A public statement from the new Anderson Island Food Co-op Steering Committee and Jeff and Joyce Gillette
To Our Anderson Island Neighbors and Friends,
When the Anderson Island General Store closed its doors, our island lost more than just a place to buy milk or fill up the gas tank; we all felt the effect of losing a vital lifeline for our community. We know how deeply this change has impacted daily life for residents and visitors alike, and we share those same feelings of loss and uncertainty.
With the generosity and patronage of a growing number of islanders and active support from property owners and past store owners Jeff and Joyce Gillette, who operated the store from 1979 to 2008, the Anderson Island Food Cooperative is officially under development!
Our goal is simple yet powerful: to build a community-owned cooperative that restores essential grocery, food, and fuel services to our island home. Together, we are creating a place that truly belongs to all of us.
Where we are now
- Startup funding secured: Thanks to dedicated early efforts, the initial funding required to kick-start the Anderson Island Food Co-op is already established.
- A vision focused on our neighbors: We are building a vision for the next chapter focused entirely on reciprocity—a cooperative that benefits its membership community and is led by the people it serves. Stay tuned: there will soon be numerous opportunities to share what you want to see in your new store.
Looking to the future
- Town hall: As soon as feasible, we will schedule a time to sit down with the community, gather questions and insights, and discuss the project.
- Reestablishing fuel services: We are actively working on bringing reliable gas and fuel services back to the island.
- Recreating a gathering place: We recognize that everyone wants to be able to return to the store to gather, connect, find a good sandwich and some fresh produce, or save a trip to town.
- Community ownership and membership drive: Following our initial charter development, we will launch an island-wide membership drive. Every resident will be able to shop here as before. As a co-op, everyone will also have the opportunity to provide further support through a membership that benefits the community and helps guide the co-op into the future.
The Anderson Island Food Co-op Steering Committee is working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this store to life as swiftly and thoughtfully as possible.
Building something enduring will take time. Our grand-opening timeline will be published as soon as we have had the opportunity to build greater certainty around it. It would be incredible to begin serving the community again within six months, but we have a great deal of work to do before determining a realistic timeline.
Thank you for your patience, resilience, voice, and enduring island spirit. We can’t wait to open these doors together and celebrate a bright, sustainable future for Anderson Island.
Warmly,
The Anderson Island Food Co-op Steering Committee and the Gillettes