Learning about hunger in Vernon

In August 2013, Foodshare Partnership Program funding was awarded by Foodshare to the Vernon Hunger Action Team (HAT) to increase donor engagement and reduce food drives.  On Thursday afternoon March 6th, nineteen Vernon community members attended the first in a series of 3 HAT sponsored bus tours that will be held to “move beyond food drives through community awareness”. 

 

Our guests included Dr. Mary Conway, President of Vernon Public Schools, Steven Smith, Staff Reporter for the Reminder Newspaper, as well as five students from Rockville High School who prepared a video on hunger in Vernon.  Our tour included stops at 2 Foodshare partner agencies, Hockanum Valley Community Council, Inc. (HVCC) and The Cornerstone Soup Kitchen.  In addition to a tour of HVCC client choice pantry, we had a passionate presentation from Max on the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables at HVCC, as well as a testimonial from Bill, a former client of HVCC who described his personal story of how HVCC helped him in his time of need.

 

The display of a single box of cereal purchased retail for $4.79 next to 23 boxes of the same cereal obtained through Foodshare for the same amount was a powerful visual for our potential donors.

We concluded our tour with a typical Cornerstone Soup Kitchen evening meal prepared by Chef Al Bauer.  We saw the 11 minute video prepared by the RHS students.  The students received a round of applause for their efforts, as well as questions from Steve Smith from the Reminder.  The Vernon HAT is looking forward to future bus tours to continue to increase awareness and donor engagement.

 

Reminder News covered the tour with a story here.