Eight food access partners recently met to discuss their growth over the past year. This cohort has collaborated, shared learnings, and invested in their organizations’ capacity through a Vermont Foodbank grant made possible by your support.
The eight organizations vary in size, age, and geography. Three run food shelves, one runs a food shelf and meal site, and four provide other services in addition to
food access.
Group discussion revealed that even with this diversity, they have strengths and values in common. Sustained community support from volunteers, donors, and partners are foundational strengths. All eight organizations are deeply committed to welcoming neighbors without judgment, offering choices, and minimizing stigma. They believe that nourishment is essential for health and agree that without reliable access to food, overcoming other destabilizing challenges is impossible.
Most of all, these partners cite relationships and community as critical for individuals building stability for themselves:
“Ultimately, we aim to design a food program that not only feeds our guests, but also builds connection, agency, community, and pathways to opportunity.”
– Good Samaritan Haven
“We go beyond traditional food assistance by investing in relationships … our pantries provide both nourishment and a place where people feel seen and respected …. Our staff understands that isolation and hardship often accompany food insecurity, and we work to make our pantries a place of connection and trust.”
– Hardwick Area Food Pantry
With the help of grant funds the Foodbank was able to award thanks to donors like you, this cohort has made investments in staff and board development, as well as systems for organizing volunteers, fundraising, and managing inventory. One food shelf had been relying on informal, pencil-and-paper systems and moved to digital tools.
Another, whose meal program is one component of a larger set of services, rebuilt their food program entirely.
A participant representing the Family Center of Washington County offered that the time shared with peers provided her “‘The Little Engine That Could’ energy … it’s great to be with a group of people who are all in the same boat.”
Having been on the receiving end of help himself over the years, Michael, the cook at Mustard Seed in St. Johnsbury is giving back by making sure his neighbors have a nourishing meal and a warm place to chat.
The 2026 Legislative Session, and second and final year of the 2025-2026 biennium, came to a close last Friday, May 29. There were a lot of ups, some downs, and many bills passed just before the deadline. We saw an increased awareness of food security, with some surprising champions stepping forward!
“Summer often is one of the hungriest times of the year for families with school-age children.” This is the opening line of a new national report on summer meals published by the Food & Research Action Center (FRAC).
