2024 marks the 20th year of 4% Friday! That’s twenty whole years and hundreds of local organizations supported because of you! In fact, thanks to you and our ongoing 4% Friday Community Shopping Days, we have donated over $510,000 all-time!

Food security and food access continue to be a focus for 4% Friday – feeding our community is paramount! In 2024, you can shop to support groups whose work is flourishing in part to 4% Friday: Immigrant Resources & Immediate Support, New Earth Recovery, and Children of the Valley. United General’s work through its farm-to-school programs in Sedro-Woolley and Concrete is having a lasting impact on those it serves. We’re also excited to support two groups new to 4% Friday: Vamos Outdoors and Laundry Love.

So, be sure to mark your calendars, stock up, and shop big on 4% Fridays to give back with us in a big way!

Finney Farm Seed Distribution – January 26

Finney Farm produces and distributes organic, heirloom, open-pollinated seed at no charge to help increase food access, build food sovereignty, and preserve biodiversity.

Finney Farm will use the funds from 4% Friday to purchase packaging materials for their annual seed distribution project. This includes the soil amendments for their no-till production as well as the distribution costs including fuel, shipping and printing costs for educational publications to share with the seeds.

Skagit County Meals on Wheels – February 23

Meals on Wheels is a lifeline to better health, reduced isolation, and the chance for seniors to live with dignity and independence in their own homes.

Funds from 4% Friday will be utilized to assist with the purchase of a new walk-in freezer at Meals for Wheels’ central kitchen location in Burlington.

North Cascades Mountain School – March 22

North Cascades Institute's mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. The Institute's Mountain School program provides the benefits of immersive outdoor education to 1,000+ Skagit Valley 5th graders each year.

Funds from 4% Friday will support tuition subsidies for Skagit Valley 5th graders to attend Mountain School, an immersive multi-day experience that has served more than 40,000 regional students since 1990.

Sedro-Woolley Farm to School – April 26

The mission of Sedro Woolley Farm to School is to grow healthier, more informed, and empowered eaters by integrating hands-on, food-based learning at all grade levels.

Funds received through 4% Friday will be used to further Farm to School education efforts in the Sedro Woolley School District (SWSD). Specifically, funds will be used to integrate garden-based composting systems into garden education programs at all four participating SWSD elementary schools.

Skagit Gleaners – May 26

Skagit Gleaners' purpose is to provide food, household merchandise and clothing to frugal, waste conscious and working families. Skagit Gleaners does this by rescuing surplus food and products from local businesses, keeping such items out of overflowing landfills.

Skagit Gleaners will use the funds to support their newly implemented community-led garden project.

Vamos Outdoors Project – June 28

Vamos serves Latine, Migrant, Multilingual and Newcomer youth and families in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Vamos supports community building by providing meaningful experiences to youth through outdoor, recreational, and educational activities

Funds from 4% Friday will be utilized to maintain student enrollment across all of Vamos’ programs, including mountain biking, snowboarding. indoor and outdoor rock climbing, swimming, Fiesta de Libros, backpacking, boating, nature-based park activities and community celebrations.

Food to Go – July 26

Food to Go is a weekend backpack food program serving children in the Anacortes School District. Food to Go provides 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners, healthy snacks and fresh fruit every Friday to children who are food insecure over the weekends.

All donations to Food to Go are used only to purchase food for the children.

The Holding Space Birth Center – August 23

Founded by two female Navy veterans in 2021, The Holding Space Birth & Wellness Cooperative focuses on the life transitions of women, providing an environment of awareness, compassion, and safety by offering affordable, comprehensive, and personalized support groups and health and wellness education to the community.

Funds from 4% Friday will be used to maintain The Holding Space’s current programming, which is free to community members.

Children of the Valley – September 27

Children of the Valley provides daily, after school, instructor-led academic assistance, enrichment activities, social-emotional learning opportunities, and help so families can meet basic needs.

Funds from 4% Friday will be used to support COV’s garden to table enrichment program which will provide the necessary supplies needed to grow and harvest food in a community garden.

Anacortes Laundry Love – October 25

The purpose of Anacortes Laundry Love is to wash the clothes and bedding of no/low income families in Anacortes, brightening their lives through love, dignity, and detergent.

Funds from 4% Friday will be used to pay for anyone in need of fresh clothes and bedding. Currently, Anacortes Laundry Love offers laundry services once a month for 2 hours.

Immigrant Resources and Immediate Support (IRIS) – November 15

The mission of IRIS is to connect immigrants with existing resources in the community and provide immediate assistance to those experiencing a period of crisis.

100% of the funds from 4% Friday will be used for direct support for IRIS recipients include shopping trips for food and hygiene supplies, mattresses, coats, bedding, fees for immigrant consultations, payments for overdue utility bills, supplies for newborn babies, and more.

New Earth Recovery – December 20

New Earth Recovery (NER) offers safe, high-accountability and substance-free housing for women and men who want to maintain their sobriety and find healing from the wounds that have contributed to cycles of addiction.

Funds from 4% Friday will help strengthen NER’s garden internship and flower share membership program.

Meet The 2024 4% Friday Recipients