11/20/19
Charlotte Shelburne Hinesburg Rotary
Our guests today are from the Shelburne Food Shelf.
Dana Valentine
Susan Stock
Betty Jean Bogue
Marlene Moore
The Board of the Shelburne Food Shelf was formed in 2015, and was created as a 501 c3, providing food distribution and non food aid.
The food shelf helps people who self identify as needing services.
It operates 8 hours per month, morning and evening, offering food and services to 65-80 families per month.
The food shelf provide a week’s worth of food, the source of which comes from the Vermont Food Bank, donations, and purchased food.
The food shelf also provides a program at the community school. During breaks, kids who receive free or reduced lunch don’t have meals provided at the school, so the food bank steps in to provide meals to the 101 kids at SCS who qualify.
The program provides breakfast and lunch staples, eggs, bread, yogurt, protein.
80 children signed up for the program, and the food shelf is able to use storage areas and coolers at the school, and distribute the meals at the school.
A similar program started at the Hinesburg school.
Shelburne patterned their program after a couple of programs in the state. USDA provides food for breaks if 50% of student population qualifies, but the Shelburne population doesn’t meet the criteria, so the food shelf provides all of the break time meals.
The Shelburne Food Shelf also provides non food support, including money for fuel and utility bills. They receive 2 to 3 requests a week for non food support.
Our Rotary provided 40 turkeys to families and Rotary provides hams at Christmas
What can Rotary do for the Food Shelf? They can always use volunteers- use sign up genius to sign up!
Volunteer activities include shopping, distribution, unloading and stocking Food Bank drops.
Odd food items go on the “take what you want” table- odd items get placed on this table and people can take them if they want them.
There are some people who could use the service don’t come. The Board suspects there are 20-30 eligible families that don’t use the food shelf. It’s hard to know who isn’t coming because they don’t know who they are. There may be some elderly folks who have transportation issues, or young families who don’t come because of the stigma.
There was a 16 year old boy who came by the first night he had his driver’s license to get food for his little brothers. He said his parents wouldn’t come because of the stigma.
The food shelf works with SASH- "Services and Support at Home” which was originally part of Cathedral Square. SASH caregivers are trained in simple health checks, and they work with seniors in the community. The Food Shelf gives grants to families who can’t pay their lunch bills, and provides snacks to teachers so they can give snacks to kids who can’t afford it.
SCS is very good at getting vulnerable kids onto the program. The food shelf is also able to help out in other ways. For example, CVU wouldn’t take a student who had an outstanding lunch bill, so Food Shelf paid the bill and the student was able to enroll in school.
The Shelburne Food Shelf received a grant from the Vermont Food Bank to partner with New Village Farm to provide fresh food to clients. Every month Shelburne Farms brings 40 one pound packages of cheese to the food shelf.
SFS receives funds from the Shelburne supermarket round up program which equals about $2000 per month.
In honor of our guests, the Rotary will donate a copy of We Feed an Island to Pierson library.
Don Horenstein becomes a member today.
Don grew up in Philly, feels very welcome at Rotary.
Don believes we all have something in common- we had caring loving parents which have made us people who want to do good and serve others.
Don was ntroduced to Vermont in 1945, when he came here with the Vermont Victory Farm program.He had never seen a cow before!
Don worked for Lawrence Vincent for 10 weeks. Every Sunday the family went off to church but left Don with their parents and he enjoyed Sunday dinner with them.
He feels so privileged to be back in Vermont, reaching out to his community and he thanks everyone for the warm greeting.
Today Phil received his +5 Paul Harris pin. Thanks to Phil for his dedication to the Rotary Foundation.
Thanks to Todd for coordinating turkeys for Thanksgiving!
Keith reported that the Board meeting went well.
There was a discussion regarding rearranging the room to having the podium in the corner with the flag.
Linda G noted the Lund home service project and provided a wish list.
Everyone could pick something they’d like to contribute, and bring everything in the first week of January. Julie from the Lund Center will come in for 5 minutes and give an update on the Lund Center.
Please have items in by January 8, or items can be stored in the basement until then.
Christmas Party is Dec 12 4:30-7, Public House in Hinesburg. Need to have orders in by December 4. Dec. 12 dinner would take the place of December 18 meeting, then we head into break until January 8.
No meeting November 27, December 18, December 25 and January 1.
Application for District grant must be in by May 1. Keith and Linda G. are compiling ideas.
Sgt of Arms
Lots of happy fines for Don- welcome to the club!
Carol is collecting Rotary Foundation donations.
John Hammer had a great trip to France.
Roz had a great trip to Prince Edward Island celebrating her sister’s 91st birthday
Keith’s daughter turned 30 and they had a great party in Stowe- his son came up from Washington and it was a great visit.
Ric Flood’s daughter gave an 8 minute presentation at the Cancer Support dinner on Saturday- proud dad.
Pot rolls over- getting bigger!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family. See you all on December 4th!
Respectfully submitted,
Carrie Fenn
