Community sustained by many generous donations

As the days grow cold, our community is sustained by the warmth and generosity of its members and the traditions that are woven into the fabric of our shared lives.

Many community members shared their bounty and helped provide Thanksgiving dinners for 18 families. The Charlotte Food Shelf thanks all the teachers, students and parents from Charlotte Central School who provided nonperishable food for the baskets.

The food shelf also thanks Betsy Lloyd at Charlotte Central School, who has been able to connect families in need to food shelf resources.

The food shelf is grateful to Champlain Valley Union High students Linni Goldsmith, Claire Lyons, Dicey Manning, Libby Manning and Grace Murray, who worked alongside Jim and Peggy Sharpe to fill the baskets with healthy nonperishable and perishable food.

The food shelf thanks the Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg Rotary for donating turkeys, which completed the basket feasts.

Thanks also to Gerard Werle, Julia Gilbert and Nathan Cleveland, Meredith and Peter Moses, Kathleen Nolan, Rice Lumber, Evan and Catherine Metropoulos, Waitsfield Champlain Valley Telecom, Ruth Uphold and Mary Provencher and Charlotte Organic Coop for their generous financial support.

The food shelf is also grateful for wonderful organic produce donated by the Head over Fields Farm and delicious rolls from Stewart’s Bread twice monthly.

Looking forward to the December holidays, the food shelf thanks Carrie Fenn who delivered gingerbread house and cookie kits, and church members who help sustain the decades-long tradition of the giving trees. These trees are hung with decorations on which kids’ wishes are written. Those who wish to donate a specific gift to a child may use these to guide their purchases. Kelly Stockwell at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Susan and Jim Hyde at Charlotte Congregational Church spearheaded this important effort at their respective churches.

Any community member who did not get a child’s wish from the giving trees at the churches and wishes to donate can still do so. Consider purchasing a gift card or sending a check to the food shelf that can be used to purchase warm children’s clothing.

During this busy month, the food shelf thanks the many shoppers who shop for the children. CVU student Nick Blasius is appreciated in his new role as shopper, as is outgoing CVU shopper, Wolfie Davis, for his many years of service.

The food shelf will be the grateful recipient of the “Give Back” promo in December. The Backyard Bistro will partner with Zero Gravity to benefit the Food Shelf each Thursday in December. Diners can enjoy an entrée and Zero Gravity beer knowing that a portion of the proceeds will benefit the food shelf.

Dates to remember:
• Deadline to return the Children’s Giving Tree Wishes to your respective church is Sunday, Dec. 11.
• Holiday basket and children’s gift pick up for registered families is Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. to noon.
• The food shelf is open for food distribution 4-6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Dec. 14 and 28.

As winter promises to bring both beauty and cold, the food shelf has utility assistance available to residents of Charlotte and North Ferrisburgh. If you or someone you know is facing utility shut-off or another unexpected hardship, help is available. Simply call 802-425-3252 or fill out a request form. Request forms are available during Food Shelf open hours or on the website at charlotteucc.org/copy-of-charlotte-food-shelf-1.

The Charlotte Food Shelf is located at 403 Church Hill Road in back of the Charlotte Congregational Church. Masking is encouraged during the ongoing pandemic.

For emergency food, please call John at 802-425-3130. If you cannot come to the food shelf due to COVID symptoms or seek further information about the food shelf, please call 802-425-3252.

Monetary donations are appreciated, are tax deductible and can be addressed to: Charlotte Food Shelf, Inc., P.O. Box 83, Charlotte, VT 05445.