By Chris Mays, Brattleboro Reformer
VERNON — A thread on the Facebook page dedicated to community news prompted questions about whether a food pantry exists in town."It had been on our minds really for some time, but we hadn't been able to pull it all together," the Rev. Bruce Burks told the Reformer. "We just decided it was the right time. Before the first of the year, we said we really need to pursue this and get it going. We did."
His group got the ball rolling after connecting with the Vermont Food Bank. The official opening of the Bread of Life Food Pantry will be today, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Vernon Advent Christian Church.
The food pantry will be open the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 4 to 6 p.m., but Burks said the schedule is subject to change if he finds that other times work better.
The church is located at 4554 Fort Bridgman Rd.
Eleven people showed up to an unadvertised opening of the pantry.
"We did a soft opening about a month ago just to see how it would all run," said Burks. "We decided it was a need in the town and so we're going to try and meet that need if we could."
He expects between 25 and 30 people to show up at future openings. A mailer about the food pantry was sent to every Vernon resident last week.
Like other operations, the Vernon food pantry will have a sign-in sheet to keep track of items leaving the church and number of individuals served. But there are no requirements around eligibility.
Burks compares the experience to going to a supermarket.
"We will have frozen meats," he said. "We'll certainly have canned goods and nonperishables, some produce. So, a good variety."
While initially targeting Vernon residents, the hope is to reach out to neighboring communities such as Northfield and Bernardston in Massachusetts. Anyone is welcome to come.
The theme at the church this year is about being a community and reaching the community.
"Certainly, this is some way we could reach the community and meet a need that's in the community," Burks said. "We love God and we love the community, and this is one way it comes together."
He expects about 10 volunteers and "more along the way" to help with the effort. The pantry first featured food donated by the congregation. Most of the food will now be provided by the Vermont Food Bank.
Burks has lived in Vernon for almost 32 years but does not recall any other food pantries opening in town. He said Vernon Shares had allowed residents to purchase food at a very low cost but he did not know how many participants the program had.
Reach staff writer Chris Mays at cmays@reformer.com, at @CMaysBR on Twitter and 802-254-2311, ext. 273.
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