It is The Merc Co+op's donations policy that we "will not financially support organizations that permit the exclusion of a group based on their race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or lifestyle."

Towards the end of July, a member of our co-op community made us aware of an article in which Michael Schuttloffel, the executive director of Kansas Catholic Conference, is quoted as having said the following about Catholic Charities, our July Change for our Community recipient.

"Adoption agencies affiliated with Catholic Charities place children only with a married mother and father."
"If they were required to place children with same-sex couples, Catholic Charities in Kansas would likely stop offering adoption services..."

The local Catholic Charities' Asset Development Department that submitted the Change application (in support of their financial literacy programming) verified that while they do not discriminate who receives their resources, the organization does adhere to the "Catholic Social Teaching" that would prevent adoption by same-sex couples.

As this stance is not in alignment with our donations guidelines, our Marketing & Outreach Department with the input of the Change for our Community Selection Committee (comprised of co-op employees) decided to rescind the funds collected in the month of July from Catholic Charities and donate them to the first runner up applicant from our pool of 2021 applications, the Lawrence and Kansas City chapters of the NAACP.

Founded Feb. 12. 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, campaigning for equal opportunity and conducting voter mobilization. From the ballot box to the classroom, the thousands of dedicated workers, organizers, leaders, and members whom make up the NAACP continue to fight for social justice for all Americans.
Our local mission is to continue to strive for equality within the Lawrence community, to increase voter registration, and to continue to educate our community on issue that effect them.

We recognize that local non-profit organizations rely on these Change funds for their programming, and this is not a decision we take lightly. We respect the variety of resources and services that Catholic Charities provides within our regional community, including their financial sustainability and education programs, food assistance and their work with New Roots for Refugees, one of our previous Change for our Community recipients and hosted CSAs. We will continue to find ways to assist those in need of their resources.