“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
Thank You From the Colchester Food Shelf!
As I begin, in hopes that I don’t leave out anyone, I would like to start with a thank you to all our donors who fall into many categories: nonperishable groceries, fresh produce and financial donations. Just over the last quarter, you have donated 8162 pounds of groceries and produce. Financial donations have been overwhelming. Saying we appreciate all you have done seems inadequate but thanks and appreciation are the best words I can find.
To the local stores and restaurants that have donated produce and groceries and have also ordered groceries for us as several of our sources have not been available to do so in recent months, thank you so much.
Clients, thank you for being patient as we worked through the process of serving you and keeping you and our volunteers as safe as possible as we follow the VT Foodbank and Vermont guidelines. We are always re-evaluating the best way to serve you and maintain our food supply, whether it be fresh produce or non-perishable groceries.
Thank you to our volunteers who work tirelessly to staff our shifts each Wednesday afternoon and to those who cannot be at the Food Shelf at this time but will return as this pandemic comes to an end.
In closing, I hesitate but need to mention that we are starting our preparations for Thanksgiving and more information will follow in the next few weeks.
Please take care of yourself and your families; follow state guidelines; wear your mask; STAY WELL!
Thank You,
Marcia Devino and all the Members of the Board of Directors
Colchester Community Food Shelf
October 7: Mask Up for Grocery Pick-up
Colchester Food Shelf will be open on Wednesday, October 7 from 12 Noon to 6 PM
Reminder to Please Mask Up When Visiting the CCFS
Please remember to wear a face mask at all times when talking with Colchester Food Shelf volunteers!
Where to Drive/Park When Visiting the CCFS on Wednesdays
Please review the following important information regarding the flow of traffic at the CCFS on Wednesdays:
- Before heading to the Food Shelf, please ensure you have room in the trunk of your car or the back of your SUV.
- When you arrive at the Food Shelf, please pull in as if you were going to the side of the Food Shelf, but turn and stop parallel to the first garage door.
- If you are new to the Food Shelf, please bring proof of residency (E.g., utility bill, insurance bill, mortgage/lease). Unfortunately, a driver’s license cannot be used for proof of residency.
- A reminder that clients can shop at the Food Shelf once a month. If you have additional food needs, please inform one of the volunteers and they can provide you with some additional resources or visit our Get Help page.
Attention Gardeners! Is Your Garden Still Producing?
We welcome any excess produce your garden may still be producing! We ask that you bring any extra produce that you would like to donate to the Food Shelf only on WEDNESDAYS, preferably before the Food Shelf opens at 12 Noon. We will have volunteers at the Food Shelf by 11:00 a.m. Once there are clients waiting in line you should part at Claussens and walk over to the Food Shelf. If your garden is put to bed for the season, please accept our gratitude for all the produce you shared with other Colchester residents. It was all great and much appreciated!
Thank you, Donors!
Thank you so much for the donated groceries each week. Remember to bring items only on Wednesdays. You can park at Claussens and look for the container near the left garage door at the Food Shelf. We are open 12 Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Where Can You Find Us?
The Food Shelf is located at 245 Main Street, Colchester, between Claussen’s Greenhouse and Union Memorial School. We can also be reached by phone at 802-879-2444. If you call outside our Wednesday hours, please leave a message.
Our mailing address for donations is Colchester Food Shelf, PO Box 625, Colchester, Vermont 05446.
Thank you again from the volunteers and clients.
Questions? Email info@colchesterfoodshelf.org
October Food Box Distributions
The Farmers to Families food box program is back in action until the end of October. Starting October 5, Farmers to Families food boxes will be available at multiple daily food distributions throughout the state.
To keep wait times to a minimum, reservations will be required for the distributions. To register and see the dates and locations, please visit https://humanresources.vermont.gov/food-help or call (802) 476-0316 for assistance.
Each reservation will receive 1 box with about 30 lbs. of food, including fresh produce, dairy products, and meat.
You are welcome to pick up food for other families who are not able to make it to the pickup site, just be sure to make a separate reservation for each household you would like to pick up for. Each reservation is for one set of food.
*Please check the dates on the website (https://humanresources.vermont.gov/food-help) regularly, as additional distribution dates are added/updated periodically.
Be well!
September 30: Mask Up for Grocery Pick-up
Colchester Food Shelf will be open on Wednesday, September 30 from 12 Noon to 6 PM
Reminder to Please Mask Up When Visiting the CCFS
Please remember to wear a face mask at all times when talking with Colchester Food Shelf volunteers!
Where to Drive/Park When Visiting the CCFS on Wednesdays
Please review the following important information regarding the flow of traffic at the CCFS on Wednesdays:
- Before heading to the Food Shelf, please ensure you have room in the trunk of your car or the back of your SUV.
- When you arrive at the Food Shelf, please pull in as if you were going to the side of the Food Shelf, but turn and stop parallel to the first garage door.
- If you are new to the Food Shelf, please bring proof of residency (E.g., utility bill, insurance bill, mortgage/lease). Unfortunately, a driver’s license cannot be used for proof of residency.
- A reminder that clients can shop at the Food Shelf once a month. If you have additional food needs, please inform one of the volunteers and they can provide you with some additional resources or visit our Get Help page.
Where Can You Find Us?
The Food Shelf is located at 245 Main Street, Colchester, between Claussen’s Greenhouse and Union Memorial School. We can also be reached by phone at 802-879-2444. If you call outside our Wednesday hours, please leave a message.
Our mailing address for donations is Colchester Food Shelf, PO Box 625, Colchester, Vermont 05446.
Thank you again from the volunteers and clients.
Questions? Email info@colchesterfoodshelf.org
September 30: Donations and Gardeners
Colchester Food Shelf will be open on Wednesday, September 30 from 12 Noon to 6 PM
Looking to Drop Off Nonperishable Items?
If you plan to make a donation of nonperishable items, we ask that you please drop off items when the Food Shelf is open. We will be open on Wednesday, September 30, from 12 Noon to 6 PM. Please pull into Claussen’s parking lot and turn right towards the CCFS. Look for the blue container near the left garage door at the CCFS. Thank you again for your generosity!
Attention Gardeners!
Is your garden still producing? If so, we would be happy to distribute any of your extra produce to our clients. If you plan to donate fresh produce from your garden, we ask that items be brought to the Food Shelf on Wednesdays only, preferably before we open, so we can be sure that the fresh items are distributed to clients on the same day. We will have volunteers at the Food Shelf by 11 AM on Wednesday to receive produce donations. If you are donating while the CCFS is open, we would ask that you please park at Claussen’s and walk the produce over to the CCFS between clients. If possible, please try to drop off produce between 11 AM and 12:00 Noon.
Where Can You Find Us?
The Food Shelf is located at 245 Main Street, Colchester, between Claussen’s Greenhouse and Union Memorial School. We can also be reached by phone at 802-879-2444. If you call outside our Wednesday hours, please leave a message. Our mailing address for donations is Colchester Food Shelf, PO Box 625, Colchester, Vermont 05446.
Stay well!