Letter: Norwich community has raised over $27K for Upper Valley Haven food shelf

Dear Editor, vermontbiz.com: I am delighted to see the Vermont Country Store has decided to follow the community service example set by Dan & Whit's General Store in Norwich, VT.’www.danandwhits.com’The participation of every able business and individual is vital if we are to truly fight hunger in Vermont. For this, I of course applaud the Vermont Country Store. The most important consideration here is feeding hungry people and in the end that is the truest bottom line. But because this journal is about business in Vermont, I was surprised your article, "Vermont Country Store Fights Hunger with $20,000 and a Challenge to Other Businesses" never once mentioned the genesis of this campaign actually began in November of 2013 a little further north- in Norwich, Vermont- and by another country store icon, Dan & Whit's General Store.
Dubbed "The 19 Days of Norwich" (and the brainchild of one of the owners of Dan & Whit’s, Dan Fraser), this Dan & Whit’s born, town-wide fund -raiser was implemented to benefit the food shelf of the Upper Valley Haven. For the first 19 days of December, local businesses donated 1% of their profits to the Haven. Dan's challenged other businesses to join him and hoped other towns would follow suit. His efforts were featured in an article in The Valley News. His idea caught on very quickly and support from the business community was practically unanimous. Numerous individuals in Norwich also donated thousands of dollars in matching funds. But Dan & Whit's --also a third generation family owned store, did not stop there--Dan Fraser also started a fresh-milk and egg drive when he learned both were a rare treat at the Haven’s food shelf.
At last count (the donations keep coming) Dan & Whit's and the Norwich community have raised over $27K in cash, over 10,400 pounds of food, 850 gallons of milk and 250 cartons of eggs for the Haven food shelf. That is impressive. Furthermore, the milk and egg campaign will continue year round! Now, if only your reporter and The Vermont Country Store had given Dan Fraser and Dan & Whit's the credit they so rightly deserve. After all, a business is a business is a business.
Heidi A. Lang Norwich, VT