Community Connections for your Classroom

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The Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving Vermont through a network of food shelves, meal sites, shelters, senior centers, and youth programs.  The mission of the Vermont Foodbank is to gather and share quality food and nurture partnerships so that no Vermonter will go hungry.  In fiscal year 2018, the Foodbank distributed 12 million pounds of food to over 153,000 Vermonters.  The Vermont Foodbank is nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation.  Learn more at http://www.vtfoodbank.org

 

Gleaning Program

 

Our Gleaning Program is a key part of the Foodbank’s mission.  Gleaning is the act of harvesting and gathering surplus or “seconds” from farms.  Through gleaning, we are able to collect fresh and nutritious food that might otherwise go to waste.  This healthy food gets delivered to our network partners throughout Vermont.

 

Student volunteers play a huge role in this effort!  Our free, on-farm field trips give students an opportunity to learn about where their food comes from, the importance of having access to fresh food, and the challenges food-insecure Vermonters face while giving back to their local community!