A plea for help Monday from some local food shelves in Chittenden County.They say it is getting harder and harder to keep food stocked because they are caught in the middle of some significant donation shortages.”Our biggest issue is trying to keep enough food in stock to feed all of these families,” said Williston Community Food Shelf president Ginger Morton.360 families, to be exact.That is how many Vermonters the Williston Community Food Shelf have to provide for each month.”You don’t need a gym membership if you’re the president of a food shelf” Morton joked.The organization is struggling to keep their shelves stocked and with high grocery prices and a decrease in donations, she says it’s the perfect storm. On Monday, Morton had to spend all day running around, trying to make sure the shelves were stocked for when doors open on Tuesday.Number one on the grocery list, a carton of eggs. Something she spent hours trying to buy for the right price.The shortages are not just an issue in Williston. It’s affecting donations all across the state.”We hear stories all the time when we interact with our clients. My family got flooded out and now I’ve got my grandchildren with me, I’m living on a fixed income, I don’t have enough food to feed them” said Stephanie Phelps of the Colchester Food Shelf.The Vermont Food Bank tells NBC5 they share these concerns and add that there’s a growing need for these shelves among Vermont communities.”We distributed more food last year than the year before,” said Vermont Food Bank’s Sarah Keblin. “We plan to continue to distribute that sustained level of increased food, which is really 25% more than our anticipated capacity, because we know the need is high”.Food shelf organizers say that if you have extra food, do not hesitate to send it their way because someone out there could use it.The Williston Food Shelf says that if you plan to donate, this is the week to do it. Food shelves in Vermont will be collecting cans of soup for Tackle Hunger’s ‘Soup’er Bowl of Caring.You can find a food donation bin at any of your local supermarkets and of course, donate to a food shelf.
A plea for help Monday from some local food shelves in Chittenden County.
They say it is getting harder and harder to keep food stocked because they are caught in the middle of some significant donation shortages.
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“Our biggest issue is trying to keep enough food in stock to feed all of these families,” said Williston Community Food Shelf president Ginger Morton.
360 families, to be exact.
That is how many Vermonters the Williston Community Food Shelf have to provide for each month.
“You don’t need a gym membership if you’re the president of a food shelf” Morton joked.
The organization is struggling to keep their shelves stocked and with high grocery prices and a decrease in donations, she says it’s the perfect storm. On Monday, Morton had to spend all day running around, trying to make sure the shelves were stocked for when doors open on Tuesday.
Number one on the grocery list, a carton of eggs. Something she spent hours trying to buy for the right price.
The shortages are not just an issue in Williston. It’s affecting donations all across the state.
“We hear stories all the time when we interact with our clients. My family got flooded out and now I’ve got my grandchildren with me, I’m living on a fixed income, I don’t have enough food to feed them” said Stephanie Phelps of the Colchester Food Shelf.
The Vermont Food Bank tells NBC5 they share these concerns and add that there’s a growing need for these shelves among Vermont communities.
“We distributed more food last year than the year before,” said Vermont Food Bank’s Sarah Keblin. “We plan to continue to distribute that sustained level of increased food, which is really 25% more than our anticipated capacity, because we know the need is high”.
Food shelf organizers say that if you have extra food, do not hesitate to send it their way because someone out there could use it.
The Williston Food Shelf says that if you plan to donate, this is the week to do it. Food shelves in Vermont will be collecting cans of soup for Tackle Hunger’s ‘Soup’er Bowl of Caring.
You can find a food donation bin at any of your local supermarkets and of course, donate to a food shelf.
