Poverty and Child Care
We will eliminate poverty and hunger from the world and promote support for children.
"CO･OP × Red Cup Campaign"
Since 2014, JCCU and its member co-ops, in cooperation with the Japan Association for the World Food Programme (JAWFP), have conducted the "CO･OP × Red Cup Campaign" to raise funds for the "School Meals Programme," which provides meals to children with limited access to sufficient food. The campaign supported children in the Republic of Ghana and the Kingdom of Cambodia. Since 2020, support has focused on the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. From October 1 to November 10, 2024, a total of 4,015,975 yen was donated.
"CO･OP Core-non Smile School Project"
Since 2010, JCCU and its member co-ops, in cooperation with the Japan Committee for UNICEF, have conducted a UNICEF donation campaign under the theme "CO･OP Core-non Smile School Project" to help improve the educational environment for schoolchildren in the Republic of Angola. From November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024, the campaign raised approximately 17.03 million yen.
Action For Children's Future
"Action For Children's Future" is a movement addressing societal challenges such as child poverty, aiming to foster understanding and empathy through learning and dialogue. Co-ops, local support organizations, and municipal governments register as "Ambassadors for Children's Future," creating opportunities for learning and raising awareness across Japan. As part of this initiative, JCCU and Action for Children's Future provide grants to local organizations supporting children. In FY2024, 40 groups received funding for activities including food assistance, learning support, and creating safe spaces.
JCCU Contributes to Save the Children Japan's "Food Box for Children" Initiative
The "Food Box for Children" initiative, run by Save the Children Japan, was launched in 2020 to help address child poverty and protect children's rights to live and grow. Conducted twice a year during summer and winter school holidays—when school meals are unavailable—the program delivers donated food and other items from companies and organizations to families facing economic hardship. JCCU has supported the initiative and, in summer 2024, contributed for the fifth time by donating 5,000 units of CO・OP Fruit Punch to 5,000 eligible households across Japan.
Promoting Read-Aloud Culture
Co-op Sapporo has supported child-rearing through picture books for over 15 years. In 2024, Co-op Sapporo, JCCU, and three other partners launched the "Everyone's Read-Aloud Picture Book Award" to promote the joy of reading picture books aloud. The award has two categories: "Chosen by Children and Teachers" and "Chosen by Picture Book Lovers." In the first category, 20 selected books are donated to childcare facilities for read-aloud sessions. Based on children's reactions and staff feedback, each facility selects one book, and the overall winner is determined by total votes. Around 2,000 facilities across Japan participated, with the award ceremony scheduled for October 2025.
Children's cafeterias
Miyagi Co-op supports and collaborates with children's cafeterias based on its policies of "supporting children and child-rearing" and "contributing to the social safety net." These cafeterias not only provide free or low-cost meals for children through the efforts of local residents and organizations, but also serve as places for families and office workers who return home late to interact and connect. Miyagi Co-op offers support to both existing cafeteria groups and those seeking to establish new ones.
Food Drive from Home: A Convenient Way to Contribute
Co-op Kyoritsusya conducts a food drive through its home delivery service, allowing members to participate from home. Unlike traditional drives that rely on surplus items from members' homes, participants can simply select designated food items—such as packaged rice, ready-to-eat meals, cup noodles, and soups—and indicate the quantity on their order form. These items are then donated directly to local welfare organizations. This system enables anyone to participate, even without spare food or the means to visit donation sites. In FY2024, the initiative was held twice, collecting 6,164 items worth ¥1,731,258 from 2,105 participants.
Food bank
Since 2016, Co-op Sapporo has been working on a food bank using returned products from home delivery services. Food items returned due to ordering errors, etc., that have no quality problems but have a shelf life of at least one month, are provided free of charge to child-care facilities in Hokkaido. This initiative not only provides food support to children, but also helps to reduce food loss.
Okayama Co-op donates sweets, rice, desserts, etc. to 11 children's homes
"Niji-no-Kai," a voluntary association formed by Okayama Co-op and its business partners, donated sweets, rice, desserts, and other items to 11 children's homes in Okayama Prefecture.