sharing food, giving hope

The Winooski Food Shelf is a community outreach program of the United Methodist Church of Winooski, a program that operates as a non-profit 501 (c) 3 as registered by the church. Its mission is to provide supplemental food assistance to Winooski residents who self-identify as food insecure.

We are also concerned citizens of Winooski, who believe that no family in our town should be hungry. We donate our time and money purchasing food, loading and unloading deliveries, stocking shelves, packaging bags for pick-up, serving guests, fundraising, and doing whatever we can to make a difference.

The Food Shelf serves its guests without judgment and with kindness, congeniality, privacy, patience and respect.

The Winooski Food Shelf does not discriminate and welcomes all guests and volunteers regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender. New Americans are welcome. We do, however, require proof of Winooski residency for food recipients.

how to receive
food assistance

how to help

our hours

We are open every second and fourth Wednesday and Saturday of the month. registered clients may receive food one Wednesday and both Saturdays each month. On Wednesdays, we're open from 1-3 pm; on Saturdays, from 9:30-11 am.

attention!

Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented increases in the cost of eggs due to Bird Flu, the rising cost of meat, and the news that the Vermont Food Bank is no longer offering as much protein as it once did, we are forced to make some significant cutbacks to the amount of eggs and meat we distribute each month.

Until further notice, each household will receive one (1) dozen eggs, 1 X month. Eggs will only be distributed on Wednesdays. The distribution of meat is also being cut back. It will only be available 1 X per month, also on Wednesdays.

REMINDER: YOU MAY ONLY VISIT THE FOOD SHELF ONE WEDNESDAY PER MONTH. Special arrangements will be made for those who are unable to come on Wednesdays.

all volunteer staff

The Winooski Food Shelf is run entirely by volunteers of all ages, many behind the scenes, shopping for, picking up and shelving groceries, just to name a few activities.

You've heard the phrase "it takes a village." Well, it takes a village to run the WFS. Currently, we need help the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 9 am to help unload, bring inside, and shelve the food dropped off each month by the Vermont Food Bank.

If you can help out in any way, email us at winooskifoodshelf@gmail.com. Leave a message and someone will get back to you.

We are a Vermont Food Bank Network Partner.

$$ donations needed

During and after the Pandemic, The Vermont Food Bank experienced an increase in need from most of the 300 Food Shelves it serves--including an increase in need from us.

"The demand is so high now," says WFS Director Linda Howe "that the Vermont Food Bank regularly runs out of the supplies we normally order. That means we are forced to purchase even the staples and other food basics at full or sale price at nearby grocery stores."

The bottom line is that a greater percentage of the food we share costs more. We continue to accept food donations, but--as welcome as those are--they do not make up enough to cover the increased amount of food we need.

Please help you neighbors in need. Just call or email us. Use the credit card option above or send a check c/o The Winooski United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 53, Winooski, Vermont 05404.