Lucky’s Longmont 'Wooden Dimes' Sacks $3,400

Lucky’s Market in Longmont, Colo., has made its first donations from its “wooden dime” program, which awards shoppers with a 10-cent credit each time they bring their own reusable grocery bag(s). More than $3,400 was raised and donated to three local charities selected by the store’s Facebook fans: Longmont Humane Society ($1,861); St. Vrain Valley Schools ($1,020); and the Tiny Tim Center ($540).

“Wooden dimes” is a year-round activity in each of the Boulder-based natural grocer’s three stores, which allows shoppers to either use the $.10 credit toward their own bill or donate it to one of three charities selected quarterly through a Facebook contest.

The program is just one of the community efforts run by Lucky’s Market in each market’s community. Opened just weeks before the flash floods earlier this year, the Longmont store found itself in a real-life stress test, serving lunches and holding burger benefits for its new neighbors.

“A store is in a community, and we believe in being part of ours,” said co-founder Bo Sharon. “We thank our shoppers in Longmont and elsewhere for sharing their wooden dimes this season, and voting on the charities that receive them.”

Lucky’s invites schools and nonprofits in all three of its communities where its store are located, including Boulder and Longmont, Colo., and Columbus, Ohio. Three more Lucky's Market stores will open in 2014, including in Billings, Mont., and St. Louis and Columbia, Mo., the latter of which is set to open on Jan. 15.