Vermont’s food shelves operate out of many places—from church basements, to community centers, to storefronts. Each one has a unique space with unique challenges. And the people running them, mostly as volunteers, are incredible problem-solvers, constantly looking to improve their service. As no space is the same, no challenge is the same, and no solution is the same.
Here’s a look at challenges that three partners have faced with their facilities and the creative solutions they’ve found to enhance food access, dignity, and welcome in their spaces—with some help doing the heavy lifting.
Putney Foodshelf: A Lightweight Solution to a Heavy Problem
At the Putney Foodshelf, volunteers have historically carried around two tons of food up a set of stairs to the entrance each week. The repeated heavy lifting has been a challenge for their crew of volunteers.
The food shelf is located in the Putney Community Center, a light yellow building on a side street just off the town’s main strip. A newly retrofitted produce stand sits in the center of their space—a beautiful wooden structure with built-in storage, rebuilt by Dennis, a volunteer. Shoppers are also greeted with a collapsible wagon to help get food to cars efficiently, and umbrellas to stay dry when it rains.
The crew has now also found a way to reduce the physical demand of moving food deliveries up the path and stairs and into the food shelf. They recently purchased a lightweight skatewheel conveyor with Foodbank capacity funds. With the new, simple setup, volunteers can easily push boxes of food from the delivery truck, along the conveyor, and through the entrance.
“The conveyor expedites the unloading, and is a great relief to the team who unloads anywhere between 2,000-5,000 pounds each week. We’re excited to have it.” – Sheena Tesch, Operations Manager
See the changes for yourself by visiting the food shelf at 10 Christian Square in Putney. Find hours and contact information on our website.
Woodstock Community Food Shelf: A New Home for More Space
Until July 2026, the Woodstock Community Food Shelf’s space allowed for just two shoppers at a time. Their home was a garage bay with a small office, and with limited parking and food storage space.
With a desire to better serve neighbors and improve access to food offerings, they decided it was time for a move. They found a new location just a short way down the street—0.1 miles, to be specific. Then, the question became how to make the move happen.
With Vermont Foodbank capacity grant funding, they were able to cover the cost of hiring movers to support the heavy lifting. Board members and volunteers helped pack up the old facility, build new shelving units, sort food, and restock the new shelves. In the end, the food shelf crew successfully completed the transition and re-opened in the new location in just three days.
The new location is large, open, and climate-controlled. It has space for seven guests to shop at one time. And, there is plenty of parking and storage space.
Want to check out the new space? It’s located at 21704 Maxham Meadow Way, Unit 1E in Woodstock. Find hours and contact information on our website.
Mad River Valley Community Pantry: A Fresh Look for an Older Building
The Mad River Valley Community Pantry (MRVCP) is located in a small room in the basement level of a senior center, and is run by a dedicated crew of volunteers. In search of a way to create a brighter and more welcoming environment, they decided to repaint and deep clean—a challenging task in a space with floor to ceiling shelving full of food.
Luckily, they had a bunch of community volunteers at the ready to help—including strong high schoolers willing to do the heavy lifting.
These community volunteers pulled out every can, shelf, and even the fridge and freezer, which had to be taken out through a long, narrow hallway. They then deep cleaned, reorganized, repainted, and improved the shelving.
“The highlight of our revamp was the sense of community that made it work. Rotary [Club] planned and did most of the work and donated many of the materials. Bisbee’s [Hardware] donated all the paint. The students from GMVS [Green Mountain Valley School] moved all the food and shelving in and out of the pantry and helped clean and paint. MRV Seniors let us use their space to store all of our stuff for three days while we did this work.” – Jen Kempf, MRVCP Management Team
The end result? A space that is fresh and sparkling with new life. To top it off, the front door has been painted a cheery yellow—a welcoming first sight for visitors.
Come take a look at the renovated space, located at 5308 Main Street in Waitsfield. Find hours and contact information on our website.
Whether it’s new equipment or a full renovation, these projects all share a dedication to the Foodbank network’s guiding principles: centering neighbors’ needs, building resilience, and a commitment to self-improvement. They are also great examples of partners creatively problem-solving to make change happen, and leaning on community for help.
Many food shelves in the Vermont Foodbank network rely heavily on volunteers, or are entirely volunteer-run. Looking to help with the heavy lifting and support food access for your neighbors? Get in touch with your local food shelf and find out what their current needs are by visiting the Find a Food Shelf page on our website.
Check out more photos of work being done!
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