Community Harvest of Central Vermont Celebrates Official Non-Profit Status and Major Donations

Community Harvest of Central Vermont (CHCV), a community based volunteer driven food recovery organization, recently received official recognition as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization from the IRS.  As part of their transition to an official non-profit, CHCV named a new Board of Directors.

Cynthia Hartnett of Montpelier, a CHCV volunteer since its inception in 2014, serves as Board President.  “I’m so pleased to be a part of this wonderful organization as it grows and evolves to serve more of our community.”

Other board members include Scott Hess, Sylvia Fagin, Jake Claro, and Ellie Stubbs.

“Our Board is made up of partners, food activists, business people, and civic leaders who have a commitment to serving the community and helping all have access to the healthy fresh local food that is grown in our region”, CHCV Executive Director Allison Levin explained.  “These are people who lead through their service to the community, and I’m thrilled to have each of them be a part of our team.”

CHCV also had a successful launch to their 2018 fundraising season, securing a number of major donations.

At Town Meeting 2018, six towns served by CHCV approved contributions in the coming fiscal year, totaling $6,600, the largest of which came from the Montpelier Community Fund. “We are gratified to have this support, and hope to reach out to several more towns we serve in the future,” Levin said.

CHCV also received $5,700 through the Vermont State Employees Credit Union “We Care 2” program.  CHCV got the second most votes from VSECU members in the competitive final round of the grant application review process.

Earlier this month, Community Harvest volunteers undertook their first field glean of the season, recovering over a 100 pounds of spinach from a greenhouse at a Middlesex farm.  “We’re so excited to get out into the fields – there is nothing like a little good hard work with neighbors that will result in hungry people getting nutritious food. It makes all involved feel great about themselves and the community,” Levin reported.

As CHCV starts their 5^th season of gleaning they will continue to further their mission of bringing the community together through gleaning to recover surplus food produced on area farms to feed those with limited access to healthy, fresh local food, and in the process help the community to gain a greater awareness and appreciation of the local food system, healthy eating, and waste reduction.

Those interested in finding out more about CHCV’s gleaning efforts or becoming a partner, sponsor, contributor, or volunteer can visit www.communityharvestvt.org or contact Allison at communityharvestvt@gmail.com.