Subaru Share the Love Update: History of the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf

In honor of our ongoing Share the Love Event, we wanted to share the history of the amazing work that the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf does. As of today, we've raised $12,5000 for the Food Shelf! Share the Love runs through the end of the month so be sure to check out our Share the Love page for more info!

The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf (CEFS) was the result of community churches and synagogues working together to address the issue of hunger throughout Chittenden County in 1974. At the time, the Food Shelf was located in a small roof that was run by a single person who was assisted by volunteers -- they provided a three-day supply of groceries to local families each month as a Grocery Distribution Program.

In 1978, the Food Shelf became a program of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO), whose mission is “the elimination of poverty in the midst of plenty.” In 1982, the Food Shelf also became a member agency of the United Way. That year CEFS moved to a larger location to accommodate greater demand; their new location had access to a kitchen and began serving a hot breakfast every morning Monday-Friday.

Since then, CEFS has relocated to larger sites twice, which includes its latest move in 1994 to its current location, which was built through the RELIEF Capital Campaign. In response to even higher demand for hunger relief services, the Food Shelf began the Homebound Delivery Program in 1998, which is alternative food resources to assist those who are homebound seniors or disabled adults.

Today, in addition to direct hunger relief services, the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf also houses a comprehensive culinary job training program called Community Kitchen, to provide a long-term solution to the cycle of hunger and poverty.

All information and image of the Food Shelf via CEFS