Every November and December, Hunger Mountain Co-op’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors campaign raises food and funds for the Vermont Foodbank. Two in five people in Vermont have experienced food insecurity in the last year. This represents a significant increase from 1 in 10 before the pandemic. Whether we are aware of it or not, we all likely know someone struggling to put food on the table. 

Food insecurity is connected to economic insecurity. And economic insecurity is connected to inequality. This means that marginalized populations, like women, people of color, and the elderly are at a higher risk of experiencing hunger. As pandemic-era supports have phased out, and inflation has made basic food unaffordable for many, we are seeing more need in our community. As a co-op, it is part of our mission to help where we can. So, we teamed up with the Northfield Savings Bank to kick off fundraising for our annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors campaign by contributing $2,500 each. We then challenged our shoppers to raise an additional $2,500 through our Give Change register round-up program. I am thrilled to share that we have surpassed our financial goal! Co-op shoppers raised a whopping $4,310, unlocking matching funds of $2,500 each from the Co-op, Northfield Savings Bank, Cabot Creamery, and Farrell Distributing enabling us to make a donation of $19,310 to the Vermont Foodbank. That amounts to 22,206 meals for our neighbors in need. Combined with almost 700 pounds of food collected, we made a real difference! 

The Vermont Foodbank is Vermont’s largest hunger-relief organization, providing nutritious food through a network of more than 300 community food shelves, meal sites, schools, hospitals, and housing sites. Last year, the Vermont Foodbank provided over 17 million pounds of food to people throughout Vermont. As a member of Feeding America, they are nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation. Learn more at vtfoodbank.org. 

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished, but the need does not end with the holiday season. Consider: 

• Ensuring that everyone in Vermont always has enough to eat by donating to the Vermont Foodbank. Donate at vtfoodbank.org/give. 

• Signing up to volunteer and help get more food onto neighbors’ plates. Volunteer at vtfoodbank.org/volunteer. 

• Helping to spread the word. Follow the Vermont Foodbank on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and help amplify our messages about how to get and give help.