Do you remember why you chose membership with your local cooperative? It may be among many reasons shared by 130 million people who have also chosen cooperatives, but it most likely has something to do with the common philosophy of people helping people.Unlike other businesses, cooperatives are not-for-profit, democratically controlled, volunteer-run, member-owned enterprises. They exist to serve their members, and that level of service remains high even during even the toughest times. Instead of issuing stock or paying dividends to outside shareholders, co-ops provide value to their members through their level of customer services and membership checks at the end of each year.
