Food Shelf News – Dec. 19, 2019

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Cookies for the Food Shelf
On Sunday, Dec. 15, KidsCookVT celebrated the holiday season by baking Christmas cookies for the Charlotte Food Shelf. Charlotte Congregational Church Pastor Susan Cooke Kittredge was on hand to help roll and decorate the sugar cookies. So many cookies were made, kids took some home to share with their families. A fun time was had by all. Photos by Rachel Stein.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”14099,14100,14101,14102,14103,14104,14105″][vc_column_text]“This world is just a little place, just the red in the sky, before the sun rises, so let us keep fast hold of hands, that when the birds begin, none of us be missing.”

This is one paragraph from a letter from Emily Dickinson to her cousins Louisa and Frances Lavinia Norcross, 1860. It seems especially apt to think all the people keeping a fast hold of hands in our community this season, reaching out to make sure no one is missing.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to many people.

Thank you to the Flying Pig for their Snowflake books that they generously donate one book for each of the kids in our food shelf families and to WowToyz in Vergennes who generously donate toys for every child.

Thank you to the Charlotte Central School (CCS) staff, students and families for the decorated holiday baskets, to Kristen Gerson for coordinating this effort and to Kathy Ridge for all the prepackaged granola that went into the Thanksgiving baskets.

Thank you to the Charlotte/Shelburne Rotary and coordinator Todd Whittaker for the hams; to the Repair Café; to Giving Tree Shoppers who have provided a “wish gift” for the children; to the generous donations of toys, gift cards, socks, mittens and personal items dropped in the toy boxes at the Charlotte Senior Center, CCS, Charlotte Library, Spear’s Corner Store, Philo Ridge Farm, Charlotte Congregational Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Thank you for the movie tickets for children, again provided by our Secret Santa, and for the gift cards from Louise McCarren for kids who missed out on the giving tree and another gift in honor of her sister Mollie’s birthday; to Alexandra Lehmann for all the ornaments she made and sold to benefit the Food Shelf; to Jason Harvey for venison and turkey; to Charlotte Fire and Rescue; to Tracey Beaudin for decorated holiday cookies that are almost too pretty to eat; to Holly Rochefort and her dedicated team of bakers.

Thank you to SCHIPS for a grant for fuel and utility assistance.

Thank you for the financial gifts from the Charlotte Congregational Church and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Anne Castle, Evan Metropoulos, Kathleen & William Posey, Myron & Lenore Sopher, Mark & Eleanor Capeless, Ian & Larry Sudbay, Karen & David Hurwitt, John & Carolyn Kovac, Heather & John Dwight, Lell & Rex Forehand, Scott & Lynne Jaunich , Kirk & Loretta Walters, Tom Cosinuke & Annie Kelton, Diane & Peter Rosenfeld, Jeanette Thibault, Remo & Donna Pizzagalli, Henri Proutt, Nancy Wood and Aileen Kraus

Thank you to volunteers who set up the Thanksgiving baskets: Nancy Bloch, Cindy Tyler, Pat Rodar, John Lavigne, Bill Doris, Ken Oboz, Maj Eisinger, Louise McCarren, Holly Rochefort, Ron Purdum, Diane Cote, Sandy Armell, Tara Mullen, Cindy Robinson, Susanna Kahn, Liz DesLauriers, Toby Tyler, Kenneth Santor and Karen Doris.

We offer extended thanks for this huge community effort involving so many organizations, neighborhoods and individuals.

The Holiday Basket schedule
Friday, December 20: Basket/toy box set up, 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 21: Basket pick up, 8:00 to 10 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.

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 acknowledgment will be sent to that person. 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 and times are posted on bulletin boards in the Charlotte Congregational Church Hall and 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]