Putney Foodshelf: an incredible sense of community

Our wish for the Putney Foodshelf: to close its doors. This would mean everyone who needs the Foodshelf for supplemental food through tough times is able to survive financially. We won’t see this happen anytime soon. As a matter of fact the number of families we are helping has risen to about 30 per week. That’s about 109 households a month, 223 adults, 121 children totaling 344 people a month.

But the Foodshelf and its recipients are truly lucky. The community we live in supports us well and for that we are thankful.

In 2012 our area schools have supported us in a variety of ways. Landmark College students continue to donate their Sharkbite food credits totaling over $2000. With this credit the Landmark Bookstore manager Kimberely Judd goes shopping for us! We try to stay stocked in those everyday items not covered by foodstamps: toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste.

Recently the Greenwood School sent us a check for $744! They ran an austerity meal program all school year long where they ate a simple rice and beans meal once a week to save money. Fitz Vogt & Associates, their food service company, matched their donation by 50%! The compassion and empathy of these young students and generosity of the foodservice company is wonderful. What an amazing gift.

Our food sources go up and down. Our main source of food comes from the Vermont Foodbank where we purchase food through our member fees. The Grammar School students continue to run can drives monthly supporting us. The US Postal Service Carriers can drive a couple of weeks ago netted us 460 pounds of canned foods to generously replenish our then-low stock. And weekly the Putney Co-op donates yogurts and other dairy products as does the Putney General Store. Our local churches, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and The Putney Friends Meeting have been a solid support to us. And the Putney Fortnightly Club dropped off many bags of canned goods. The Dummerston Girls on the Run just presented us with bags from their can drive. Harmony Circle Farm on Holden Road in Putney has been supporting us with fresh eggs and wonderful green produce. 

In addition, Basketville has sent us huge checks. Other individuals drop off food, garden for us, and send checks. It’s all good!

All of this all helps support our mission:
The Putney Foodshelf provides supplemental healthy food for area people in need.

Thank you everyone for being a neighbor helping YOUR neighbor.

Please feel free to stop in if you are in need of food assistance, to make a donation, to find out about volunteer opportunities, or to just say hello. We are located at the Putney Community Center (10 Christian Square – side entrance) and the hours of operation are 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings and 9-10 a.m. on Saturday mornings. For more information please call 802-387-2120.