Top the Truck: Wednesday, September 25 from 7 am–7 pm
Putney Foodshelf asks for everyone’s help to Top the Truck on Wednesday, September 25, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., rain or shine.
Once again, the truck will be parked in the Tavern parking lot between the Gleanery Restaurant and the Putney Town Hall. The goal is to fill the truck with bags of healthful, non-perishable foods. Volunteers will meet cars in the parking lot to take donations. Cash, check, and credit card donations will also be accepted at the truck.
Sponsors of this, the sixth annual Top the Truck food drive, are J. D. McCliment’s Gastropub and Soundview Paper Company.
Preferred non-perishable items include canned foods of all kinds (tuna fish, fruits, vegetables, meats, soups and chili), cereals, pastas and pasta sauce, peanut butter, boxed meals (macaroni & cheese, hamburger helper), and rice.
The Putney Co-op is offering shoppers the opportunity to buy bulk-rate cases of food on sale for the Top the Truck event. Order forms will be available at the store during the weeks leading up to the event through September 26.
This spring/summer the Putney Foodshelf had a series of fundraising opportunities fall through. The Board, Executive Director, and volunteers are working hard to make up the difference before the end of the 2019 fiscal year. Currently, $6,000 of the $16,000 deficit has been pledged. Donations can be made through the Putney Foodshelf website, and people are encouraged to become sustaining monthly donors as a supportive way of giving.
Putney Foodshelf, a non-profit organization that provides supplemental healthy food for area people in need, is open twice a week at its location in the Putney Community Center (side ramp entrance): Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m.
In addition, Putney Foodshelf started the Food4Kids program, now in its second year, at Putney Central School. This program, which is free and open to all PCS students, intends to empower children to meet their own nutritional needs and to make sure they have access to the food they need to thrive. Food4Kids serves about 120 students every Thursday, when students have the opportunity to select food, at no cost, to bring home. Future plans include nutrition education, such as reading food labels and ingredients; cooking skills and meal planning; and food exploration. Donations also support this program.
The Putney Foodshelf stocks its shelves in two ways: 1) donations from community members, and 2) purchases from the Vermont Foodbank. As a Network Partner of the Vermont Foodbank, the Putney Foodshelf pays a yearly membership fee which allows us to purchase food supplies as well as have access to donated food and produce.
In 2018 the Putney Foodshelf served 5,754 people, in 2,531 households. Over 80,000 pounds of food moved through the Foodshelf. An additional 26,400 pounds of food was distributed in partnership with the Vermont Foodbank through the monthly food drop at Putney Meadows on the fourth Thursday of every month from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. (Please note the new time.) This food drop includes primarily fresh produce and is aimed at helping those who can’t get to the Foodshelf. People should bring their own bags.
Volunteers are key to the smooth functioning of the Putney Foodshelf. At least 20 hours of volunteer time support every Foodshelf open hour. Information about volunteering is available here.
Putney Foodshelf is a 501(c)(3) organization.