Stories of food insecurity are often centered on scarcity - and aptly so. 

However, a recent visit to the Champlain Islands Food Shelf (CIFS) provided - even if just momentarily - a feeling of abundance. 

It was Tuesday morning and volunteers swiftly unpacked deliveries, neatly filling any vacancies on the shelves. There was excited chatter about how displays could be better organized for improved customer accessibility and brainstorming of recipes that would align well with the inventory on hand. The group of volunteers worked through tasks with a seamless efficiency and thoughtful cooperation that would be the envy of any human resources department. At the CIFS, the human resources department (and lead of every other department, too) is one part-time paid staff member: the CIFS Manager Extraordinaire, Whitney Doremeus. Whitney’s work is supported by a Board of Directors - composed of volunteer officers and advisors. 

Another team of volunteers assembled on Wednesday afternoon: distribution day. They put the final touches on inventory, got a rundown on weekly updates from Whitney, and assembled to welcome customers. When the doors opened at 2 pm, there were a notable amount of smiles exchanged between volunteers and customers - along with greetings by name and ‘How are you doing?’, extended with sincerity both ways. A volunteer warmly greeted a mother with her hands full with little ones and they all worked as a team to gather groceries. Another volunteer assisted an older customer who needed an extra hand getting around, discussing easy meal ideas all the while. Thanks to the dedication and thoughtfulness of volunteers, it is not uncommon for there to be special offerings on distribution days, such as samples and meal kits (complete with recipe cards and ingredients) for customers to take home. Amidst the familiar interactions, new customers trickled in and were offered a guided visit with friendly volunteers. For community members who may not be able to access the CIFS in-person (for a variety of reasons), some volunteers oversee home deliveries throughout the Champlain Islands. 

The CIFS is a space rooted in trust and respect. If someone seeks out CIFS stating that they are hungry; that they don’t have enough food to make ends this week; that they are in a tough situation for a while: they are welcomed. Instead of follow-up questions centered on proving need, inquiries focused on dignity and ease are prioritized; visitors are asked, ‘How can we best be of help to you?’- from filling their bags with groceries and/or connecting them with additional resources. Volunteers often find that customers are averse to taking the last of something on the shelf, noting that they want to save it for those coming after them. The generous culture of the Food Shelf has been co-created by the customers and volunteers, alike. At the end of a shopping trip, a volunteer waits to help carry each customer’s bags outside. It is evident that here, everyone works together to lighten the load. 

Between stocking and distribution days, work continues behind the scenes with the resourceful curation of inventory from around the state. For instance, one volunteer drives to Barre once a month to bring CIFS a haul from the Vermont Food Shelf. Continuously, the Board is at work exploring how to improve food access within the Islands and beyond through partnerships with many other organizations. There are also special events that take place with other organizations throughout the year, including the Emmons Islands Haunted Trail food drive and fundraiser and Indivisible Champlain Islands food drive (both volunteer-based efforts). 

Abundance can come in unexpected places and in many forms. In this case, in the basement of St. Joe’s Church in Grand Isle, if you look amidst the well organized cans of soup and tidy boxes of mac n’ cheese and between the caring exchanges of customers and volunteers, you indeed see that to be true. 

As April (Volunteer Appreciation Month), comes to a close, the Board and CIFS Manager wish to extend an *abundance* of thanks to the many volunteers who bring our mission to life. Thank you!