Our Story
Our Island Club - Buy Local MV is an alliance of Martha’s Vineyard Island businesses, organizations and residents with a mission to grow, support and maintain a strong and vibrant Island economy.
The club, founded in 2005 by Jonathan Bernstein and Geoff Rose with the mission “to assist and ensure the diverse fabric of the community” launched a discount program for year-round Island residents, offering substantial savings at hundreds of Island Businesses while donating a percentage of
all proceeds to Island charities.
Community Contributions
Through the years, Our Island Club has contributed in many ways to the community.
Our Island Club TV
Partners Geoff and Jonathan co-produced Our Island Club TV, a local television series through MVTV. Designed to reflect the community, Bernstein, an award winning filmmaker, directed the stories of beloved island residents that highlighted the unique and diverse fabric of the island.
Watch episodes HERE.
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Provided Free Memberships
The club provided hundreds of free memberships to residents of Island Elderly Housing, Dukes County Regional Housing , MVRHS Students, and clients of Vineyard Healthcare Access, The Food Pantry, Serving Hands and The Red Stocking Fund. It continues to offer free memberships to qualified residents.
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Island Angels
With its Island Angels program, Our Island Club matched each donation for membership, giving families in need access to free memberships and savings. The program was sponsored by Martha's Vineyard Insurance.
To date, Our Island Club - Buy Local MV has contributed over $800,000 to island charities and scholarships.
Youth Programs Fund
Our Island Club provided scholarships for low income families with pre-school aged children to attend island pre-school programs, and supported summer programs for children ages 2-11 at MV Museum, Featherstone Center for the Arts, The FARM Institute, Sense of Wonder Creations, Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, and the MV Boy's & Girl's Club.
Our Scholarship Program
Our long running Scholarship Program, funded through 10% of all annual membership fees and additional private donations, supports graduating High School Seniors in their pursuit of higher education. Our Island Club awards scholarships to Martha's Vineyard Regional High School or Martha's Vineyard Charter School seniors pursuing a four year college degree or a vocational program.
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The scholarships are awarded based on financial need first, and second, academic performance, through the MVRHS Scholarship Program and through the Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation.
A complete list of Our Island Club scholarship recipients can be found HERE.
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Why We're Here
The median income of the year round population on Martha’s Vineyard is significantly lower than the state median yet the cost of living is 57% higher than the national average.
A More Sustainable Island
In 2019 Our Island Club strengthened its mission and focus as Buy Local Martha's Vineyard.
Today, the program continues to encourage and provide opportunities for entrepreneurs, as well as incentives
and discounts to year-round Island residents when they buy from participating Buy Local businesses instead of national and global chains.
Why Buy Local?
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Keeps more money circulating within the local Island economy.
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Access to unique quality and diverse products.
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Helps create and support local jobs and wages.
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Builds face to face relationships with your community.
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Better for the environment. By decreasing your use of shipping packaging, cardboard, and plastic you reduce your carbon footprint.
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Easier exchanges and returns.
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Helps support local artisans, farmers, and entrepreneurs.
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No shipping costs. Also eliminates the frustration of trying to track down UPS or Fedex to see where your package ended up.
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Better customer service.
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Helps support and maintain the distinctive character of our Island towns.
