September, 7 2023 -
South Burlington, VT – In a remarkable display of community giving, 7,852 pounds of food were collected at the Vermont Foodbank Day event held on August 31 at the Champlain Valley Fair. The event, sponsored and supported by Vermont Federal Credit Union since 2018, saw an outpouring of donations from fair attendees.
The Vermont Foodbank Day at the Champlain Valley Fair has become a cherished tradition for both the fairgoers and the organizations involved. Attendees were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate in exchange for admittance tickets to the fair. This year, a total of 2,486 tickets were distributed in return for the kind contributions.
"At Vermont Federal Credit Union, we believe in the power of community, and events like these truly demonstrate the generosity of Vermonters. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the issue of food insecurity in our state,” said Peter Winch, Director of Marketing at Vermont Federal Credit Union.
Currently, two in five people in Vermont have experienced food insecurity in the past year-and-a-half (Source: UVM NFACT, July 2022), higher than at any point in 2020 or 2021, and far higher than the 9.6% food insecurity rate Vermont saw before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The collected food items will go a long way in providing essential nourishment to Vermonters in need. The Vermont Foodbank plays a vital role in distributing food to individuals and families facing hunger throughout the state. Food insecurity in Vermont was already at elevated levels prior to July’s catastrophic flooding, which has only exacerbated economic and food access challenges for neighbors across the state.
The Vermont Foodbank is the state of Vermont’s only foodbank and an independent non-profit that is part of the national Feeding America network of food banks. They provide nourishing food through a network of more than 320 community partners – food shelves, meal sites, schools, hospitals, and housing sites.
For more information about the Vermont Foodbank and its efforts to combat hunger, please visit www.vtfoodbank.org.
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About Vermont Federal Credit Union
Vermont Federal Credit Union is a $900 million-plus full-service, not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution that has served Vermonters for more than 70 years, with eight locations currently serving over 50,000 members. Members are part of a cooperative, meaning they share ownership in the Credit Union and elect a volunteer board of directors. Vermont Federal Credit Union provides membership to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in all of Vermont. Vermont Federal Credit Union is committed to supporting its communities and helping Vermonters prosper, no matter where they may be on life’s journey. Learn more about Vermont Federal Credit Union.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Peter Winch
Director of Marketing
pwinch@vermontfederal.org
(802) 658-0225 x 1312
