As we approach the holiday season for 2023, the members of the Board of Directors of the Colchester Community Food Shelf would like to thank you for your continued support of the work of the Food Shelf.
As you and your family are aware, inflation has caused an increase in the cost of everything including groceries. The Food Shelf has been affected by both the cost of food and a significant increase in the number of people needing food assistance.
In the last ten months of 2022 and 2023, the following are statistics that will demonstrate the issue:
- Clients served in 2022 – 1027
- Clients served in 2023 – 1429 an increase of 37%
- Food and Supplies in 2022 – $53,178.16
- Food and Supplies in 2023 – $84,857.69 an increase of 60%
- Donations (financial) in 2022 – $59,193.75
- Donations (financial) in 2023 – $63,567.19 an increase of 7%
We believe we have been very diligent in where we make our purchases; how and where we can remove or change items from our shopping list(s) and still provide a fair amount of food to our clients. Our mission is to provide supplemental groceries to our clients and not their entire month’s groceries. They can also use the services of Feeding Chittenden in Burlington. Periodically, we check to make sure our clients are using 3-Square (food stamp) resources if they currently qualify.
We would like to give each client a turkey and a bag of dinner fixings for Thanksgiving. You can drop off donations during our regular hours: Wednesdays from 11 AM to 6 PM. We will also be open for donations on Saturday, November 11, and Saturday, November 18, from 12 Noon to 4 PM.
Our mailing address for financial donations is P.O. Box 625, Colchester, Vermont 05446.
THANK YOU so much for your support in helping those in need and we wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving and a joyful and peaceful holiday season.
Marcia Devino
President, Board of Directors
Colchester Community Food Shelf
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Where Can You Find Us?
The Food Shelf is located at 245 Main Street, Colchester, between Claussen’s Greenhouse and Union Memorial School.
Our mailing address for donations is Colchester Food Shelf, PO Box 625, Colchester, Vermont 05446.
Questions? Email info@colchesterfoodshelf.org. We can also be reached by phone at 802-879-2444. If you call outside our Wednesday hours, please leave a message.