The Community Food Market at the Upper Valley Haven in White River operates Monday-Thursday from 10 am to 4:30 pm and Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm, and carries a wide array of fresh and packaged food, produce, and personal hygiene products for community members in need, all free of charge. On a typical day, well before the shoppers arrive at the Haven, the morning shift of volunteers sorts a delivery from Willing Hands. Later in the morning, volunteers escort shoppers through packed shelves in the market. The camaraderie among the volunteer team is clear: they have been working together for years, some for more than a decade, and cherish these roles.
“The real joy of this position is working with the customers,” says Bob, a Haven volunteer, “and their reactions when they get this fresh food. Sometimes they have a special request—berries are very popular—and their faces just light up when you can tell them that we have it.”
Mert, another volunteer, agrees. “In the last year, we’ve been seeing more and more need, particularly among older people coming in. Partly it was the SNAP crisis last fall. But even now, their monthly checks just don’t last as long. Without our market, they wouldn’t have access to fresh food, like lettuce, which they love. The deliveries from Willing Hands help them stretch their budget to access food they wouldn’t otherwise have, and the market gives them a place to shop without embarrassment.”
In the past year alone, the Haven received 122,210 pounds of food from Willing Hands, notes Erin Caricofe, Community Food Market Manager.
“We serve on average 85 households each day from the surrounding community,” says Erin. “We also serve shelter residents and guests who make use of the seasonal shelter. The staff at Willing Hands are just wonderful, and we truly value the partnership that we’ve created with them, the farmers, community members, and the local stores. Together, we are providing fresh food and local seasonal produce for many, many families. It’s a true team effort; we couldn’t operate the Community Food Market without them.”
