As a way to live our values and respond to needs in our community, CVUUS is experimenting with hosting a “Community Cupboard” on our grounds! It is a free food and goods pantry, open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays 9 am – 5 pm to all. It is a way to share our resources (including our garden produce) with our community and each other. These are maintained by other spiritual communities and have seen unprecedented use.What: A non-perishable food and essentials pantry that is open to all.
Why: Our values of love, justice, generosity and equity call on us to help our neighbors and share our gifts and abundance with each other, thereby creating a community of “give what you can, take what you need” in an open, stigma-free space. We hope that by publicly promoting a Beloved Community we are encouraging generosity in ourselves and others.
Where: On the property of CVUUS
Who will maintain it: a team of screened volunteers who are trained in “Fresh Rescue” standards written by the Vermont Food Bank. Training is quick and easy- reach out today!
What about liability: Our insurance approved the Community Cupboard as used.
Are we competing with other Food Shelves: We have let our local food shelves know and since they are overwhelmed by need and offer limited hours, this is helpful. Also, ours is drop-in and can reach folks that HOPE and CVOEO can’t.
We welcome donations! At this time we are accepting donations of food or goods (no dairy or eggs, please, or large items as space is limited) left in the “donations” grocery cart in the sanctuary lobby near the CVUUS name rack or arranged with the office. Breakfast cereals and snacks and prepared rice/pasta packs are popular. In winter, we avoid stocking items in glass or cans that could freeze: Cupboard wish list 12.25
We welcome individuals who would like to be “screeners” and “stockers” of donations. Training is quick and easy and can be done over email. Reach out to Karen Cooper (717) 926-1583, Abi Sessions (