The Reading Good Neighbor Food Shelf
THE COUNTRY STORE WITHOUT A CASH REGISTER
One in seven Vermonters is at risk of hunger. They just do not have adequate financial resources to ensure a reliable supply of nutritious food for themselves and their families. As startling as this figure is, it is slightly lower than the national rate.
The Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf has been supplying, since 2000, food and donated clothing, free of charge, to local families in need. In the past twelve months, it had provided food to 80 families who live in Reading, West Windsor, Plymouth, and Cavendish. The Food Shelf is located in the Old Stone Schoolhouse in South Reading on the Tyson Road. It is open on Mondays (except holidays, 2-4pm) and Thursdays (4-6pm).
The Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf strives to ensure that all members of the community have adequate amounts of nutritious food and that it is provided to them in a manner that preserves their dignity. Additionally, the Food Shelf assists families in applying for 3SquaresVT, the state food stamp program, if they are not already in the program and if they qualify.
This May the Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf experienced a freezer failure that resulted in contamination of the entire physical space and necessitated professional clean up plus repair of the freezer and replacement of large quantities of food. The cost of this one-time event added $6,000 to the Food Shelf’s expenses in 2012. Also, the non-replacement food budget has increased because the RWWFS is serving more families, with a significant rise following the devastating floods of last summer. Also, the price of food has gone up and, given the on-going droughts in the Mid-West, is likely to increase more.
The Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf keeps expenses low due to its all-volunteer workforce and the free space and utilities provided by the Town of Reading. Food expenses are kept to a minimum (consistent with providing an excellent selection and quantity of nutritious food) by:
1. Maximizing the amount of free food that is obtained from the Vermont Food Bank by closely monitoring available supplies posted on-line and sending volunteers to Brattleboro for pick up (including most of the meat offered), which supplements regularly scheduled monthly deliveries from the Food Bank;
2. Receiving produce from individuals who plant extra rows in their gardens for RWWFS;
3. Accepting donated eggs and locally grown meat from community farmers;
4. Arranging with Black River Produce to purchase their goods at cost;
5. Maintaining relationships with a local church and synagogue that donate food and personal hygiene products;
6. Taking advantage of on-sale perishables at area supermarkets.
The Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf recently changed its name (from the Reading Food Shelf) to better reflect the location of the majority of families served and the Food Shelf’s major sources of funding. A website is being created and will soon be launched. By providing food and clothing to those in need, the Food Shelf provides a safety net and a helping hand to our most at-risk neighbors. It is truly a “country store without a cash register.”
We urge you to consider supporting this effort. The 2012 operating budget of $32,700 represents a $12,500 increase over last year. It will take dozens of new donors to raise this amount. Please help the Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf continue its mission by sending a tax-deductible donation to Reading – West Windsor Food Shelf, Inc., PO Box 384, Brownsville, VT 05037.
One in seven Vermonters is at risk of hunger. They just do not have adequate financial resources to ensure a reliable supply of nutritious food for themselves and their families. As startling as this figure is, it is slightly lower than the national rate.
The Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf has been supplying, since 2000, food and donated clothing, free of charge, to local families in need. In the past twelve months, it had provided food to 80 families who live in Reading, West Windsor, Plymouth, and Cavendish. The Food Shelf is located in the Old Stone Schoolhouse in South Reading on the Tyson Road. It is open on Mondays (except holidays, 2-4pm) and Thursdays (4-6pm).
The Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf strives to ensure that all members of the community have adequate amounts of nutritious food and that it is provided to them in a manner that preserves their dignity. Additionally, the Food Shelf assists families in applying for 3SquaresVT, the state food stamp program, if they are not already in the program and if they qualify.
This May the Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf experienced a freezer failure that resulted in contamination of the entire physical space and necessitated professional clean up plus repair of the freezer and replacement of large quantities of food. The cost of this one-time event added $6,000 to the Food Shelf’s expenses in 2012. Also, the non-replacement food budget has increased because the RWWFS is serving more families, with a significant rise following the devastating floods of last summer. Also, the price of food has gone up and, given the on-going droughts in the Mid-West, is likely to increase more.
The Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf keeps expenses low due to its all-volunteer workforce and the free space and utilities provided by the Town of Reading. Food expenses are kept to a minimum (consistent with providing an excellent selection and quantity of nutritious food) by:
1. Maximizing the amount of free food that is obtained from the Vermont Food Bank by closely monitoring available supplies posted on-line and sending volunteers to Brattleboro for pick up (including most of the meat offered), which supplements regularly scheduled monthly deliveries from the Food Bank;
2. Receiving produce from individuals who plant extra rows in their gardens for RWWFS;
3. Accepting donated eggs and locally grown meat from community farmers;
4. Arranging with Black River Produce to purchase their goods at cost;
5. Maintaining relationships with a local church and synagogue that donate food and personal hygiene products;
6. Taking advantage of on-sale perishables at area supermarkets.
The Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf recently changed its name (from the Reading Food Shelf) to better reflect the location of the majority of families served and the Food Shelf’s major sources of funding. A website is being created and will soon be launched. By providing food and clothing to those in need, the Food Shelf provides a safety net and a helping hand to our most at-risk neighbors. It is truly a “country store without a cash register.”
We urge you to consider supporting this effort. The 2012 operating budget of $32,700 represents a $12,500 increase over last year. It will take dozens of new donors to raise this amount. Please help the Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf continue its mission by sending a tax-deductible donation to Reading – West Windsor Food Shelf, Inc., PO Box 384, Brownsville, VT 05037.