City Market customers donate 500lbs of food to Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf

City Market customers helped to donate 530lbs of food to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf at the first of three Fill a Truck for Hunger food drives. The Vermont Foodbank was on hand at the Co-op to collect food from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 1. A variety of non-perishable food items were collected and donated to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.
While we don t often think of summer as a time of high food insecurity, as children recess for the summer, many families are left scrabbling to fill the void left when school meals are no longer available, said John Sayles, Vermont Foodbank CEO. Hunger knows no season, so programs like Grow an Extra-Row and the City Market Fill a Truck offer much needed assistance for Vermonters in need of food.
Rachel Moss, Development and Communications Director at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, says that in the past year, they have seen over 1,000 new people needing food assistance services. And unfortunately, due to the economic crisis, their donations are down across the board. The Food Shelf works to alleviate hunger by feeding people and cultivating opportunities. As the largest direct service emergency food provider in Vermont, CEFS serves over 11,300 people each year.
City Market and the Vermont Foodbank plan to hold two more Fill a Truck for Hunger events on August 5 and October 1. More details can be found at www.CityMarket.coop.
Non-perishable food items that are most needed: tuna fish, peanut butter, cereal, meals in a box (mac & cheese, hamburger helper, etc.), canned fruit, canned vegetables, pet food, diapers, and baby food.
About City Market/Onion River Co-op
The Onion River Co-op is a consumer cooperative, with over 4000 members, selling wholesome food and other products while building a vibrant, empowered community and a healthier world, all in a sustainable manner. Located in downtown Burlington, City Market provides the area s largest selection of local, natural and conventional foods, and over 1,700 Vermont-made products. City Market also features over 140 green products from cleaning solutions to canvas shopping bags. Visit City Market/Onion River Co-op online at www.CityMarket.coop or call 802-861-9700.
Burlington, VT June 3, 2009