Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.
The Holland Food Shelf is set to remain open for at least six more months after an anonymous donor came forward with funding, according to Don Stevens, executive director of the nonprofit that runs the pantry.
The pantry had been poised to close at the end of the month due to the elimination of the federal SNAP-Ed program, as well as rising overhead costs. But Stevens said Thursday that he had received a pledge “out of the blue” of up to $43,600 to guarantee the pantry would make it through the winter.
The organization serves residents in and around Holland at Vermont’s border with Canada, and helps cover an area of the state that is often difficult to reach for other food assistance providers. The gift will spare the local community a poorly timed loss of resources and guarantee a source of free food for those in need during the tough winter months, Stevens said.
Stevens’ team had stopped ordering food in anticipation of shutting down the pantry, but has now “put in an emergency order” with the Vermont Foodbank for the flow of food to resume. The two food pantry staff who had been facing layoffs will keep their positions too, at least until March.
“We are glad to hear that Holland (Food Shelf) will be able to remain open to serve their community,” Carrie Stahler, Vermont Foodbank’s government and public affairs manager, said Thursday. When the pantry was set to close, Stahler had emphasized the importance of local partner organizations in the state’s food assistance network.
Stevens said the donor is a Vermont resident, but not a Holland local.
“He doesn’t want attention,” Stevens said. “He didn’t want to see people go hungry.”
Stevens, who directs the nonprofit Abenaki Helping Abenaki and is chief of the Nulhegan band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, said his organization is facing significant shortfalls. He’s hoping this donation will “spark other people” to support the food pantry through next spring and beyond.
“Otherwise, we’ll be back where we started,” he said.
Marci Diamond, a local resident and pantry volunteer who expressed concern about the planned closure, was cautiously optimistic on Thursday.
“At least our area will have a food shelf for a little longer,” she said. “It underscores the importance of community members stepping up to get involved with mutual aid.”
Diamond said the donation “is of course good news … but then what happens to the rural, isolated veterans, elders, farmers and children, at the end of winter?”
Stevens added that his organization is not unique in its struggles.
“There’s still so much need out there, with other food shelves potentially closing and other food programs being cut,” he said.
