South Burlington students help stock the food shelf
February 14, 2012WCAX Channel 3 Feb 10, 2012 http://www.wcax.com/story/16773338/south-burlington-students-help-stock-the-food-shelf?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6722893 By Gina Bullard SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -Kids grabbing for food might not surprise you, but this food is different. “We collected a lot of soups and dried fruits, everything is nonperishable,” eighth-grader Molly Burke said. It’s all been collected by Tuttle Middle School students in South Burlington since [...]
continue reading »Eating on the Edge
February 7, 2012At a local food shelf, demand is up By Corin Hirsch [02.01.12] Seven Days A visitor could mistake the inside of 228 North Winooski Avenue for a small grocery, albeit one with an eclectic selection. Morning sunlight illuminates shelves neatly stocked with jars of peanut butter, bags of white rice and pasta, tins of tomatoes, [...]
continue reading »Giving Season contributions up from last year
February 7, 2012Burlington Free Press January 26, 2012 Written by Lynn Monty While Chris Graff, board member of the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund, could not pinpoint how much money was raised specifically through Giving Season donations, he did say that the fund received a large number of contributions through the end of the year. “Our fund [...]
continue reading »Surprise donation fills food shelf with more than just cans
December 20, 2011By Kyle Midura, WCAX, December 17, 2011 http://www.wcax.com/story/16347363/suprise-donation-fills-food-shelf-with-more-then-just-cans?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6559072 Each day thousands of Vermonters rely on service organizations like the Chittenden County Food Shelf for meals they can’t afford. But Saturday, staff prepared hangars and racks as local business owner Brett Lewis dropped off about 15-hundred articles of clothing. Donor Brett Lewis tells us, “We have [...]
continue reading »Giving Season donations fall behind last year’s pace
December 20, 2011Written By Lynn Monty, December 19, 2011, Burlington Free Press Some families already disconcerted about the dragging economy took a debilitating one-two punch to their budgets when floods from Tropical Storm Irene hit their homes and businesses this year. Right now, some folks are just one missed paycheck away from experiencing hunger and homelessness. Programs [...]
continue reading »Paying it forward: Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf runs on donations and volunteers
December 20, 2011Christine Cousineau, 62, of Burlington volunteers her time at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf each week. At different times in her life, this single mother of four often depended on the charity to put a balanced meal on the ta´ble. / LYNN MONTY, Free Press Written by Lynn Monty, December 16, 2011 Lines at the [...]
continue reading »News Channel 5, Emergency Food Shelf Team Up For Annual Turkey Drive
November 17, 2011Food Shelf Seeking 2,700 Turkey Donations NewsChannel 5 Staff BURLINGTON, Vt. — With Thanksgiving just around the corner and post-Irene recovery taking place, hundreds of families in the region need your help to make this holiday a memorable one. “Emergency food providers throughout Vermont have been overwhelmed since the storm hit, with an [...]
continue reading »Turkey donations falling short
November 17, 2011Mary Ann Burlingame, a volunteer with the University of Vermont waves at traffic on the corner of North Winooski Ave and North Union St. in front of the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, this year donations have been drastically reduced, at this time last year the number of donations was nearly double what they are this [...]
continue reading »Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf kicks off turkey drive
November 15, 2011The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf is aiming for 2,700 turkeys for its annual donation drive this year. Last year that goal was exceeded with 3,212 turkeys. Donors can drop off turkeys at 228 N. Winooski Ave. in Burlington. A donation of $10 will buy a turkey for a family of four. The food shelf is [...]
continue reading »Turkey Donations Needed for Thanksgiving
November 15, 2011Burlington, Vermont – November 9, 2011 By WCAX News – bio | email We’re just a couple weeks away from Thanksgiving, and a bird shortage has local food shelters hunting for donations. In the past, the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf has received an outpouring of donations for turkeys and other Thanksgiving foods. This year [...]
continue reading »Vermont’s shrinking middle class
November 7, 2011JEFFERSONVILLE — Kim Martin began with the good side of her and her husband, Chip, losing their jobs: 2-year-old Olive Martin, who sat in her lap in their Jeffersonville duplex, bright blue eyes, a cascade of unruly blonde hair, and a wide grin of tiny, pearly teeth. Kim Martin was laid off from her position [...]
continue reading »IBM employees gives Food Shelf a boost
November 7, 2011By WCAX News – Burlington, Vermont – November 4, 2011 IBM employees have donated thousands of pounds of food to help feed people in need. They delivered 7-thousand pounds to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf Friday. IBM employees contributed to 11 area charities this year. The food drive is part of IBM’s annual [...]
continue reading »Shelburne Vineyard brings back the Wine & Food Festival
November 7, 2011Thursday, Nov 3rd, 2011 By Julia Howe Free wine tasting, free specialty food pairing, and a collection of local vendors selling Thanksgiving-themed foods – welcome to Shelburne Vineyard’s Autumn Wine & Food Fest 2011. The vineyard’s third annual festival is on Saturday, Nov. 12 between 11 a.m.-5 p.m. “We really love putting the festival on,” [...]
continue reading »Panera Bread Opens in Burlington and Donates to Food Shelf
October 3, 2011September 26 Fox 44 Burlington, Vermont- The popular national chain Panera Bread, opens its doors for the first day of business in downtown Burlington. The restaurant’s opening means more jobs coming to the state. While not all are thrilled about a chain store on Church Street, what most people don’t know is that the chain [...]
continue reading »Homebound Food Delivery Program Helps Community
October 3, 2011September 21, 2011-Burlington Free Press Alice Anton walks around the Chittenden County Food Shelf’s warehouse to check on bags she’ll pack for the agency’s homebound food delivery program. With a client base of about 130, the program provides food year-round to low income Chittenden County elderly and disabled residents. Deliveries go out from the [...]
continue reading »A letter to first lady Michelle Obama
June 30, 2011Last spring, I spent a couple hours at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf observing people pick up their weekly allowance of groceries. It was not the first time I’d been to a food shelf during a decade of writing about food and agriculture for this newspaper and other publications, but I was struck that particular visit by the number of children accompanying their parents.
continue reading »When school’s out, hunger often begins
June 10, 2011How can it be that hunger pangs routinely eclipse summer’s balm among hundreds of youngsters in Chittenden County? That was the question posed Thursday by the all-volunteer Hunger Council of Chittenden County at its quarterly meeting.
continue reading »My Turn: Without federal help, Foodbank and its network face empty shelves
May 25, 2011In Chittenden County, the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf relies heavily on the Emergency Food Assistance Program to meet the growing demand for food assistance. Each year, the Food Shelf serves more than 12,000 Vermonters who are struggling with hunger. TEFAP provides the Food Shelf with foods high in protein, fruits, vegetables and staple food items such as cereals, pastas, with special foods for vulnerable populations including children and seniors. The proposed cuts to TEFAP would devastate operations like the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, which are already struggling to meet the rising demand for their services.
continue reading »Watch for stroke warning signs
May 17, 2011They held a free stroke screening at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington. About 40 people turned out to have their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checked. Those are all potential warning signs. Doctors say it’s important to know those numbers because you could feel perfectly fine, but still have high blood pressure and that could put you at a high risk of having a stroke.
continue reading »Vermont letter carriers to collect food for hungry
May 13, 2011The annual Stamp Out Hunger event brought in 77 million pounds of food across the country last year, including about 35,000 pounds in north-central Vermont. The food is delivered to organizations such as the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington, where people connected with the drive gathered Thursday to stump for the event.
continue reading »Letter Carriers Gear Up To Stamp Out Hunger

Weekend postal workers in every town throughout the Champlain Valley are asking people to put nonperishable items by their mailboxes or front steps. They’ll collect them and bring the to local food banks. The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf will receive much of the Burlington area donations.
continue reading »Voice of the Free Press: Nothing lower than stealing from food shelf
April 29, 2011The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf serves about 12,000 people a year, with more and more people turning to the food shelf to make ends meet during the economic slowdown. Those served include children of families who have a hard time keeping food on the table through the end of the month even though the parents might be working.
continue reading »Police seek help in Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf theft
April 28, 2011Burlington police are investigating the theft of meat and other food sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning from two outdoor refrigerated storage units at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf location on North Winooski Avenue in Burlington.
continue reading »Welch says Ryan plan would cut foodstamps by 20 percent

Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., met with officials from the Vermont Foodbank, the state Department of Children and Families, and Hunger Free Vermont, to find out how the federal budget cuts could impact Vermonters.
continue reading »Burglars hit Burlington food shelf
April 27, 2011Someone broke into the two outdoor freezers at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, stealing meat and prepared meals.
continue reading »More clients, fewer donations at food shelf
March 12, 2011The service agency says high rents in Chittenden County, expensive gas and utilities, lingering job losses, and rising food prices mean families need help. But food donations tend to drop after the holidays.
continue reading »Snowy Winter Impacts Some Non Profits
March 10, 2011But the snows biggest impact on organizations, including the Food Shelf, go way beyond the latest storm. “It’s harder for people coming in to make donations,” said Moss, and harder for delivery trucks picking up food to bring to needy families.
continue reading »Super Sunday helps stock food shelf

Sunday a few South Burlington families gathered enough food for The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf to feed 25 families for five days.
continue reading »Giving Season campaign raises $43,857
January 25, 2011“The unfortunate situation is that we are seeing more and more people visiting the food shelf, such as those who are working families, homeless, seniors and people with disabilities. We have a continued need for monetary and food donations,” Meehan said.
continue reading »One Question, Five Chefs: Reaching out and helping others
December 24, 2010The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf’s own Brian Dermody, Senior Chef Instructor for Community Kitchen is featured in the ongoing “One Question: Five Chefs” series.
continue reading »Radio station holiday party benefits hungry Vermonters
December 21, 2010WVMT held its annual Christmas party to benefit the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Gov. Jim Douglas and Gov.-elect Peter Shumlin were among the VIPs who stopped by for the party.
continue reading »Burlington students raise money for Food Shelf

Kenny Garrison was quick to explain radial symmetry as he picked up his newly spun bowl. He made it for his school’s upcoming “Fill the Bowl” supper being held to raise money for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.
continue reading »The Giving Season: The changing face of hunger

Frye personifies a growing trend the staff and volunteers at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf are seeing, more working people and families needing help to make ends meet.
continue reading »Food Shelf thankful for donations
November 29, 2010The annual thanksgiving turkey drive is underway at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. This year’s bird supply got a big boost.
continue reading »Giving Season enters 17th year
November 25, 2010Every year since it began, the Giving Season aimed to cover the basic needs: food, shelter and heat. Thus, the core agencies to every campaign are the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf and WARMTH, which provides heating assistance.
continue reading »Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf surpasses turkey goal
November 24, 2010The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf surpassed its goal and by a wide margin — of collecting 2,700 donated turkeys. By Tuesday evening, 3,212 turkeys had been donated by individuals and businesses.
continue reading »Burlington students learn by serving the community
November 20, 2010“We have more families coming through than ever before,” said Rachel Moss of the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.
continue reading »Vermont city food shelf seeks turkey donations
November 15, 2010Vermonters are being asked to donate turkeys and Thanksgiving fixings to families in need. The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington is looking for help to provide turkeys to over 2,700 needy families.
continue reading »Vermonters challenged to spend $38 this week on food
November 15, 2010Through a job-training program called Reach-Up, Guimont volunteers at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. She also receives free food from the nonprofit on North Winooski Avenue.
continue reading »Vermont charities make call for help
November 12, 2010The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf needs Thanksgiving turkeys — 2,700 of them. How many are on hand already? “Four or five,” director Rob Meehan said. Last year, 2,706 turkeys went out to needy families, Meehan said. The hope is that this year’s campaign will match that total. The need hasn’t diminished.
continue reading »Big delivery to Food Shelf
November 8, 2010Employees of the IBM plant in Essex Junction completed their annual food drive and this morning they delivered 116 boxes of food to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf on a Greyhound bus.
continue reading »Inside Dish: Vineyard celebrates food, wine and season
November 5, 2010The festival will feature wine and food tastings, and live jazz. It is also a food drive and fundraiser for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.
continue reading »Food Sovereignty
November 5, 2010One such program is called Community Kitchen. It’s run by the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf and sponsored by the Vermont Food Bank. The goal is to train unemployed and underemployed Vermonters in the culinary arts. 40 students graduated from the program in August of this year.
continue reading »New system, higher demand slows food stamp program

Gwendolyn Blaine, 53, of Burlington talks about her experience with the 3 SquaresVT program at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf on Monday.
continue reading »300 participate in Burlington hunger walk

The nearly three mile-long walk began and ended at the First Congregational Church of Burlington, passing the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf along the way. Rob Meehan, the food shelf’s director, handed out muffins and Gatorade to the walkers…The walk benefits the food shelf by way of donations and through raising awareness about hunger in Vermont, Meehan said.
continue reading »Vermont charities say Census economic estimates ring true

The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf has been trying to counter similar trends in the Champlain Valley in part through jobs training, said Robert Meehan, the agency’s director. People can participate in a 14-week class to train for employment in food preparation. The food the students make is packaged and given to people seeking help from the food shelf, Meehan said.
continue reading »Good Works: Local businesses volunteer

The Burlington office of Langrock, Sperry and Wool mobilized a crew of volunteers to work that same day at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, where they donated more than 100 pounds of food and packed over 300 boxes with non-perishable food for distribution to local families with children.
continue reading »Culinary program helps propel students out of poverty

Ten culinary students stand in a row: chef coats straightened, kitchen thermometers tucked into sleeve pockets, freshly washed hands out. Chef-instructor Brian Dermody walks down the line and gives everyone a thorough once-over. They pass muster and assistant chef-instructor Jamie Eisenberg calls out: “OK, start pulling product out. Set yourselves up in a station!” The students briskly gather ingredients and pull down cookware. Mosha Hunter-Wade, 28, walks between her classmates holding a large knife, blade downward. “Sharp knife!” she announces. Standing in front of the huge tilt skillet, Allison Paquette, 25, carefully examines a recipe. “What’s render? What’s julienne?” she asks. Eisenberg hears and comes over to help.
continue reading »Food Shelf Sees Record Number of People
September 22, 2010In previous years, Meehan says when the weather gets warmer, they’ve actually seen a drop in the number of people needing their assistance, but that’s not the case anymore.
continue reading »Culinary students cook at Burlington food shelf

Since January 2009, the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, in collaboration with the Vermont Foodbank, has sent five classes through the program. Of the graduates, 92 percent have found jobs, said Rob Meehan, executive director for the food shelf. Many go on to cook for the New England Culinary Institute, he said.
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