Snowy Winter Impacts Some Non Profits
Fox44
Mar 09, 2011
Cars were turned away from the parking lot at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf Wednesday which was covered in snow and slush. That left people picking up food to navigate the unsteady terrain on their own.
“A little crazy trying to get folks in and out of here safely but we’re doing the best we can,” said Communications Director Rachel Moss.
About 3 miles away, empty beds outnumbered ones filled with donors at the American Red Cross Chapter in Burlington.
“On Monday we had 2 blood donations in the entire state of Vermont,” said Corporate Communications Specialist Carol Dembeck
But the snows biggest impact on organizations, including the Food Shelf, go way beyond the latest storm.
“It’s harder for people coming in to make donations,” said Moss, and harder for delivery trucks picking up food to bring to needy families.
At the Red Cross, donations for the month of January dipped to a 10-year low because the snow canceled blood drives and stopped donors.
“I’ve been here 32 years and this is the worse I’ve ever seen,” said Dembeck.
