Vermont Business Magazine Community and business leaders turned out today for an open house at the city’s first food shelf, thanking volunteers and fundraisers for the outpouring of support to help their neighbors who struggle with hunger. The South Burlington Food Shelf opens to the public Noember 1 and expects to serve many of the households that struggle to put enough food on the table as possible.
Today’s celebration marks an unprecedented 8-month effort to see that Vermont’s second-largest city has its own food shelf for our neighbors in need, said Patrick Leduc, president of the Faith Influenced Leaders Corporation, which has spearheaded the campaign for the new food shelf.
“From community workdays to repair and refurbishing the building to donations large and small, we’ve had hundreds of individuals jump in and add their time and talents. Every time we reached out to our neighbors, we’re overwhelmed by the positive response,” Leduc said. “and we really want to thank the local foundations and business that have helped us make this vision a reality, especially the Classic Mike Loyer Foundation, Avonda Air Systems, Green Lights Energy, Champlain Oil Company, Vermont Student Assistance Corp., Common Roots, Mount Mansfield Media, Myers Containers, Dave Bissonette Plumbing, the City of South Burlington, the South Burlington Knights of Columbus, the Tech Group and Delta Marketing.”
According to the Vermont Agency of Education, 572 South Burlington students were eligible for Free and Reduced Lunches (FRL) last school year – or about 1 out of every 4 students. Nearly 25% of South Burlington households with young children struggle with hunger; and officials estimate many households with people over 65 also don’t have enough to eat.
Statewide, more than 64,000 Vermonters deal with hunger and do not have enough to eat on a regular basis
“The food shelf will be a crucial resource for South Burlington residents in need and I thank the Faith Influenced Leaders Corporation for their work that has brought the community together to make this a reality,” said
John Sayles, CEO of the Vermont Food Bank added, “The Vermont Foodbank welcomes the South Burlington Food Shelf as a partner in ensuring that everyone in Vermont has access to enough food every day. No organization can do this alone; it takes a community. I’m so impressed at what the South Burlington community has accomplished here and look forward to its growing impact on the city and its people.”
The South Burlington Food Shelf, located at 356 Dorset Street, will be led by Peter Carmolli, its director, and up to 60 volunteers, who will pick up, sort and stock the food shelf, as well as help clients with selecting food choices.
“I’ve worked almost my entire career to bring food to people who are hungry, and I’m delighted to work with such a motivated and driven community of volunteers”, said Peter. “We’ll need continued donations of both money and food but given the tremendous response to date, I’m confident that this great community will continue to step up.”
The food shelf will be open on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m. For more information about the South Burlington Food Shelf or to donate, visit: www.southburlingtonfoodshelf.org.
About Faith Influenced Leaders Corporation
Faith Influenced Leaders Corporation is a new nonprofit focused on leveraging the time and talents of individuals with leadership and management accountability in the secular sector of life who are strong in their faith. The group explores the challenges of secular leadership accountabilities that may at times conflict with the tenants of faith teachings, with a goal of ever-increasing alignment, personal growth, creating bonds with peers from different walks of life and introduction of programs that serve our community, especially those in need.
Source: SOUTH BURLINGTON (September 28, 2019) – South Burlington Food Shelf www.southburlingtonfoodshelf.org