Thanks to those who step up to combat food insecurity

Eggplant, zinnias, blackberries, cash, dry goods, backpacks, bread and more; how are these related?

These are just some of the ways our Charlotte community continues to step up to assist our neighbors and combat food insecurity. Hunger affects too many Vermonters. Community contributions, both large and small, and of an impressive variety, provide and strengthen an important safety net.

Thanks to the Charlotte Grange for its Special Food and Funds Drive July 23-30, in honor of Karen Doris and her 31 years of food shelf volunteerism and leadership. We appreciate the shelf-stable food and financial donations given at the Veggie Share and Grange on the Green concert. We are grateful to all those who celebrate exceptional volunteerism and who donated to help mitigate food insecurity within our community this month, including Susan and Robbie Hall, M. Teena and Richard Flood, Nancy Pricer, Caleb “ Deedle” Kiley, Anne and Edward Castle, Sharon Mount and Barry Finette, Lynn Fox, Andrew Milliken, Greg and Lynn Cluff, Jocelyn Schermerhorn, Janice Heilmann, Susan Hyde, Tim Hotaling, Katherine Arthaud, Frances Foster, Jane Lawlis, the Windham Foundation, Virginia Foster, Richard Mintzer, Daniel Raabe, Karen and Dean Tuininga, Susan and Hans Ohanian, and Michael and Janet Yantachka.

Thanks also to all those gardeners who were moved to plant with a plan to donate to the food shelf or who have cultivated a plethora of garden goodies too large for their families to consume. Donations from community gardeners of fresh produce play an important role at the Food Shelf. We gratefully accept produce donations beginning at 3 p.m. on distribution Wednesday.

Thank you to the Haggis family for their Blackberry Fundraiser. We appreciate their support and their blackberries were delicious.

Jane MacLean of Sweet Roots, which is part of the Farmstead Together initiative, has been providing wonderful produce, including organic eggplant most recently, with the farmstead’s generous gift card to the food shelf. We are grateful for these healthful contributions.

Food for the body is important; food for the spirit is as well. Hillary Maharam has been providing beautiful floral bouquets to our families for every distribution. This is a special donation for which we and our families are grateful.

As the new school year beckons, the food shelf is happy to offer backpacks to our school-age kids in preparation for the school year.

The following donations of nonperishables are always helpful: snack foods, paper products and condiments.

Food is provided at 403 Church Hill Road, in the back of the Charlotte Congregational Church on the second and fourth Wednesday (4-6 p.m.) and second and fourth Saturday (9-11 a.m.) of each month. For needs or other questions call 802-425-2402.

Charlotte Food Shelf and Assistance also provides limited utility, rent, medical, dental, school supply and other emergency assistance to residents of Charlotte and North Ferrisburgh. If you or someone you know is facing unexpected hardship, help is available. Simply call 802-425-2402 or fill out a request form. Request forms are available during food shelf open hours, or on our website.

Monetary donations are appreciated, tax deductible and can be addressed to: Charlotte Food Shelf, Inc. PO Box 83, Charlotte VT 05445. An easy way to donate is through the PayPal button on the website.