“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
― Chinese Proverb
Thanksgiving Preparations at the CCFS
The Colchester Food Shelf will be open for donations on:
Saturday, November 11 from 12 Noon to 4 PM
AND
Saturday, November 18 from 12 Noon to 4 PM
We would like to offer dinner fixings along with a turkey for current Food Shelf clients. We are looking for:
- Boxed scalloped potatoes
- Turkey gravy
- Green beans
- Cream soup (mushroom or chicken)
- French fried onion rings
- Canned corn
- Boxed stuffing mix
- Cranberry sauce
- Turkeys weighing 12-16 lbs are a good size
Donations can be dropped off on the Saturdays listed above and on Wednesday, November 15 from 11 AM to 6 PM.
Thank you for your continued support. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!
PLEASE STAY SAFE AND WELL!
Help us spread the word to those that may not see the Front Porch Forum, Facebook, or website posts!
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.
Thanksgiving at the CCFS
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
Help us spread the word to those that may not see the Front Porch Forum, Facebook, or website posts!
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.
Wed., Nov. 8 Grocery Hours / Thanksgiving Reminders
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8 FOOD SHELF HOURS: 12 NOON TO 6 PM
PROOF OF RESIDENCE INFORMATION: Please don’t forget to bring Proof of Residency if you are a new client or if requested. ***Anyone who requested Thanksgiving dinner fixings and a turkey must be up to date on their Proof of Residency.***
THANKSGIVING DONATIONS THE NEXT TWO SATURDAYS: Thanksgiving donations can include any of the following: canned corn, canned green beans, cranberry sauce, cream soup (chicken or mushroom), gravy, French fried onion rings, instant potatoes, and/or stuffing mix. Of course, turkeys will be needed. Donations can be made any Wednesday, but special days will be Saturday, November 11, and Saturday, November 18. On both of those Saturdays, we will be open from 12 Noon to 4 PM for turkey and dinner fixing donations.
Please stay safe and well!
Help us spread the word to those that may not see the Front Porch Forum, Facebook, or website posts!
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.
Wed, Nov 1 / Sat, Nov 4: Grocery Pick-up
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 FOOD SHELF HOURS: 12 NOON TO 6 PM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 FOOD SHELF HOURS: 9 AM TO 11 AM
This week, the Colchester Food Shelf will be open on Wednesday, November 1 and Saturday,
November 4.
PROOF OF RESIDENCE INFORMATION: Please don’t forget to bring Proof of Residency if you are a new client or if requested. Proof would be a current bill, lease, etc., with your name and address. A driver’s license or car registration can not be used as Proof of Residence.
THANKSGIVING DONATIONS: Thanksgiving donations can include any of the following: canned corn, canned green beans, cranberry sauce, cream soup (chicken or mushroom), gravy, French fried onion rings, instant potatoes, and/or stuffing mix. Of course, turkeys will be needed. Donations can be made at any time, but there will be special donation days on Saturday, November 11 and Saturday, November 18. We will be open from 12 Noon to 4 PM on both of those Saturdays for donations of turkeys and dinner fixings.
WHY DO WE NEED YOUR HELP? Increase demand due to:
- The end of financial assistance to those who lost their jobs during the pandemic.
- The increase in homelessness.
- Inflation.
The Colchester Food Shelf has seen a major increase in the numbers we are serving. We served 680 families in the last 6 months of 2022 and 900 families in the last six months of 2023. This is a 55% increase. Our food costs have increased by over 80%. TO THOSE WHO CAN, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please stay safe and well!
Help us spread the word to those that may not see the Front Porch Forum, Facebook, or website posts!
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.
Wednesday, October 25: Grocery Pick-up
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25 FOOD SHELF HOURS: 12 NOON TO 6 PM
EARLY DISMISSAL THIS WEEK: There will be early dismissal at Union Memorial School next door to the Colchester Food Shelf. Anyone arriving on or before 12 Noon should line up from Claussen’s Greenhouse and be careful not to block their driveway.
PROOF OF RESIDENCE INFORMATION: Please don’t forget to bring Proof of Residency if you are a new client or if requested. Proof would be a current bill, lease, etc., with your name and address. A driver’s license or car registration can not be used as Proof of Residence.
REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS: If you have reusable bags, please bring them and we will use them for your groceries.
THANKSGIVING DONATIONS: Thanksgiving donations can include any of the following: canned corn, canned green beans, cranberry sauce, cream soup (chicken or mushroom), gravy, French fried onion rings, instant potatoes, and/or stuffing mix. Of course, turkeys will be needed. Donations can be made at any time, but there will be special donation days on Saturday, November 11 and Saturday, November 18. We will be open from 12 Noon to 4 PM on both of those Saturdays for turkey and dinner fixing donations.
Please stay safe and well!
Help us spread the word to those that may not see the Front Porch Forum, Facebook, or website posts!
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.