BRATTLEBORO — Groundworks Collaborative's Foodworks food shelf program reopened to in-person shopping as of June 13, after more than two years of curbside pickup and deliveries. The program has been located at 141 Canal Street since September 2019, but had to quickly reorganize operations in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the safety of shoppers and staff alike.
“We are excited about giving people the opportunity to choose their own groceries again,” Andrew Courtney, Foodworks's new director, said in a news release.
Courtney began this new role in early May after years-long Foodworks coordinator, Christine Colascione, left the helm for other pursuits.
“We welcome Andrew to the team and acknowledge all of the great work he has inspired since joining Groundworks,” said executive director Josh Davis. “Andrew joins the organization with a broad range of operating experience in the realm of food. Most recently, as owner of a small market - specializing in fresh and nutritious foods - in San Diego.”
Davis adds, “We think in-person shopping will be a more efficient way to get food out to the community than our current style of service.”
Foodworks is open for in-person shopping Mondays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon (reserved for seniors only); Wednesdays, 1 to 6 p.m.; Fridays, noon to 4 p.m.; and the last Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.
Community members will be welcome to access food and other household staples twice each month at 141 Canal Street in Brattleboro. Masks will be required and staff will limit the number of shoppers in the building at a time.
“A return to in-store shopping creates benefits including greater personal choice in food selection, opportunities for community building, and a much faster process than curbside pickup and delivery options,” said Courtney.
Foodworks is this region's most heavily utilized food shelf-the program served 1,351 area households last year. In order to continue to meet the increased need for emergency food, Foodworks is distributing twice as much food as the program was pre-Covid.
With so many people experiencing the long-term impacts of Covid and inflation, they expect this increased need to carry on for the foreseeable future.
Anyone interested in making a donation to help Foodworks to continue to meet the increased need can do so at groundworksvt.org/donate or by sending a check to Groundworks Collaborative, P.O. Box 370, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
Donations of non-expired and unopened food items (including extra garden produce) can be made to Foodworks Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the rear door of 141 Canal Street.
Foodworks appreciates a call ahead to let them know a donation is coming, as anything left unattended overnight or on the weekend will be deemed unsafe to distribute. To reach Foodworks directly - with questions about volunteering, food access, or if you need to schedule a delivery of food - contact them at 802-490-2412 or [email protected].
Weekend and evening donations are also welcome at Groundworks Drop-In Center at 54 South Main Street. (802-257-5415).