Joining Hands to Give Thanks & Give Meals Neighbors Helping Neighbors: A Day on the Road with Glenn
Volunteering, Baking & Thriving in Community Caring for One Another Through Times of Need Fall 2025 vtfoodbank.org
Joining Hands to Give Thanks & Give Meals
Welcome back! Since the last issue of Kernels, your Foodbank has been leveraging all the food and funds we steward on your behalf. As you’ll read in this issue, it could be the 3SquaresVT team helping a family apply for monthly food purchasing benefits, or a driver distributing food to older adults on fixed incomes, or a local food shelf hosting classes on how to prepare meals with donated food.
I hope these stories lift you up. As we adjust to another autumn and seek connection during the holiday season, those of us fortunate enough to be able to give back may be thinking: how do I best support my neighbors this year? A meal does more than fill a basic need. It strengthens ties
within families, between individuals, and across communities. It’s hard to feel divided when we’re joining hands to give thanks for a meal to be shared together. That’s what your support helps make happen.
Cuts to federal food and health care support are resulting in more people using the charitable food system. Vermont Foodbank is here, and with your help we will continue to do our best to fill the resource gaps that leave families and neighbors without enough food. Thank you.
John Sayles CEO
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: A Day on the Road with Glenn
Glenn is one of Vermont Foodbank’s all-star drivers, and for him, work is personal. Having faced hard times himself, Glenn brings empathy and care that resonate with every neighbor he meets. Watching him work, it’s clear—he doesn’t just deliver food. He delivers connection and hope, with a side of humor that lightens the mood and makes every interaction genuine.
On this day, Glenn makes three stops, each reflecting a thread in the fabric of Vermont Foodbank’s community-driven approach to food security. Much of the food the Foodbank sources—and you help purchase—is delivered to food shelves and other access points that distribute it to neighbors in local communities.
Glenn’s first stop is a food distribution with the Putney Foodshelf. The partnership and reciprocity that define this work are evident. One volunteer shares how, during COVID-19, she visited the food shelf herself. Now in a more stable place, she gives back by volunteering. Later, a former volunteer whose recent medical issues have left her struggling to make ends meet greets Glenn with a hug. Glenn knows her story and what she’s facing, and offers her some food to take home, along with compassion and care.
Next is a Support and Services at Home (SASH) site, where he delivers food to older adults living on fixed incomes. Glenn and the SASH team work in a rhythm—quick, respectful, cheerful. They make sure no one feels rushed or overlooked.
The final stop of the day is a free, fresh
produce event in Newfane. The energy is electric. Cars line up down the road, volunteers hustle with smiles, and music keeps the mood fun. Amid the busy hum of cars being loaded with food, something beautiful happens: a family in line has prepared a homemade lunch for Glenn. Another neighbor brings tea for the volunteers. Visitors take extra produce to deliver to neighbors Everywhere you look, neighbors are taking care of neighbors, in
These moments are a reminder of a simple and powerful truth: community means recognizing we all rely on each other at different times. It’s how we show up for one another—with care, dignity, and without judgment—that makes the difference. Thank you for caring for your community and ensuring neighbors statewide will be able to enjoy a nourishing meal this holiday season, and every day of the year.
Food is available for neighbors who need it in every county in Vermont—through the holidays and every day—because of help from you.
Neighbors are cooking up festive, delicious dishes with the free food they bring home, thanks to friends like you and Cindy.
As a retired pastry chef, Cindy spends a lot of time trying new recipes, creating edible masterpieces, and baking for just about anyone she encounters. She also volunteers her talents to teach baking classes at Bugbee Senior Center in White River Junction, one of the 300+ community organizations Vermont Foodbank and donors like you support. At Bugbee, Cindy has found a community she values, and that values her in return.
Cindy began volunteering at Bugbee Senior Center when she retired thirteen years ago. She tried out a couple of substitute driving shifts for the organization’s Meals On Wheels food delivery program before becoming a regular driver for one of their weekly routes. She explains the impact it’s had on her life:
“I just felt like I needed it. I wanted to give back. And you know there’s this stigma of oh,when youretireyou’regoingtobesoboredyou’llhave nothingtodo. Well, this is one day a week that I give back to the community; that I get out. It’s really good for me.”
Over the years, Bugbee has evolved its programming—thanks, in part, to funding you help Vermont Foodbank give out to partners— and Cindy is a regular attendee at the various activities the center hosts like Boggle matches, knitting group, and lectures. She’s also found
more ways to give back to the Bugbee community beyond her Meals On Wheels route and providing rides to older adults who aren’t able to drive themselves.
“There’s the bake sales, and you know I’m always doing stuff for that. Every year I also make a chocolate composition for their raffle. And I’ve taught the baking classes. I did a Bûche de Noël (yule log) class.”
Cindy has also taught a class on making sweet and savory galettes and has been asked to teach one on preparing meals from food donated to Bugbee’s small food shelf.
“When I do teach a class here, I try to take a really fancy dessert—and they’re saying, ohno,that’s toocomplicated—and show them how they can do it at home. I break down some techniques that they can do themselves… and I tell them, okay,
takenotes,takenotes;it’snotrocketscience.”
Cindy is able to offset some of her grocery buying with food she finds at the food shelf. She explains this extra food “really can help, especially if I’m doing baking for [Bugbee]. Let me get some apples. Let me get some bananas, and that helps me price-wise. They even had some eggs here.”
When asked what she would tell people thinking about accessing the programs at Bugbee, Cindy says, “What are you waiting for! Everything here is free pretty much. Come. Come for lunch; see if you like it. Come for Tai Chi; see if you click. Try the subbing [for a delivery route]; see if you
Cindy’s Favorite Pastry
Whether for pies, quiches, galettes, or tarts, this tender pastry is as versatile as it is tasty.
Inspired by Elise Bauer’s recipe on the Simply Recipes website, Cindy has found many ways to put her own version to use. You can find her savory galette recipe on our website at vtfoodbank.org/galette or try using the pastry in your own favorite recipes. Pumpkin pie, anyone?
Ingredients
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal; optional
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Up to 1 tablespoon sugar (use no or a little sugar for savory pastry, or the full tablespoon for sweet)
Method
like that. Come to our bake sales. You know, it’s all really community oriented. The money that, you know, they get here stays to keep this open so other people can come here. It’s all a revolving door kind of thing. It’s all about keeping people engaged.”
Bugbee is a community hub of activities and resources. Funding from the Foodbank has supported infrastructure for meal programs and other investments to ensure it stays relevant to its community. It’s thanks to volunteers like Cindy and donors like you that the Vermont Foodbank network can stay focused on building communities where everyone has what they need to thrive.
• Pinch of spice; optional
• 1–2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs or 1–2 teaspoons dried herbs; optional for savory pastry
• 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup sour cream
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour; cornmeal (if using); salt; and sugar, spice, and/or herbs (if using) until evenly distributed.
2. Add the butter cubes to the flour mixture and start pressing and breaking up the butter between your fingers (or with a fork), rubbing it into the flour as you go until the mixture is coarsely crumbly with some larger flakes of butter throughout.
3. Using your fingers or a fork, mix in the sour cream until the dough comes together into a ball.
4. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and shape each into a 1”-thick disk
5. Wrap the disks in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using for your favorite recipe. One batch of dough is enough to make one 9” double-crust pie or single-crust slab pie; or two 9” singlecrust pies, galettes, tarts, or quiches.
Caring for One Another Through Times of Need
When life took an unexpected turn for a mom in northern Vermont, she got in touch with the Foodbank to help provide her family with nourishing food. Thanks to your support, one-on-one assistance was available to connect her with the food resources that work best for her whole family—so she can keep feeding her kids quality food while investing in her community.
“I became a single parent while I was a student and had no income,” shares Jessie. “Around that same time, my partner lost her employment… we were really in a pinch in a way that I hadn’t really ever experienced in my life before.” A friend encouraged her to reach out to Vermont Foodbank, and we were able to help her apply for 3SquaresVT.
3SquaresVT is Vermont’s name for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP), which provides eligible households with money each month to buy groceries. About 65,000 people living in Vermont receive 3SquaresVT benefits, bringing $155 million in federal food assistance to our local economy.
Having 3SquaresVT means more than just food on the table. For Jessie, it means being able to feed her kids the way she wants to— prioritizing fresh, organic, local ingredients that nourish her family in body, mind, and heart. With her monthly food benefit, Jessie says she’s able to keep the kitchen stocked with nourishing snacks the kids can help themselves to. “They’re never wondering if there’s enough food. That’s part of helping them build a healthy relationship with food, without stress or scarcity.”
She describes how she stretches her food benefits with programs that match 3SquaresVT dollars at participating farmers markets and give an extra discount at her local co-op. As a result, she’s able to purchase more food for her family while supporting the local economy. “It feels really good that we spend the majority of [our benefits] on local food and that money stays in Vermont.”
Jessie explains the positive impact 3SquaresVT has had for her family: “It’s given me a lot of confidence in my ability to show up as a parent, knowing that I can provide that nutrition. And it has
You’re helping make sure kids and families have the nourishing food they know and love, this holiday season and all year long.
also allowed me just to maintain my human dignity throughout a time when so much else is really uncomfortable and hard.
“As a mom, I’m always thinking about my kids and what their experience in a major life transition is like. And [thinking about] getting to access public benefits to continue to receive high-quality health care, access to high-quality food and nutrition. And the kinds of foods that your family is culturally used to eating, and that you value, and that feel good to you and make you feel good in your body. All of that access has provided real stability for all of us in the household during a time of a lot of transition, a lot of change, a lot of—in some ways—insecurity and instability.”
Jessie says working with the Foodbank “made the [application] process a lot less daunting.” She describes herself as someone who has a high level of education and administrative experience, and as someone who found the application process challenging.
Thanks to your support, Vermont Foodbank has dedicated staff with deep understanding of the complex policies of 3SquaresVT. These specialists help neighbors determine if they are eligible, lend support through the application process, and help overcome barriers along the way. Often, neighbors can be connected to additional resources like food shelves, and help paying for utilities and childcare. Jessie shares that having this personalized help “felt really relational and safe and efficient at the same time.”
Looking ahead, Jessie’s preparing for a new career in mental health and wants to continue seeing her children, neighbors, local food system, and community thrive. “I just hope that as a community we can continue to see the value of helping each other out, giving each being that social support for each other in times of need,” says Jessie. “This is just a way that we take care of each other and that we make sure that the future generation, our children, are having the best possible situation in their childhood—so that they can thrive and grow up to be vibrant, productive citizens.”
and name substituted to protect privacy.
Recent federal cuts to SNAP will drastically impact people in Vermont, increasing barriers to food access and weakening the local economy. Stay updated about ways you can take action to support neighbors by signing up for Advocacy Alerts at vtfoodbank.org/advocacy.
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Food is Love: Showing Our Community We Care
Food is celebration and connection. Food is care. Food is love.
The issue of food insecurity often gets more attention during the holiday season than other times of year. But the truth is, hunger is an everyday experience for many friends and neighbors. And with the passage of the federal budget reconciliation bill, more people across Vermont will struggle to access enough nourishing food.
One example: Each year, $155 million in federal food assistance comes to people in Vermont through 3SquaresVT (also know as SNAP or “food stamps”). 3SquaresVT supports 65,000 individuals in Vermont by providing money each month to buy food. More than 85% are children, older adults, or people with disabilities. Deep cuts to this program will reduce or eliminate benefits for some people experiencing food insecurity, and will have a negative economic impact on the 600 local grocers and farmers markets that rely on revenue from 3SquaresVT purchases.
All this means less food on tables across Vermont.
Here at Vermont Foodbank, we remain focused on sharing nourishing food and resources with neighbors experiencing hunger. You can help.
Keep showing up with your voice, your donations, your advocacy efforts, and your volunteer time. When you make a gift today, you can help ensure people have a nourishing meal to connect around this holiday season or any day of the year. A gift of just $35 can help provide $145 worth of food.
As the Foodbank works to understand the details of the budget reconciliation bill and its impact on neighbors facing hunger, we will continue to meet the need for food as best we can and work to change the policies that allow hunger to persist.
Let’s work together to create stability for one another and affirm the belief that everyone has the right to enough nourishing food.
If you or someone you know could use help accessing food, please be in touch. Our contact information is below, and our website is available in many languages spoken in Vermont.