Food Shelf News

Holiday preparations
Please join us to assemble the holiday/Christmas baskets for approximately 30 Charlotte families. We’ll meet in the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry on Friday, Dec.15, from 8 until about 10 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. Bring your friends and just show up, we love the help!

The Frank Beck family and Wow Toyzs will be donating age-appropriate toys for each child again this year, and the Giving Tree shoppers from Charlotte Congregational Church and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel are busy making a child’s wish come true. The Flying Pig book store will be sponsoring the Snowflake book program again this year to include children’s books in the holiday baskets. You can pick out a book or leave it to the staff at the Flying Pig to select just the right one. Thank you to all for your time and generosity.

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.

Baking for the Food Shelf
Holly Rochefort will be starting a local chapter of “Hunger is Hard, Baking is Easy” and hopes to provide fresh baked goods year-round at the Charlotte Food Shelf. We would like to include these items in the holiday baskets that will be assembled on Dec. 15, so we would love your donation by Thursday, Dec.  14. Items can be dropped off at Holly’s house (86 Spear Street) or at the Food Shelf. Please label your item and indicate if it contains nuts (for allergies).  Holly is also available to pick up your items if needed. Please contact her at 802-238-8035 if you are interested in baking or have any questions . She will also be looking for ongoing bakers (as much or as little as you can help). Everyone deserves a homemade sweet treat for the holidays!

Thank you
Twenty-five boxes were distributed to Charlotte families for Thanksgiving. The boxes were overflowing with everything needed for a lovely Thanksgiving meal plus a few extras! Thank you to CCS students and families for decorating boxes, grocery shopping, baking and creating a special Thanksgiving box of goodies. The Charlotte and Shelburne Rotary donated a turkey for each family, 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.  Thank you to the volunteers who helped assemble baskets: Katharine Cohen, John Lavigne, Ken Oboz, Lynn Cluff, Tara Mullen, Mia Sloan, Diane Cote, Susan Ohanian, Holly Rochefort, Liz Foster, Cindy Tyler, Bill Doris, Karen Doris, Kerrie Pughe, Mary Ellen Hebert, Ellen Evans, Garrett Sadler, Sue Hall, Alaina Murphy, Nancy Calcagni, Holly Palmer, Sandy Armell, Peter Richardson, Cindi Robinson, Katie Shattie, Renny Manning, Alice McEnaney, Dicey Manning, Libby Manning, Payton Shattie, and Treson McEnaney.

Thank you for the $179 donation from the Repair Cafe, hosted by Transition Town Charlotte, the Charlotte Grange and the Charlotte Library.

We appreciate the support from the following people: Jeffery and Martha Small in honor of Pati Naritomi’s birthday, Maurice Harvey and Mary Mead, Evan and Catherine Metropoulos, Charlotte Organic Coop, the Patricia Sulva Family in memory of Norm Ziegelman, Raymond and Eileen Curtis, Luella Aube and Jeanette Myers-Whitney, and Waitsfield Champlain Valley Telecom.

We appreciate the generous donations from the Crosswinds neighborhood (in lieu of a neighborhood gift exchange) from Kathleen and William Posey, Myron and Lenore Sopher, Mark and Eleanor Capeless, Jan and Larry Sudbay, Karen and David Hurwitt, John and Carolyn Kovac, Heather and John Dwight, and Lell and Rex Forehand.

Will you volunteer?
We are looking for volunteers who can act as substitutes for our distribution days, as well as 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 Krispies cereal, pancake mix and tea. Thank you!

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/times are posted in this newspaper and on the bulletin board in the Charlotte Congregational Church hall. You may also call the Food Shelf number (425-3252) for a recording of the distribution times.

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.

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

Charlotte Food Shelf Distribution Dates
Friday, Dec. 15, 8 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Christmas/Holiday basket set up by volunteers.
Saturday, Dec. 16, 8:30 a.m. Families pick up baskets.
Wednesdays, Jan. 3 and 17, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thursdays, Jan. 4 and 18, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

The Charlotte Food Shelf is located on the lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry.