As temperature rises, need for food shelf donations rises, too

As I write this, the thermometer reads 91 degrees. The rise in temperatures we are experiencing this week brings to mind the rise in food prices we are also experiencing.

The United States Department of Agriculture predicts that the cost of meats, poultry and fish will increase about 9 percent in 2022. In many cases, wages have not kept pace with increases in the cost of food and fuel.

The food shelf is privileged to provide assistance and food to our neighbors, mitigating the rise in food prices and fluctuations in fuel prices. The all-volunteer food shelf is totally dependent on donations and we are grateful for the strong community support we receive. We receive 80-90 percent of our financial support during holiday giving. We so appreciate the much-needed gifts that keep our mission of “neighbors helping neighbors” going during the heat of summer and throughout the year.

This month, we are grateful to the Weezie Foundation, Deborah Cook and Beth Merritt for charitable donations, and to Jen and Jorden Wilson, who donated their fresh veggie share from Stony Loam Farm. David Quickel of Stony Loam farm has added lettuce and zucchini for every family. We also gratefully received a large donation of beautiful fresh organic vegetables from Katie Rose and Head Over Fields Farm, whose food stand is located on Ethan Allen Highway. The food shelf also thanks O Bread Bakery at Shelburne Farms for ongoing donations of delicious bread.

The Charlotte Grange had a beautiful night for their music on the Charlotte Town Green on July 15. Music lovers supplied the food shelf with four large boxes of nonperishable food items along with generous donations of cash and checks. Thank you to the Grange, musicians and music-loving attendees for your support.

Thank you to Linda Hamilton for all her prior donations of eggs from her flock as well as for her extensive community service. Linda has recently donated her entire flock of hens and one rooster to a very appreciative refugee family.

If Charlotters have hens that are supplying them with more eggs than they can use, the food shelf would be happy to accept them on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 3-4 p.m. or by previously arranged drop off.

High quality N95 masks have been supplied by the Resilience Community Committee for distribution. Given concerns about possible increasing risk from rising levels of the more transmissible Omicron BA.5 variant, we continue to encourage masking and will continue distributing food by curbside pickup to keep families and volunteers safe.

If you cannot come to food shelf distribution due to COVID symptoms, or seek further information about the food shelf, call 802-425-3252.

Monetary donations are appreciated and can be addressed to: Charlotte Food Shelf, Inc., P.O. Box 83, Charlotte VT 05445. The Food Shelf is a 501(c)3 entity, and contributions remain tax deductible.

The food shelf is open for food distribution from 4-6 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.

For emergency food, please call John at 802-425-3130.