While there was no Community Thanksgiving Dinner in Brattleboro this year, the Brattleboro Food Co-op filled the gap with something new: distributing hundreds of free meals within the span of just a few hours.
According to a news release, the Co-op implemented the event "after months of discussing ways to get more food to people in the community who need it most."
The majority of the meals - more than 1,000 - were delivered to unhoused people staying in motels, and about 200 were handed out at the Co-op.
The day before the holiday, "kitchen staff took over the Co-op's conference room to fill hundreds of microwavable to-go containers with generous helpings of mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots, and turkey breast," according to the Co-op. "The ingredients for the meals were donated by one of the Co-op's vendors. Originally thought to be enough food for 800 meals, as they were assembled, the team realized they would be able to offer almost double that amount."
"Feeding people in this community is the reason the Co-op is here," said Amy Crawford, the Co-op's manager of marketing and community relations. "We are directed by our Ends policies- and our hearts - to create an open, welcoming environment, and to contribute to a just economy. We are so happy that we were able to do this."
The Co-op is also coordinating food donations with area food shelves and shelters in the days before Christmas. On Monday, Christmas Day, they will be serving food on site at the Co-op between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.