Food Shelf News – July 25, 2019
A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.
– Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
This month we give thanks to people who realize that in offering a little lift to others we also lift ourselves.
Take a lunch
We encourage children and youth to pick up a tasty and healthy lunch bag, available at the Charlotte Congregational Church, Spear’s Corner Store and the Charlotte Library. Kudos to the people preparing these bags. Clearly, they put a lot of research into the contents, finding things that will keep without refrigeration, things that are healthful, and things that kids will like. Here’s what a sample lunch bag contains: organic juice drink, Goldfish, Cup Noodles, Vermont Beef & Pork stick, packaged pear bits with juice, granola bar.
So a hungry child can eat almost everything in the bag on the spot—and take the Cup Noodles home, add a cup of hot water and then slurp away.
No child in Charlotte should be hungry, and we thank Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen for spearheading the financial support for this effort.
Another thank you
Kids Cook VT is a summer camp offering kids cooking experience in a social justice program. The Charlotte Food Shelf has been one of the beneficiaries of these kids’ talents. Children offered homemade granola in beautifully decorated sealed pouches and, besides that, served coffee and muffins on a Food Shelf morning.
In our age of rightful concern about kids spending too much time on their phones and other screens, it is good to see this small example of children learning to be active participants in an energetic model of people helping people in the community.
Of interest, one Kids Cook VT creation is switchel, something people in the colonial days drank. It’s an old-fashioned Gatorade consisting of maple syrup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and ginger. Refreshing and super healthy besides.
Thank you!
We are grateful for financial support from Margaret Berlin.
Important distribution dates at the Charlotte Congregational Church
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 28: 5:00 p.m – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 15, 29: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Financial assistance
As a reminder, the Food Shelf has some funds available for emergency assistance with fuel and electric bills. You may contact Pat Rodar at (802) 425-3083 if you need assistance.
We are available 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 Pat at (802) 425-3083.
For more information call Karen at (802) 425-3252.
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. Should you wish to honor someone with a donation, a special acknowledgement will be sent to that person.
Please remember that although diapers are needed it’s better to give money. The Food Shelf can buy diapers at a discount and be sure to get the right sizes.
Checks may be mailed to Charlotte Food Shelf & Assistance, P.O. Box 83, Charlotte, VT 05445. Thank you.
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. Please check expiration dates. 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 on bulletin boards in the Charlotte Congregational Church Hall, at the Charlotte Library and at the Charlotte Senior Center. You may also call the Food Shelf AT (802) 425-3252 for a recording of the distribution times.
Pop-up Cafe
On Friday, August 2, campers from the second session of Kids Cook VT’s summer camp will host a pop-up cafe in the vestry of the Charlotte Congregational Church. The cafe will be held from 12-2 and will feature sandwiches and some of the campers’ favorite meals they’ve cooked during the week. The cafe is “pay as you wish,” and funds raised will go toward the costs of food for the camp. Kids Cook VT is designed to raise awareness around issues of food insecurity in Vermont. Campers will be providing meals to new American families at the Janet S. Mundt Family Room in Burlington, the Charlotte Food Shelf, and Harbor Place.