IOU Corvallis fundraises and distributes gift cards to people with low or no income. Participants may use these gift cards:
- when they are needed (no lines or scheduling)
- where they are needed (local restaurants, the grocery co-op, and other local food businesses)
- to buy appropriate food for themselves and their families (you choose what your family needs)
IOU Corvallis also helps the local economy by distributing gift cards to locally owned businesses so people can pay full price for food who may not otherwise be able to afford to do so. The gift cards are distributed through local start-up Kuto. Kuto keeps more money local by cutting credit card fees that businesses must pay to accept credit cards from customers. In this way, Kuto helps to create a more resilient local economy.