at the Co-op for the past 20 years, bringing the total donation to over $136,000. If you missed the tree sale and would like to donate to COTS, please visit them online at www.COTSonline.org/how-you-can-help. COTS is also City Market’s 40% December Rally for Change partner; all month long, customers can round up their orders at each register to benefit COTS.

About City Market/Onion River Co-op: The Onion River Co-op is a community-owned food cooperative, with over 13,000 Members, selling wholesome food and other products while building a vibrant, empowered community and a healthier world, all in a sustainable manner. With two locations in Burlington, Vermont, City Market provides a large selection of organic and conventional foods and thousands of local and Vermont-made products. Visit City Market, Onion River Co-op online at www.CityMarket.coop.