Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
The United States Department of Agriculture’s most recent annual report on hunger shows Vermont and Alabama are tied as having the highest increase in household hunger in the country over the last ten years1. In Addison County, there has been a significant increase in the number of families participating in the 3SquaresVT program (VT food stamps) with many families reporting that they are not getting enough to eat each day, including 1 in 7 children2.
Beginning today, with help from staff members in Dining Services, Staff Council, and in buildings around campus, we are collecting food and other donations for our local Addison County food shelves. Collection will continue until December 10th.
Collection boxes can be found in the following locations:
• Ross Dining Hall (near the entry to the dining area)
• Proctor Dining Hall (near the entry to the dining area)
• Service Building (in the entry lobby near the main door of the Service Building facing McCullough)
• Service Building (on the lower level near the Biomass Plant in the hall near the door leading to the back parking area of the Service Building)
• McCullough (near the ATM)
• Old Chapel (first floor lobby)
• Mahaney Center for the Arts (upper lobby near the Information Desk)
• Forest Hall (in Reprographics, and in Mailing Services)
• Davis Family Library (in hallway outside Staff Room, on the Lower Level, Southeast corner)
• Warner Hall (main entrance on 2nd floor, near the bench)
• Twilight Hall (Room 202)
• Freeman International Center (inside drive-up entrance door [off Weybridge Street] under bulletin board)
• Munroe Hall (basement workroom [photocopier and mailroom])
• Axinn Center at Starr Library (near entry door facing McCullough)
• Axinn Center at Starr Library (near entry door facing Admissions)
• McKinley House
• Painter House
• Courthouse
• Kitchel House
The following items are needed in particular:
• canned fruits
• chicken soups, tomato soup, beef soups
• canned vegetables
• juices
• baking ingredients – flour, sugars, salt, shortening and oil, leavenings
• snacks – cookies, crackers, dried fruits, pretzels
• dessert mixes – cakes, pudding and jello, muffins
• evaporated milk
• in-the-bird stuffing mix
• personal hygiene products – toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, razors, soap
• cleaning supplies and paper products – dish and laundry detergents, cleanser, household cleaners, paper towels, bath tissue, sanitary napkins, baby diapers
Please do not¬ donate items that are past their “sell-by” date or food that you would not consider eating yourself. If your office is already collecting donations, please email Arabella Holzapfel (holzapfe@middlebury.edu) for details regarding the central campus collection point so you don’t need to arrange for transport of your donations to local food shelves.
Thank you for your generosity in supporting our local community.
Sincerely,
Ron
1. http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13516533
2. From Share our Strength, communicated by Pat Peters, Dining Services (see http://strength.org/childhood_hunger/hunger_facts/)
and http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13516533