Each September the Putney Foodshelf’s Top The Truck food drive during Hunger Action Month brings in both food and financial donations that last for about two months of the year. It’s an important part of Putney Foodshelf’s fundraising and food procurement.

This year the drive will take place from September 20–26 at the Putney Co-op and the Putney General Store. Because of Covid-19, the Foodshelf leadership team has reinvented Top The Truck to limit person-to-person contact. People can purchase cases of food at a bulk rate at the registers as well as through online ordering at www.putneyfoodshelf.org. Also at the General Store, people will be able to buy single items for the donation basket.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, Putney Foodshelf has been serving around 100 households per week, including 50 to 56 families who come to the Saturday drive-up Open Hours, 25 to 29 families a week via home delivery, as well as 20 to 25 families through our Food4Kids program. Putney Foodshelf primarily serves Putney, Dummerston, Brattleboro, and Westminster, but no one is turned away. Putney Foodshelf has committed to being open for those in need.

Putney Foodshelf has instituted a drive-up model. During open hours (Saturdays from 9:00–11:00 a.m.), shoppers remain in their cars. Volunteers greet each car, determine what is needed, then prepare and deliver the bags. Each family is offered a bag of shelf-stable foods, a bag of fresh produce, and a bag of meat, milk, and eggs.

Putney Foodshelf is in direct communication with and is collaborating with Putney town officials, Putney Central School, Putney Community Cares, Putney Mutual Aid, Dummerston Cares, Hunger Council of the Windham Region, Vermont Foodbank, and others, in order to work together as the situation evolves.

For further information or to donate, visit the Foodshelf website at putneyfoodshelf.org or call (802) 387-8551 and leave a message.