Hornby Island Co-op

Our Hornby Island Co-Op does not only provide us with a place to shop for groceries, hardware supplies and a Post Office outlet, but it also provides us with many other services. These little extras are designed to accommodate our members and entice a feeling of pride in our local store and community. However, sometimes we need a reminder of what services are included. 1. Donations at the tills – jars and POS (point of sale) collection of funds for various organizations and for emergency relief such as medical or fire situations. 2. Free Post – a message centre for personal and organizations, plus a spot to leave First Edition and Grapevine submissions. 3. Prescription deliveries twice a week from two pharmacies in Courtenay. 4. Quilt square distribution and collection for the annual fundraiser quilt. 5. Phone Book sales for the local New Horizons fundraiser. 6. The Art Wall – a venue for local artists to display their work for a whole month at a time. There is also space provided to hang the annual quilt show. 7. Customer service will cash cheques for our members (Hornby Co-Op is the only Co-Op that still offers this service!) 8. Postal Outlet with counter service and mail sorting area for rural route delivery person. Unfortunately, this community service does not generate ANY income for the store. Imagine if we had to go to town to buy stamps, send and pickup mail and parcels AND NO First Edition delivery! 9. Lost and Found – articles from all over the island seem to find their way here, including cell phones, cameras, watches, keys et cetera (which are kept safe in the customer service area). 10. Day old newspapers available (if you get to them early) used for fire starter, packaging or maybe just to read. 11. Collection bins set up for Food bank or Book sale fundraiser. 12. Cardboard boxes – saved by request for fruit collection, packaging or moving purposes. 13. Youth support - through summer camp sponsorship, bursaries and youth development fund. 14. Notice boards found both inside and outside the store for community information and organizations (some in glass covered cases). Also posted (inside) are birth announcements and death notices of interest to our community members. 15. Temporary cold storage available for short-term special circumstances. 16. Trucking transport – on occasion the truck can transport goods for others but conditions do apply. 17. Wood stove custom orders are delivered to your door. 18. Quilt hanging space outside during the summer for displaying the community quilt in order to sell fundraiser tickets. 19. Table vendors’ area on the edge of the Ringside and a space for buskers. These activities are managed by the Co-Op staff. 20. Ringside “parkette” providing seating for coffee drinkers and conversationalists. A smokers’ area is provided across the road. 21. Doggie tie-up section is also across the road, in the shade, usually with water provided. 22. And at the Gas Bar…… 23. Table and chairs for lunches or meeting. 24. Sale of tickets to events and Joe King Ball Park memberships. 25. Free windshield wiper installation with purchase. 26. Full service to those who ask (gas pumped, fluids checked and tire pressure checked). 27. Free temporary storage of gas cans for boaters on big Tribune. 28. Free charging of computers, I- phones and other electronic devices. 29. A place for temporary storage of knapsacks for summer visitors. 30. Last but not least, the Co-Op provides Ringside Merchants the opportunity for locals to run small businesses in a central area. Most of these services mentioned (and many more), do NOT generate any revenue for the Co-Op. However, they DO take up valuable staff and management time to facilitate, in order to keep the Co-Op a “Community owned store”. In the next Edition I will include information on donations and sponsorship programs that are also a major part of our Co-Op contributions. Submitted by Chris Olsen Chair, Communications Committee