Food Shelf News

Families in every corner of Charlotte are very busy preparing for Thanksgiving baskets. CCS students in  kindergarten through 4th grade are decorating boxes, shopping for groceries, baking and creating a special Thanksgiving meal. A turkey for each family will be donated by the Charlotte and Shelburne Rotary, a tradition started many years ago. A special thanks to Kris Gerson for coordinating the effort at CCS and Todd Whitaker, Rotary member, for coordinating with the Shelburne Market on behalf of the Food Shelf.

Please join us to assemble the Thanksgiving baskets for approximately 30 Charlotte families. We’ll meet in the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry on Friday, November 17, from 8:00 a.m. until about 10:00 a.m.  This is a festive and fun occasion and all are welcome. The baskets will be distributed to families in need the following morning. Please also mark your calendars for Friday, December 15, same place and time, to assemble the Christmas/Holiday baskets. Bring your friends and just show up, we love the help!

The Holiday Wishing Trees will go up soon at the Charlotte Congregational Church and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Everyone is welcome to pick a tag indicating a child’s holiday toy wish from the tree. You may wrap the gifts and attach the wish tag, then drop the gifts back at the church some time before Friday, December 15, when the baskets are prepared.

Holiday gift idea
As the holiday season approaches, consider a donation to the Food Shelf in honor or memory of friends and family. It’s also the perfect idea for teacher gifts! Checks may be mailed to the address indicated below. We will mail a confirmation/acknowledgment to any address provided, on nice holiday-themed stationery/cards.

Thank you
The community gardens at the Congregational Church and the Charlotte Library have been put to bed for the winter. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped with planting, weeding and harvesting. A big thanks goes out to Andy and Birgit Deeds for the large donation of meat. Thank you to the Charlotte Organic COOP and Anne Castle for their continued support and to Tia Dinnan and family for fresh veggies and face and body soaps. Thank you to Susan and James Hyde, Janet Morrison and Susan and Hans Ohanian for their sustaining support. And thank you to Diane Cote and family for toddler clothes.

Will you volunteer?
We are looking for volunteers who can act as substitutes for our distribution days as well as for volunteers to help us stack shelves once a month. Please call Karen Doris at (802) 425-3252 if you can help. This is a wonderful opportunity to work with a small group of committed individuals who are making a difference at a local level.

Wish list
We appreciate donations of healthy after-school snacks for children, such as dried fruit, granola bars, instant oatmeal packs, butter-free popcorn, salt-free nuts, canned fruit in juice, peanut butter, juice boxes (no sugar added) and low-sodium soups. In addition we need spaghetti sauce, crackers, Cheerios and Rice Krispie cereal, pancake mix and tea. Thank you!

New Facebook Page
“Like” us at our new Facebook page, Charlotte Community Food Shelf and Assistance, to see photos and get updates on all the Food Shelf activities.

Donations
We are a volunteer organization, so all donations you make to the Food Shelf go directly for food or assistance to our local neighbors in need. Thank you so much for considering donating today. Checks may be mailed to Charlotte Food Shelf & Assistance, P.O. Box 83, Charlotte, VT 05445.

Donated food drop-off locations
All nonperishable food donations may be dropped off at the Charlotte Library, the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (main entrance) or at the Food Shelf during the distribution mornings. We request that all fresh foods be dropped off at the Food Shelf before the Wednesday distribution hours or before 7:30 a.m. on the Thursday distribution mornings.

The Charlotte Food Shelf is located on the lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry.  Distribution days and times are posted below as well as on the bulletin board in the Charlotte Congregational Church Hall. You may also call the Food Shelf number at (802) 425-3252 for a recording of the distribution times.

We are open to all community residents. Privacy is very important and respected in our mission of neighbor helping neighbor.

For emergency food call John at (8020 425-3130.
For emergency assistance (electricity, fuel) call Cindi at (802) 425-3234.
For more information call Karen at (802) 425-3252.

Important Upcoming 2017/2018 Charlotte Food Shelf Distribution Dates
Friday, November 17, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Thanksgiving baskets set up by volunteers
Saturday November 18, 11:00 a.m. Families pick up baskets
Wednesdays, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursdays, Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 15, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Christmas/holiday baskets set up by volunteers
Saturday, Dec. 16, 8:30 a.m. Families pick up basket.