What are the metal pigs for in downtown Montpelier? 

Those adorable metal pigs that showed up last year in downtown Montpelier—what are they for? They’re more than public art. They’re piggy banks to collect donations for the Montpelier Food Pantry—and thanks to a grant from the Hunger Mountain Co-op Community Fund (HMCCF), the story of their purpose will be spread further. “The whole idea is to make it fun,” Rick DeAngelis told the Council at our November 11 meeting. DeAngelis serves as director of the Montpelier Food Pantry. “The business community had a concern about people panhandling downtown,” he said. “And they saw this as a positive way to redirect some of that. The theme is ‘give change that counts.’” 

On each pig is a small, easily overlooked sign explaining the donation program. The $1,500 HMCCF grant will pay for a larger street sign near each pig and brochures with a QR code for donating, which local businesses will have on hand, plus other signage.  

The council is doing a three-month experiment, inviting leaders of community organizations to present their work. The idea is to strengthen connections between the co-op and the rest of the community. (The Co-op already supports the Food Pantry in many ways, including the nearly 10-year-old Bag that Bag program, donating a nickel for every reusable bag a customer uses. The most recent monthly check was around $900, DeAngelis said.)  

At our December 9 meeting, the guest will be former Co-op Community Relations Manager Stephani Kononan, now at the Vermont Foodbank. Members are welcome to join the council meetings in-person or on Zoom to see these presentations (and more of the meetings); see the Meeting Info page for details. You can listen to DeAngelis’ presentation at the November 11 meeting; it starts at 1:21:19 in the recording. 

The Co-op wants YOU—to help the council 

The council gets a big boost in its work from member-owners who aren’t council members. For example, non-council members serve on the Ballot Committee and HMCCF advisory committee.  

The council is starting to operate through a number of standing committees, and we’re looking for other member-owners to join us on those. They include committees on Sustainability and Resilience, Community Engagement, Governance, and Council Development (recruitment and continuing education). Time commitment per committee varies, but it’s likely to be an hour or two per month. If you’re interested in any of these, please contact me.

Meet the General Manager (GM) and me: December 6, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Please join GM Mary Mullally, me, and possibly another council member for Co-op Connects on Saturday, Dec. 6, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm! We’d love to chat with you about the past, present, or future of the Co-op—or anything else on your mind. Look for signs to find us. 

—Carl Etnier, Council President

Do you have any questions or comments about the council? Do you know any jokes even faintly related to food and/or co-ops? Please email them to me!