While most of us are starting to gear up for the annual Thanksgiving meal, the Woodstock Community Food Shelf is completing its annual Thanksgiving Project. This event provides a 14-pound turkey and all the sides (cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing mix, pie filling, and produce) to more than 160 families. The meals were available for pick up to families who registered on Saturday, November 18, in plenty of time for the holiday.

However, Thanksgiving isn’t the only holiday the Food Shelf helps people who are facing food insecurity to celebrate. For example, they also gave out Fourth of July baskets with hotdogs, rolls, and potatoes, along with everything necessary to make s’mores. And they join forces with area schools to send food home with kids over the weekend so they aren’t hungry when they get back to class. And when they have a need, such as the recent soup shortage when the weather turned cold, they post it on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WoodstockCommunityFoodShelf/) so the community can help.

On the Food Shelf’s website, they’ve also posted: “According to Hunger Free Vermont, the state is the ninth hungriest in the United States. Approximately 14 percent of the population receives some assistance to supply their food needs.”

The Food Shelf was founded in 1984 by Martha Lussier in the basement of St. James Episcopal Church. By 2008, it was a community-wide, nonprofit operation, and it moved into its own space at Maxham Meadow Way in April 2009. Its mission states: “In order to alleviate hunger, the Woodstock Community Food Shelf will maintain an open, well-stocked food shelf providing basic nutrition to our neighbors in times of need.”

Most of us think of food pantries during the Thanksgiving season, but the Woodstock Community Food Shelf needs donations all year long. You can always make a monetary donation, but if you’d like to bring food, their wish list includes pasta, spaghetti sauce, hot and cold cereals, canned tuna, canned soups and stews (low-sodium preferred), canned fruits and vegetables (low-sugar and low-sodium preferred), peanut butter, coffee, baked beans, and boxed mac and cheese.

The Food Shelf is open Mondays from 4 to 6pm, Wednesdays 1 to 3pm, and Saturdays 10am to noon. It’s closed on holidays and during bad weather. You can call (802) 457-1185 if you have any questions.

 

Woodstock Community Food Shelf, 217 Maxham Meadow Way, Woodstock, VT 05091