Issue: June 2015
Food Shelf Rolls Out New Program:
The Good Food Truck Launches in July
The Good Food Truck, a new program from the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, will
be officially launching in July! The Good Food Truck is designed to use the power of
good, local food to feed people who are hungry, create opportunities for people who are
under- or unemployed, and unite the community around the fight against hunger!
After reviewing the most recent findings from the 2014 Hunger in America study, we
were dismayed to learn that there are over 19,000 people who are food insecure in
Chittenden County. While the Food Shelf is the largest direct service hunger relief
organization in Vermont, the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf still only serves a little
over 11,000 people per year. This means that there is a "service gap" of around 8,000
vulnerable people.... 8,000 people who we hope to reach with this innovative new mobile
program!
Starting in July 2015, the
Good Food Truck will visit
partner organizations and
meal sites throughout
Chittenden County. Clientele
of the Good Food Truck who
have a household income at
or below 185% of the federal
poverty line will be eligible
for free, delicious meals
featuring globally-inspired
flavors and local ingredients.
The Good Food Truck will
also provide information on
valuable community services
like 3SquaresVT (food stamps), WIC, farmer's market programs for low-income
households, our homebound delivery program for low-income households, and veterans'
assistance services. This mobile meal program will be staffed by Emmet Moseley, the
Good Food Truck Manager, and by students from our Community Kitchen Academy
(CKA), which has been operated in partnership with the Vermont Foodbank since 2009.
CKA students will participate in valuable, on-the-job (or on-the-truck!) internships as they
assist with food preparation and customer service.
Good Food Truck Manager, Emmet Moseley
To help unite the community around the fight against hunger, the Good Food Truck
ALSO presents an opportunity for the Food Shelf to share our story with the broader
community in a fresh, new way at community events, catering engagements and
fundraisers throughout the year.
At these events, the Good Food Truck will shift from providing free meals to operating as
a traditional food truck selling entrees, desserts and snacks from a fixed-price menu.
100% of the proceeds from all sales (and donations!) will go to providing free meals for
low-income Vermonters.
The Good Food Truck can be found at several ArtsRiot Truck Stop events on Friday
evenings, and at special events like the South End Art Hop. The Truck is also available
for private catering engagements.
Find our special events schedule, information on community truck stops, and take a
peek at the Good Food Truck's creative menu (featuring treats like Japanese cabbage
pancakes and falafel!) on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and
at www.goodfoodtruckvt.org.
~~~
Curious about the Good Food Truck?
Come to our Launch Event this Thursday,
July 2nd from 4pm-7pm @ City Market!
The Good Food Truck will be holding a community launch event at City
Market on Thursday, July 2nd from 4pm-7pm. This event is free and open to all!
At this launch event, we will be providing samples of the Good Food Truck's globallyinspired dishes by donation and answering questions about our new program.
Click here to RSVP!
The Good Food Truck will be at many special events throughout the season. Interested
supporters can follow the Good Food Truck on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, as well
as at www.goodfoodtruckvt.org.
Program News and Highlights
Friends of the Fletcher Free Library Hold Annual
Summer Book Sale and Food Drive
From WCAX:
The Fletcher Free Library held a book and CD sale. Most books were only a dollar, so
even financially strapped readers could get a page-turner for the summer. The library
also asked shoppers to bring in a donation for the Chittenden County Emergency Food
Shelf in exchange for a free book.
"We linked up with the Food Shelf so that people bring in food; they bring in a free item,
they get a free book. We have had a lot of people donating," said sale volunteer Robin
Twery.
Click here to see WCAX's video of the event!
~~~
Cheese Traders Annual Garage Sale
Raises $7,000 Donation
Thank you Cheese Traders and all of their patrons
for raising $7,000 to support the Chittenden
Emergency Food Shelf!
This year's Annual Garage Sale at Cheese
Traders and Wine Sellers was a tremendous
success.
Thank you to Cheese Traders for committing
to matching the first $3,000 in donations!
We are so grateful for the local businesses that
support our mission. Thank you!
Opportunities To Get Involved
The Food Shelf is always looking for regular, ongoing volunteers who would like to help with our
mission of feeding people and cultivating opportunities!
Volunteer jobs include:
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Cooking & serving hot meals
Packaging food or ingredients in our warehouse
Stocking shelves
Sorting food donations
Cleaning our program areas
Delivering groceries to people who are elderly or have a disability
Data entry
And much more!
Volunteers must be 18+ and available for shifts Monday-Friday between 6am-4pm.
Please contact Anna McMahon, Volunteer Coordinator for the Chittenden Emergency Food
Shelf, at [email protected] if you would like more information regarding our volunteer
opportunities!
The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf works to alleviate hunger by feeding people and
cultivating opportunities. As the largest direct service emergency food provider in Vermont, CEFS
serves over 12,000 people each year.
With your continued support, we can bring about the change necessary to provide opportunities
for those who need them most...
The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf is a program of the
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO).
For more information on CVOEO's agencies and services, click here.
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