The Mission of HANDS
The mission of HANDS is to provide food for seniors who struggle with food insecurity, 50 years and older, in Chittenden County, Vermont. We do this with the very generous help of hundreds of organizations, businesses, and volunteers, and we thank you very much!
Specifically, HANDS:
Provides Season’s Eatings, a cheery, personalized greeting card, food resource access list, and a $20 grocery card to over 1,500 seniors in Chittenden County during the holiday season. We are working toward expanding our reach further by including even more elders who utilize foodshelves as well as seniors in local BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and immigrant communities.
Delivers HANDS in the Kitchen workshops with Chef Robin Burnett, covering topics such as cooking for one, shopping on a budget, eating healthy foods, & so much more. This nutrition education includes activities as well as some delicious food.
Fills gaps in getting fresh food to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and older adults in immigrant communities though our Diverse Pantry program. We partner with local farmers, AALV, Feeding Chittenden, Vermont Foodbank, ethnic markets, and others to provide culturally-friendly fresh veggies, eggs, and meat.
We are very pleased that HANDS in the Dirt is now a program with Vermont Garden Network (VGN). VGN will continue to provide gardening programs at senior housing, long-term nursing centers, and senior centers. We outgrew our capacity so this shift will guarantee sustainability for the older adults who have enjoyed gardening with HANDS. VGN can be found at https://vtgardens.org/. Thank you, Vermont Garden Network!
Support Buddies was created in partnership with Heineberg Community Senior Center in March 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers helped with everything from occasional phonecall check-ins to assistance with groceries. We would like to thank our community partners including Age Well, August First, Barrio Bakery, Burlington’s Resource & Recovery Center, City Market, Computers for Change, Everyone Eats, Farmer Sue Wells, Hannaford, Intervale Center, Jake’s ONE Market, New North End Food Pantry, ShiftMeals, Sweetwaters, Vermont Foodbank, and many cherished volunteers who made the program so successful as we got groceries and meals to isolated seniors. We were even able to physically expand the food pantry at Heineberg so that people had extra space to maneuver. Because needs have shifted somewhat from COVID and funding was exhausted, Support Buddies is no longer operating…though many of the friendships that developed continue to thrive.
HANDS offered the annual Holiday Dinner for 25 years, a hot meal and giftbag delivery on Christmas Day that grew from 20 that first year to 1,200 seniors throughout Chittenden County in 2021. We outgrew the capacity to manage that large a program and, sadly, can’t provide the meals and giftbags anymore. We couldn’t have accomplished this without the help of Age Well, Burlington School Food Project, Michelle Charron, Elks Lodge, Penny Cluse Café, Temple Sinai, and hundreds of volunteers and businesses.
For our programs to be successful, your support is very much appreciated. Even $5 helps us meet our fundraising goals. According to United Health Foundation, almost 10% of adults 60 years and older in Vermont currently struggle with food insecurity. As the number of COVID cases diminish, food insecurity has actually continued to rise. Please go to https://www.handsvt.org/lend-a-hand-2 or send a check made out to HANDS to 13 St. Louis Street, Burlington VT 05401. Thank you so much for your generosity in making the life of a senior a little bit brighter and healthier! HANDS is a 501c3 and your donation is tax deductible.
Gallery
Farmer Shabagwe
Martin, Manager at Jake’s ONE Market, and HANDS Helper Jess loading groceries for “Support Buddies” in 2020.
Shannon, one of our cherished volunteers
We’re so grateful for all of the volunteers who show up early at Burlington High School on Christmas Day to do some final giftwrapping, card writing, and giftbag filling. We delivered 1,000 meals and giftbags in 2021.
Erick, delivering African eggplant
Ray at Canal Street Veterans Housing, getting a hot meal from the Good Food Truck
Farmer Janine and her husband, Faustin
St. Joseph’s Home gardeners with expert Charlie Nardozzi
Thanks to all of the volunteers who came together in this lovely community effort (Photo by James Buck)
Farmer Theogene
The History of HANDS
HANDS started about 20 years ago when Megan Humphrey was working at a local senior center. Martha, a senior who attended the center, told her how tough it was to be alone on Christmas. Megan promised Martha that the next year, seniors would gather on Christmas Day. There were about 20 people who came together for a holiday meal that first year. This past year, 1,000 meals and giftbags were delivered all over the county so we’ve grown a lot!
Seeing other gaps in food security, we started partnering with local organizations to include “HANDS in the Dirt” gardening programs at senior housing, long-term nursing centers, senior centers, and other sites with assistance from Vermont Community Garden Network, gardening expert Charlie Nardozzi, Gardeners Supply, Hannaford, & Red Wagon Plants; have meals delivered to veterans and other low-income seniors in partnership with Feeding Chittenden’s ‘Good Food Truck’, Canal Street Veterans Housing, & Winooski Housing Authority; and provide nutrition education through our “HANDS in the Kitchen” programs with help from AARP VT, Chef Robin Burnett, CCTV Town Meeting TV, City Market, Heineberg Community Senior Center, Vermont Foodbank, and senior housings.
Eventually, a friend approached us and suggested that HANDS become a 501c3, but Megan knew that the federal paperwork was daunting. Our friend offered to complete the paperwork and file it—that’s how we became a 501c3!
When COVID hit in March 2020, we had to shift gears quickly. HANDS partnered with Heineberg Community Senior Center and we immediately created “Support Buddies”. We realized that seniors were suddenly isolated and scared at home, and needed food and other supplies. So, we called 650 seniors to see what they needed. We matched volunteers with seniors who wanted help, everything from an occasional phonecall check-in to groceries and meals delivered. Since then, our partnership has grown to include Age Well, August First, Barrio Bakery, Burlington’s Resource & Recovery Center, City Market, Computers for Change, Everyone Eats, Farmer Sue Wells, Hannaford, Intervale Center, Jake’s ONE Market, New England Grassroots Environment Fund, North End Food Pantry, ShiftMeals, Sweetwaters, Vermont Foodbank, and MANY volunteers. It’s a remarkable community effort and we appreciate everyone’s commitment.
HANDS strives to fill gaps rather than duplicating what’s already be offered. One person can make a difference, but it’s even more effective when many brains and hands come together to solve a problem. Thank you for joining us in our efforts!
