GOOD WORKS: Record haul for food shelf

Burlington Free Press
Monday, December 14, 2009

Vermont Federal Credit Union joined radio stations 99.9 The Buzz and 106.7 WIZN last month at Costco in Colchester to help collect food for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf and provided sponsorship as part of the Feed Your Neighbor Campaign.

Employees of Vermont Federal were available to accept donations of nonperishable food items for the cause. The annual event collected a record 12,649 pounds of food, surpassing last year’s total of 7,128 pounds.

“Vermont Federal has a strong commitment to supporting the local community, especially in these tough economic times,” said Bernie Isabelle, president and CEO of Vermont Federal Credit Union. “Events such as Feed Your Neighbor exemplify the credit union philosophy of people helping people.”

In 1974, when The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf started, it was in one small room staffed by one person and assisted by volunteers who distributed a three-day supply of groceries to families once a month. Thanks to many volunteers and campaigns such as Feed Your Neighbor, today The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf is the largest in Vermont.