October 5th, 2017 – Following the close of a two-week campaign for donations, Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced the completion of the 1st Annual “Lawyers Fighting Hunger” food drive.” The Lawyers Fighting Hunger food drive is a collaboration between the Office of the Attorney General, the Vermont Bar Association (VBA) and the Vermont Foodbank. The drive ran the last two weeks of September during Hunger Action Month in Vermont. Thirty-two Vermont law firms and law offices signed up in advance to participate in this first-ever event.

In just a two-week period, the Vermont legal community raised over $14,300 and more than 4,400 shelf-stable, non-perishable food items. All food and funds collected went directly to the Vermont Foodbank and over two hundred Vermont Foodbank-partner food shelves and meal sites around Vermont.

“The first year went great,” said Attorney General Donovan. “I’m happy and proud to have so many of my fellow Vermont lawyers and friends willing to give back and try to help those in need. Thank you all for joining us in this event. The money and food raised is going directly to the Vermonters who need it most. I’m looking forward to an even bigger event next fall.”

“The Vermont Bar Association was very pleased to collaborate with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and with Vermont Foodbank to collect food items and to raise funds to help Vermonters in need,” said Michael Kennedy, President of the VBA Board of Bar Managers. “Thank you to the participating lawyers and law offices throughout Vermont for their generosity, and thank you to the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and to Vermont Foodbank for the opportunity to join forces to combat hunger in Vermont.”

“We are blown away by the generosity of Vermont’s legal community,” said John Sayles, Vermont Foodbank CEO. “We are truly grateful for their dedication to helping us solve hunger. With their support we can reach more Vermonters with the healthy food we all need to achieve our potential. This gift will have a real impact on the lives of Vermont struggling with hunger.”

A recent study by the Vermont Foodbank and Feeding America shows that one in four Vermonters (around 153,000 people) turn to food shelves and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families. These numbers include an estimated 33,900 children and 26,010 seniors. A staggering 71% of Vermont Foodbank clients report purchasing inexpensive or unhealthy food because they could not afford more healthy food options.

In connection with the Lawyers Fighting Hunger food drive, a “friendly competition” was held to recognize the firms and offices who raised the highest totals during the event. Winners in three categories will be announced by the Attorney General at the VBA’s Annual Meeting in October.

Law firms and offices participating in the Lawyers Fighting Hunger food drive include:

Barber & Waxman
Blodgett, Watts & Volk, PC
Carroll, Boe & Pell, P.C.
Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office
Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC
Langrock Sperry & Wool, LLP
Law Office of Claudia I. Pringles
Law Office of David Sunshine PC
Law Office of Deborah W. Kirchwey
Maguire Law Associates, PLC
Moulton Law Group
Murphy Sullivan Kronk
North Law PLC
Paul Frank + Collins
Ronan Law Group, PLLC
Ryan Smith & Carbine, LTD
Sheehey Furlong & Behm P.C.
The Law Offices of Katherine Burghardt Kramer
Unsworth LaPlante, PLC
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
Vermont Bar Association
Vermont Federal Courts
Vermont Legal Aid – Burlington
Vermont Legal Aid – Montpelier
Vermont Legal Aid – Rutland
Vermont Legal Aid, Richard K. Bowen, Brady/Callahan (as one participant)
Vermont Attorney General’s Office
Vitt & Associates
Winburn Law Offices
Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office