Winners of the Lake County Community Co-op Gratitude Raffle include, from left, Vice-Chair Ann Breen, Myra Sherman, Roger Pooleand Director Allen Markowski. Photo by Lori Patotska.

LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Community Co-op celebrated its first anniversary with a potluck and free raffle on Dec. 13.

The Gratitude 2008 gathering hosted more than 30 co-op members and friends. The winners of the raffle received donated items from the co-op community including organic wine, cheese, bread, fresh produce and gift certificates for locally grown produce, as well as gift certificates for advertising with the co-op, all enclosed in the co-op’s newly designed recycled-canvas bags.

Co-op member and marketing communications designer, Kathy Wolden, expressed what a joy it was to give away the bags as gifts of gratitude.

The co-op had its first organizing meeting in January of 2008, from which arose a farmers’ market, buying club, monthly educational series, newsletter and the upcoming community garden at the senior center in Clearlake.

Co-founder JoAnn Saccato expressed wonder and delight at the gathering and quoted Meister Eckhart’s familiar saying, "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was 'thank you,' that would suffice."

The co-op, in celebration of their first anniversary, is launching a month-long membership drive in January for the buying club that includes their canvas bag ($11 retail value) free with a fully paid annual membership of $24.

For more information call 707-993-4270 or go to http://lakeco-op.org.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}