As a retired pastry chef, Cindy spends a lot of time trying new recipes, creating edible masterpieces, and baking for just about anyone she encounters. She also volunteers her talents to teach baking classes at Bugbee Senior Center in White River Junction, one of the 300+ community organizations Vermont Foodbank and donors like you support. At Bugbee, Cindy has found a community she values, and that values her in return.
Cindy began volunteering at Bugbee Senior Center when she retired thirteen years ago. She tried out a couple of substitute driving shifts for the organization’s Meals On Wheels food delivery program before becoming a regular driver for one of their weekly routes. She explains the impact it’s had on her life:
“I just felt like I needed it. I wanted to give back. And you know there’s this stigma of oh, when you retire you’re going to be so bored you’ll have nothing to do. Well, this is one day a week that I give back to the community; that I get out. It’s really good for me.”
Over the years, Bugbee has evolved its programming—thanks, in part, to funding you help Vermont Foodbank give out to partners— and Cindy is a regular attendee at the various activities the center hosts like Boggle matches, knitting group, and lectures. She’s also found more ways to give back to the Bugbee community beyond her Meals On Wheels route and providing rides to older adults who aren’t able to drive themselves.
“There’s the bake sales, and you know I’m always doing stuff for that. Every year I also make a chocolate composition for their raffle. And I’ve taught the baking classes. I did a Bûche de Noël (yule log) class.”
Cindy has also taught a class on making sweet and savory galettes and has been asked to teach one on preparing meals from food donated to Bugbee’s small food shelf.
“When I do teach a class here, I try to take a really fancy dessert—and they’re saying, oh no, that’s too complicated—and show them how they can do it at home. I break down some techniques that they can do themselves… and I tell them, okay, take notes, take notes; it’s not rocket science.”
Cindy is able to offset some of her grocery buying with food she finds at the food shelf. She explains this extra food “really can help, especially if I’m doing baking for [Bugbee]. Let me get some apples. Let me get some bananas, and that helps me price-wise. They even had some eggs here.”
When asked what she would tell people thinking about accessing the programs at Bugbee, Cindy says, “What are you waiting for! Everything here is free pretty much. Come. Come for lunch; see if you like it. Come for Tai Chi; see if you click. Try the subbing [for a delivery route]; see if you like that. Come to our bake sales. You know, it’s all really community oriented. The money that, you know, they get here stays to keep this open so other people can come here. It’s all a revolving door kind of thing. It’s all about keeping people engaged.”
Bugbee is a community hub of activities and resources. Funding from the Foodbank has supported infrastructure for meal programs and other investments to ensure it stays relevant to its community. It’s thanks to volunteers like Cindy and donors like you that the Vermont Foodbank network can stay focused on building communities where everyone has what they need to thrive.
Interested in trying one of Cindy’s recipes? Check out the recipe for Cindy’s Savory Galette in our recipe section.
Glenn is one of Vermont Foodbank’s all-star drivers, and for him, work is personal. Having faced hard times himself, Glenn brings empathy and care that resonate with every neighbor he meets. Watching him work, it’s clear—he doesn’t just deliver food. He delivers connection and hope, with a side of humor that lightens the mood and makes every interaction genuine.
Welcome back, Advocates! Wishing you all a very happy New Year and a happy start to the 2026 Vermont legislative session! This is the second year of the legislative biennium. We have been working throughout the summer and fall to keep legislators updated on the impacts of federal changes and to insist that our leaders prioritize the basic needs of all Vermonters.
Welcome back! I’m happy to announce that our fall edition of Kernels is now available. Since the last issue of Kernels, your Foodank has been leveraging all the food and funds we steward on your behalf.
