PUTNEY — A diverse group of Putney residents gathered at the Public Library June 2 to hear from a panel about the innovative and collaborative work being done to address hunger and food access here.
What resulted was billed as the Putney Food Summit, a fruitful discussion between panelists and audience members. The panel was moderated by Richard Berkfield, a Putney resident and the executive director of Food Connects, the Windham County nonprofit organization that convened the summit.
“For us to achieve that vision, it requires a lot of collaboration,” remarked Berkfield, adding, “Putney is a unique community, and its successes are often looked to as examples by other communities throughout the state.”
The summit panel was composed of Susan Kochinskas from the Putney Foodshelf, Kristina Israel from the Putney Food Co-op, Helen Rortvedt from Food Connects (and also representing the Putney Central School Food Project), and Hannah Pick from the Vermont Foodbank.
The event built upon momentum from the Putney Hunger Forum, hosted by the Putney Food Co-op last fall, which laid a strong foundation for collaboration amongst the various organizations, and it was evident during the panel that a lot has been accomplished this year as a result of increased cooperation and resource sharing.
For example, the Putney Foodshelf has expanded its reach to an additional 10 families through an innovative Family Food Bag program in partnership with Putney Central School. Each Friday afternoon, a box of food that includes ingredients for all weekend meals is sent home on the school bus. Organizers say they plan to continue this program throughout the summer.
Aside from the school Family Food Bag program, the Putney Foodshelf serves 60 families at the Community Center location. The Putney Foodshelf is open on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, and all are welcome. For information on volunteering or donating, write Kochinskas at [email protected].
The Putney Foodshelf was also one of 11 foodshelves across that state that was awarded a Vermont Fresh grant from the Vermont Foodbank to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Pick, of the Vermont Foodbank, has been working closely with the Putney Foodshelf since January, conducting monthly cooking demos that highlight a single vegetable each month. The recipes aim to be simple, easy-to-prepare, and delicious.
Recently, Israel has joined the collaboration, bringing her cooking expertise to the demos and connecting the Putney Co-op to the work that's being done at the Putney Foodshelf. She said she'll be taking the lead with the demos in the coming months, as gleaning season begins for the Foodbank.
The Vermont Foodbank Gleaning program seeks volunteers for gleaning, the act of harvesting excess or unmarketable produce from a farm. Pick, who coordinates the gleaning program, said her goal is to increase the amount of food rescued from local farms and delivered to those in need.
To volunteer, write Pick at [email protected].
Israel also spoke about the new Putney Food Co-op's Food For All program, which extends a 10 percent discount on all purchases (alcohol and newspapers excluded) for enrolled members who qualify for SNAP, WIC, or SSI benefits.
For more information, visit www.putneycoop.com.
The Putney School District Board has formed the Putney Food Project. School Board Chair Alice Laughlin said the project seeks to look at the school community's relationship with food: what we eat, how and when we eat and where our food comes from.
She said the project is committed to improving and promoting nutrition throughout the whole school day and to better integrate produce from the school's garden into the cafeteria. The Food Project team meets regularly, and has been invited to participate in the Farm to School Institute at Shelburne Farms later this month.
Food Connects has also managed a Local Food Buying Club at Putney Central School throughout the school year. The Local Food Buying Club members purchase locally grown and produced food at reduced prices through Food Connects' partnership with local delivery service Windham Farm & Food.
Organizers say the Buying Club has served 28 families and supported the local food economy with more than $4,000 in purchases this year. The Putney Central School Garden Committee, composed of students and faculty, seeks volunteers to help maintain the garden this summer.
For more information, write h[email protected].