A New Chapter for Anderson Island

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.

That is why we are so thrilled, hopeful, and proud to share some wonderful news: With the generosity and patronage of a growing number of islanders and active support from property owner and past store owner (1979-2008), the Gillettes, the Anderson Island Food Cooperative (AIFC) is officially under development!

Our goal is simple yet powerful: to build a community-owned cooperative that restores essential grocery, food, and fuel services back 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 kickstart the AIFC is already established!
• A Vision Being Built Focused on Our Neighbors: We are building a vision for the next chapter that is focused entirely on reciprocity, building a co-operative that must benefit its membership community and is led by the people you support. Stay tuned, as soon there will 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 and gather questions, insight, and discuss the project.
• Reestablishing Fuel Services: We are actively working on bringing reliable gas and fuel services back to the island.
• Recreate a Gathering Place: We recognize that everyone wants to be able to return to the store to gather, to connect, to find a good sandwich and some fresh produce, or save a trip to town.
• Community Ownership & 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. And as a co-op, everyone will also have the opportunity to support further through a membership that benefits the community, helping guide the co-op into the future.

Thank you for your patience, your resilience, your voice, and your enduring island spirit. We can't wait to open these doors together and celebrate a bright, sustainable future for Anderson Island.