“Mind the gap - It’s the distance between life as you dream it and life as it is.”
It was so nice to see so many of you at the Empty Bowl Dinner on Saturday, October 24th. If you were unable to attend, know you were missed. It was such a wonderful evening of community and generosity. It was heartwarming to see this community come together in support of the idea that no one should go hungry. I am not the best public speaker, and I get overwhelmed with emotion when I talk about this mission. Saturday was no exception. So, in an effort to share my message completely with those who were there and give those unable to attend an opportunity to hear it better, I am writing to you all here, where I am infinitely more comfortable.
I will start by saying a huge thank-you to each and every one of you for your support and shared commitment to this mission. Each one of you reading this plays a pivotal role in the work we do in this community. This thank-you comes from me and all the volunteers, staff, and directors at Our Place. We could not do this without you.
Those of you at the Empty Bowl event on October 24th, I want to say wow and thank you! What a great night and what a huge success. This community’s generosity was on full display. I think it was the best ever in terms of dollars raised and just overall enjoyment. I also want to thank Kurn Hattin Home and School for hosting us, along with a big thanks to their hard-working staff for the beautiful setup and exceptional help. They could not have been better hosts. I also want to thank the Bellows Falls Rotary Club for their hard work of managing the auction and the registration. What a huge lift from Sam Howard, Amy Howlett, and Jeff McLarty getting everyone checked in and out—thank you. Thank you to 7 Balls Brewing for your delicious libations and generous donation. Everyone involved made it a great night. Thank you for everyone’s generosity and good cheer.
There has been so much accomplished of late. We’ve finished a big facelift to our building in Bellows Falls. We had new siding installed, new windows, and most importantly, insulation. Beyond the added comfort and future energy savings, the repairs have given us more pride in our work and made our served community feel more cared for. Those subtle messages are invaluable.
We’ve also begun a partnership with the Great Falls Food Hub, Local Food Matters, and the Sustainable Valley Group in an effort to enrich and enhance our local food landscape. Our first project together was a small but fun event, “Fill the Freezer,” that brought together 14 volunteers from the community to process and freeze 400 lbs of food donated by our local farm friends Pete’s Stand, Harlow Farm, and North Wind Farm This was our first event, but it is just the beginning for a group of passionate folks in our community exploring scalable ways to have more of the food we eat come from local producers. This will improve the quality of the food we have available and add dollars to the local economy. This can make a real difference to our physical and financial health and strengthen ties throughout the community.
I was selected by the Vermont Food Bank to be a part of this year’s cohort of ten food pantry and meal center leaders from all over the state. The purpose of the group is to gather insights and knowledge from boots-on-the-ground operators to find more efficient and effective ways for us to meet the shared mission of tackling food security in Vermont. I have been able to talk to other leaders about their successes and struggles and come away with fresh ideas and ways to improve Our Place and create a pathway for success for decades to come.
While reflecting on the year, I realized I came to Our Place five years ago now. At that time, we were preparing 60–80 meals per day. Because of the COVID restrictions and special programs specific to that time, there were also free meals to hand out from the State of Vermont program called “Everyone Eats.” We received an additional 125 meals a week from that program which we shared through the window of our building. Everyone Eats paid local Vermont restaurants a fixed price to produce packaged, complete meals that were distributed for free to Vermonters in need. It was a relative time of plenty for food insecurity work. America was generous; philanthropic funding was easily available, and awareness was at a high. Today, Our Place serves 125–175 meals PER DAY. And yet, there are no more Everyone Eats meals, philanthropic money is far harder to obtain, and awareness about the need to feed our neighbors is shrinking. Five years ago, we got every grant we applied for—zero denials. I am not a great grant writer, and yet even I found success then. Today, even with the grant writing experience of our board co-chair, Dr. Laura Wolfe, we have only had a 50% success rate.
Luckily, Our Place employs rock stars. Because of their hard work, creativity, and commitment, we have been able to meet twice the demand without adding any new staff. Our Culinary team, Kelly Merrit and Deb Simoneau, have stepped up and delivered—not only more meals, but better and more nutritious meals. Amanda Reed, our operations manager, has been creative in saving money on supplies and hunting down the free things available within the community. Despite our best efforts, there was a shortfall last year in our budget, and we may face one again this year. With uncertain energy costs, increased food costs, and less free food available from our state partners, Our Place is facing strong economic headwinds.
We need your help filling this gap. A grassroots movement will allow Our Place to continue feeding people and providing them a place to go where they share the warmth of this community’s generosity. Your help may come in many forms. If you have the means to increase your giving, we will put it to good use in the community. You can volunteer your time on our board of directors or in the pantry or kitchen. Maybe it's simply spreading the word and sharing your passion for our work with others.
Will you please share this post, Dave’s Notes, with friends and colleagues who you share a passion for this work? I want you each to know that your involvement makes a real difference. Together, we create a ripple of positive change that continues to be transformative in the lives of our neighbors.
I Imagine a Vermont where every community member has access to nutritious meals and has a place where kindness and generosity flow abundantly. Where all our cups are full.
Warm regards,
Dave
Executive Director, Our Place
It's Holiday Basket Season!!!
As I look out upon the extraordinary beautiful fall foliage this year, I am quickly reminded that it is “Basket Season” again! Basket season for Our Place is that time of year where we take stock in our accomplishments and our blessings and begin to turn our sights toward the holidays, with its warm gatherings with family and friends. We believe strongly in ensuring our friends in the community have access to a bountiful meal when they may not have otherwise been afforded the opportunity for one.
Every year at this time, Our Place compiles donations of cash and food from area businesses, producers, and private community members so we can provide our neighbors with quality local ingredients for a complete holiday meal in a basket. Over the past few years, our basket program has provided holiday meals for 90 families for each Thanksgiving and during the December holidays. Last year, with your extraordinary help, we were able to deliver complete meals to 125 families in our neighborhood. For both Thanksgiving and Christmas! That's 250 complete meals delivered from this powerful little rural community. Even at 125, we still had to turn families away. Our hope this year is to be able to turn no one away. Together we can do it.
Remember, your $100 donation ensures a local family has a beautiful holiday meal, not only to nourish themselves but also to feel the warmth and compassion of a strong and supportive community. We need more solidarity these days, and there is no better time than now to reach out those hands. Vermont Strong