What are the benefits to becoming a member, and why should I pay money to shop in a grocery store?

Community Ownership: Common Ground is Champaign/Urbana's only community-owned grocery store, giving all of its members a democratic voice in how the co-op is run and in how its capital is used. The co-op's values are a reflection of the needs and desires of its membership, not of someone's bottom line. Community ownership preserves and celebrates what is unique and local and offers an alternative to corporate hegemony.

Participatory Democracy: As a member of Common Ground, you have a vote: our 7-person board of directors is elected by the membership, and the membership must ratify the bylaws which govern all co-op decisions. You are also eligible to run for a board position yourself.

Economic Justice: Being a member of a co-op is a powerful way to use your economic voice to support an alternative to profit-driven corporations. By making an equity investment in the co-op and spending your grocery dollars here, you are making a difference. Every dollar invested in or spent at a co-op is a vote for supporting local farmers and producers, the fair trade movement, and the strength of your local economy.

Working Membership: All members have the opportunity to work at the co-op, performing a variety of essential tasks in the store. In return, working members receive discounts of 5% to 15% on all their purchases, depending on the length of their weekly shifts. Being a working member not only earns you discounts, it makes you part of the lifeblood of the Common Ground community. It's a wonderful way to invest in your co-op, to get to know folks, and become a vital part of your community.
Bulk Discounts: When you special order items in bulk, you get a special member discount of 10% off that item's regular co-op price. Bulk purchases are a great way to save money and to use less packaging, thus walking more lightly on the earth.