Dear Friends,
As an organization that works with dozens of local farms and whose volunteers grow food during the warmer months, I am often asked what we do in winter. While it’s true that our focus changes a bit once the ground freezes, our mission does not. Willing Hands is committed to delivering fresh food weekly year-round. The need for food assistance does not ebb with the growing season. In the cold and dark part of winter, when the safety of our neighbors and the health of our communities is challenged, my wish is to share some of my hope and optimism with you.
Since our recent strategic plan, we have focused on increasing food availability during the winter months and offering a wider variety year-round. Over the past year, we have made significant progress toward this goal. A month into the new year, we have received more than 100,000 pounds of donated food from partner farms, wholesalers, and retailers. This is a record for January.
A few highlights include:
- 40,000 pounds of fruit and veggies from UNFI-Fresh, including wonderful citrus and a pallet of perfect mangos this week.
- Over 15,000 pounds of eggs, or about 8,000 dozen from Pete and Gerry’s Eggs.
- 1,758 half gallons of local milk from Strafford Organic Creamery and McNamara Dairy.
- 12,214 pounds of produce, bread, meat, and dairy from the Co-op Food Stores.
- 3,608 pounds of bread and baked goods from King Arthur Baking Company and Pepperidge Farms.
These donations represent a significant contribution to our 85 food shelves and social service agency partners. This food brings nourishment and dignity to our neighbors. Our commitment to year-round deliveries of fresh food is core to our organization’s work. We are grateful for the many food donors, volunteers, and supporters who make this work possible.
Sincerely,
Gabe Zoerheide, Executive Director