Volunteering in Vermont
Jane is a volunteer who has worked with CEFS over a year, after a friend encouraged her to get involved. Stocking shelves, packaging food, and handing out groceries has given her a way to feel productive after her recent retirement, while also helping countless others in her community. Using Random Acts funds, Jane was able to line the CEFS pantry shelves with nonperishable staples such as soup, macaroni and cheese, tuna, and canned goods. “Donations like these improve peoples’ lives, and the community,” Jane says. “I can’t imagine what it would be like without the Food Shelf.”
Thinking Outside the Shelf
The CEFS provides a variety of valuable resources to the local community that go far beyond their food pantry. Their Homebound Grocery Delivery program ensures that those with mobility issues are able to receive groceries from the Shelf. While receiving food, these individuals also get a visit from a friendly 
face, something that can be just as important. Their Good Food Truck brings healthy meals and a festive atmosphere to food insecure neighborhoods in the area. Additionally, the CEFS soup kitchen serves a hot meal six mornings per week. The Community Kitchen Academy program goes beyond providing food to offer opportunity through culinary job skills training. Professional chefs teach classes which help students prepare for and acquire jobs in the food service industry.
What’s Next?
If you want to help the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, please visit their website to see how to get involved. If you’d like to perform an act of kindness closer to home, check out our Sponsored Acts page to see how you can help others in your own community!