Vermont Foodbank Grant from Wal-Mart Helps Food Shelves with Cold Storage

Purchase of Freezers and Refrigerators will Increase Food Capacity

BARRE, VT, February 14, 2007 – The Vermont Foodbank, in conjunction with America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network, was recently awarded a grant from Wal-Mart for the purchase of freezers and refrigerators for its Network Partners (food shelves, senior centers, food pantries, and other community meal sites around Vermont).  The new freezers will enable the food shelves to carry products they haven’t had the capacity to stock and will increase the current volume of cold food storage.

“The grant money from Wal-Mart will make a huge difference for the Duxbury Elf’s Shelf and the clients we serve,” said Ruth Haskins, the director at the food shelf.  “There are many occasions when we’d like to access more food from the Foodbank but are limited as to where we can safely store it.  Now we can stock up for the future with a larger quantity of cold food.”

Each of the Vermont Foodbank’s 270 Network Partners was invited to apply for the grant, with the sum evenly divided among 45 recipients.  Participants filled out a brief questionnaire and outlined their need for a new freezer or fridge and how it would help their agency.  The Network Partners will shop for freezers from local stores and should receive them sometime this month or in March.

“We were very much aware of the need that existed for some of our Network Partners regarding storage capacity, particularly of perishable food items,” said Edward W. Fox, interim co-CEO at the Vermont Foodbank.  “Applying for this grant to assist the agencies made so much sense.  It is a perfect example of putting partnerships to work to benefit those who need it most – Vermont’s hungry citizens.”

About the Vermont Foodbank
Located in Barre, the Vermont Foodbank is Vermont’s only food bank, and serves a network of 270 partners, consisting of food shelves, food pantries, senior centers, shelters and after-school programs, that assist 140,000 Vermonters each year.  In 2006, the Vermont Foodbank distributed nearly 6.5 million pounds of food to its Network Partners around the state.  Started in 1986, the Vermont Foodbank observed its 20th year of continuous operation last year.  The Foodbank is a member of America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network (A2HN), the country’s largest charitable hunger-relief organization.  For additional information about the Vermont Foodbank or to donate, please visit www.vtfoodbank.org.  To volunteer, contact Patrick Gilbert at 802-477-4127.

# # #

Media Contact:

Judy Stermer
Vermont Foodbank
(W) 802-477-4108
(C)  734-604-0096
jstermer@secondharvest.org