Reflection and Celebration: Week of March 31st

Five years ago we were all thrust into the unprecedented whirlwind of a global pandemic. Uncertainty,  fear, and grief dominated our daily reality.  But from the darkness of this time, adaptation, creativity,  and collaboration also emerged as positive forces defining our experience. The Craftsbury and Albany Food Pantries were born out of this moment and have become staple institutions in our towns, increasing food access and security in our communities and addressing a need that preexisted and persists beyond the pandemic years.

There is a lot of love and many hands that make these programs possible: site coordinators and volunteers who organize and distribute food weekly,  drivers who pick up orders and make home deliveries, entities that provide the physical spaces to house the pantries, businesses and organizations that donate funds and food,  farmers that grow it,  and many individuals who contribute through financial and in-kind donations. The Genny has also been supporting these efforts from day one. Every week we order large quantities of food through our grocery distributors, which goes directly to the pantries, at cost. 

Unfortunately we are in a new era of uncertainty, as food prices continue to rise and funding sources are being cut. Vermont recently lost a huge ($1.7 million) USDA grant that was slated to fund local food purchases for both schools and food access projects.  We can't think of a more direct and impactful use of federal dollars - feeding people local food. This is a huge loss. But if nothing else, the pandemic fortified our resilience and interconnectedness, and in spite of new obstacles, we want to celebrate the work that continues to perpetuate these essential services to nourish our communities.  THANK YOU!

If you would like to contribute to the local Food Pantry efforts, please consider a donation to the Hardwick Area Food Pantry - the umbrella organization that supports the Craftsbury and Albany sites.