Here at Vermont Foodbank, we’re grateful to friends and neighbors like you for sharing gifts of all kinds—expertise, time, funds, food, and partnership, just to name a few—all in spirit of community well-being. Whatever you give, and whatever your reason for giving, you are part of a generous group who demonstrates the belief that our communities thrive when we all thrive.
This month, we’re celebrating the members of our community who have joined us on the journey of creating a food-secure Vermont by sharing part of a recent interview with friend and neighbor Elysia. Elysia lives in St. Johnsbury and is a community consultant for Vermont Foodbank. She brings her expertise and is improving food access in her community and helping to strengthen services in the area. Here’s what she has to say:
Vermont Foodbank: What inspires you to work together with the Vermont Foodbank? Why have you chosen to collaborate in this way?
Elysia: Not only do I have lived experience with food insecurities, I feel that every person should have access to nutritious food without any hassle. It is a basic survival necessity for humans and should not have to be earned…. With a family of seven, soon to be eight, I want to be able to offer my family food that is going to nourish them and I feel that most parents share that same desire.
Vermont Foodbank: What are you grateful for in your community (however you define your community)?
Elysia: In our community, we have multiple locations for food access which can assist in providing an ample amount to those in need. Thankfully, most locations are hassle-free or minimally invasive. There are also things in the works to get a mobile unit up and running to assist rural communities nearby.
Vermont Foodbank: Gratitude is a big word—what significance does gratitude hold for you, or what would you like to share about gratitude?
Elysia: Gratitude to me is something that I feel very deeply although I do not always know how to express. I enjoy showing my gratitude rather than speaking of it, normally by returning a favor within my own abilities. I believe that gratitude and appreciation coincide with each other and it tends to be obvious with those that truly feel it….
Graduating from college was a significant milestone for me. I had worked hard, stayed up late, and put in countless hours to earn my degree. But as the celebrations ended, a new wave of anxiety washed over me. The reality of finding a job that paid enough to cover my rent and groceries was overwhelming.
Vermont Foodbank nominated two community members, Addie & Patricia, to attend the Elevating Voices Power Summit in Washington D.C. in 2024.
Tara is a holistic nutrition consultant and a trained chef from Montpelier, who also offers postpartum support to mothers in Vermont. She’s a single mom, has her own business, and volunteers in her community serving food to unhoused neighbors. And she has faced food insecurity over the last 20 years. She has shared her experience with us to help build awareness of food insecurity.
