3% Thursday Program
February 20, 2020

On the third Thursday of each month, New Horizon Co-op donates 3% of grocery sales to local non-profits that help feed our community. In our 2024 fiscal year, we donated $61,217.94 from our 3% Thursday initiative to 21 local organizations!

For 2025, our recipients include:

  • Centre for Young Parents Grande Prairie
  • Catholic Family Services Society of Grande Prairie
  • Salvation Army Grande Prairie
  • Babies Best Start
  • Odyssey House
  • Wapiti Community Support Association
  • Grande Prairie Friendship Centre
  • Grande Prairie Youth Emergency Shelter Society (Sunrise House)
  • Veterans Association Food Bank Grande Prairie
  • Grande Cache Food Bank
  • Grande Cache Transition House
  • Mountain Metis Youth Connections
  • Valleyview Food Bank
  • Sexsmith Food Bank
  • Hythe and District Food Bank
  • Fairview Food Bank
  • Beaverlodge Food Bank
  • Wembley United Church Food Bank
  • Spirit River FCSS
  • Smoky River FCSS
  • Central Peace Food Bank Society


2025 Testimonials: 


Tayo Adegunju with Centre for Young Parents

“The Centre for Young Parents is grateful for the support of CO-OP’s 3% Thursday program, which plays a crucial role in ensuring young parents in our community have access to essential resources. This generous initiative directly impacts our ability to provide food security and create meaningful experiences for the families we serve.
Through this support, we are able to:

🥫 Keep Our Food Pantry Stocked – Many young parents face food insecurity, and having emergency food available can make all the difference. The 3% Thursday program helps us keep our pantry filled with nutritious essentials, ensuring that no young family goes without.

🍎 Provide Snacks for Programs – Engaging young parents in educational and support programs is vital, but we often lack funding to provide food during these sessions. Thanks to CO-OP, we can offer snacks during programs, creating a welcoming and supportive environment for learning and connection.

🎄 Host Special Community Meals – The holidays and year-end celebrations are special times for our families. With 3% Thursday funding, we can purchase the food for our annual Christmas Dinner and Year-End Party, giving young parents and their children an opportunity to share a warm meal and create lasting memories.

The generosity of CO-OP and the community members who participate in 3% Thursday allows us to continue supporting young parents in meaningful ways. Thank you for helping us make a difference! 💙”


Kathy Lambert with Wapiti Community Support Association

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity and support that make it possible for us to serve approximately 200 individuals daily at Wapiti House and the Saint Lawrence Centre. Your contributions help provide nourishing meals, offering not only sustenance but also comfort and dignity to those facing hardship. Every meal served is a reminder that our community cares, and it brings hope to those who need it most. Thank you for your kindness and commitment to making a difference in the lives of so many. Your support is truly life-changing, and we deeply appreciate all that you do.”


Vera Griffin with Veterans Association Food Bank Grande Prairie

“We received monthly gift cards as support monthly. A little over 700$ each. They had a tremendous impact on our organization as they were used to supply and stock the groceries we give out to our local Veterans monthly. Also they were used for gas so we could deliver some of the hampers to the Veterans we have that do not have transportation.
Monetary and groceries gift are needed on a continuing basis and the support from the COOP has been tremendously helpful and we are grateful.”


Daphne Wohlgemuth with Babies’ Best Start

“Babies' Best Start is proud to be a recipient of 3% Thursdays from New Horizon Co-op. This program supports pregnant individuals and families with children aged 0-6 years. One of our primary focuses is providing nutrition education, as well as offering nutritious snacks and meals for our clients during their visits. The support from Co-op makes a significant difference, especially as families report rising housing, utility, and grocery costs.”


Sherri with Grande Cache Food Bank

“On behalf of the Grande Cache Food Bank we would like to send out our gratitude to Co-op.
Over the last few years Co-op has supported us on many levels. One of the biggest ways they have done this, is on their 3% community give back day. We are so thankful for these donations that help our local food bank tremendously. Every single dollar donated goes towards helping us, help others.

Thank you for standing behind our community.”


Tanya Wald with Grande Prairie Youth Emergency Shelter / Sunrise House

“We are a recipient of 3% Thursday. This program has been so important to us in managing our food costs across our programs. We believe everyone deserves healthy meals and snacks but with the increase in food prices we have seen a decrease in food donations. This program has taken so much pressure off our budget and helps ensure we can continue to provide healthy food for our young people accessing our services.”


Christine Potrebenko with Central Peace Food Bank Society

“Our Food Bank serves the G5 region which includes Saddle Hill County, MD, the Town of Spirit River, the Village of Rycroft, and Birch Hills County. Receiving the 3% Co-op cards each quarter greatly helps us buy food to stock our shelves for our clients. It is greatly appreciated!

The Co-op Brown "No More Hunger" bags and the 3% cards we receive are always included in any of our presentations to show your generous support for our Food Bank. Without your support, we could not serve as many clients as we do.”


Makayla Marcotte with Odyssey House Women & Children’s Shelter

“We are incredibly grateful for the support we received through your generous gift cards, which have had a direct and positive impact on our emergency shelter. These gift cards allowed us to provide nutritious and consistent meals for the individuals in our care, ensuring they had the nourishment they needed during a critical time.

Having a dedicated cook in our shelter, we were able to prepare meals tailored to the needs of those we serve, creating a comforting and supportive environment. The ability to access fresh ingredients and other necessary supplies with the gift cards made a significant difference in the quality of food we could offer.

Overall, your support has helped us not only provide basic sustenance but also contribute to the well-being and dignity of our guests. It’s a vital part of the comprehensive care we offer, and the impact is truly felt by everyone who walks through our doors. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference.”


Carla Stordy with Catholic Family Services Society of Grande Prairie

“Catholic Family Services is honored to be a recipient of New Horizon Co-op's 3% Thursday's initiative and Sponsorship for our annual fundraising event. This generous support has played a crucial role in helping us provide vital mental health services to individuals and families in need, fostering a healthier, more resilient community.

Funds raised from our event help subsidize counseling sessions, making mental health care accessible to those who might not otherwise afford it. In 2024, we provided 3,124 sessions, and 83% of sessions were subsidized. Beyond counseling, your support also directly impacts our Christmas Hamper Program, which brings joy to families facing unique situations and financial hardship. In 2024, we provided gifts and food to 46 families in the community (200+ individuals).”





Discover more: