Vermont Enterprise Journal Starvation Mountain Co-op has awarded a record-setting $15,200 to fifteen native grant recipients engaged on necessary and progressive initiatives addressing meals entry and native meals techniques.
Starvation Mountain Co-op’s function is deeply rooted within the perception that entry to good meals helps to create vibrant, wholesome communities and sustainable native meals techniques. Every year, the Co-op encourages central Vermont companies, organizations, and initiatives aligned with its mission to use for grants from the Starvation Mountain Cooperative Neighborhood Fund. The main focus of funding is on smaller proposals for one-time expenditures, capital infrastructure wants, meals entry initiatives, and proposals from traditionally and at the moment marginalized teams.
“This yr, the grant recipients embrace BIPOC farms in the local people. Khelcom Farm and The Flying Buffalo LLC shall be getting cash to assist develop farm manufacturing,” shared Claire Wheeler, Co-op member and Chair of the Neighborhood Fund Committee. “It’s one of many some ways the Co-op works to deal with gaps within the meals system and assist elevate up a very sturdy and wholesome vibrant native financial system.”
This yr’s neighborhood grant recipients are Barre Senior Heart, Bethany Church, Sufficient Ministries, Good Samaritan Haven, Higher Northfield Seniors, Inexperienced Acres Reasonably priced Housing, Ishtar Collective, Khelcom Farm, Maquam Bay of Missisquoi Inc., Milk With Dignity Requirements Council, Montpelier Senior Exercise Heart, Onion River Meals Shelf, Schoolhouse Farm, The Flying Buffalo LLC, and Twin Valley Senior Heart.
Since its inception, the Co-op’s Neighborhood Fund has awarded over $96,000 by 84 neighborhood grants. This stage of continued assist wouldn’t be potential with out companions like Twin Pines Cooperative Neighborhood Fund, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, and the generosity of the Co-op’s members.
5 many years in the past, a small group of central Vermonters got here collectively to entry the meals and merchandise that weren’t available in our space. Due to years of exhausting work and collaboration, Starvation Mountain Co-op has a lot to have a good time in its 50th yr, with milestones of over $27 million in product sales, 10,655 member-owners, 387 Vermont distributors, 187 staff, and over $80,00 given again by donations and sponsorships.
Starvation Mountain Cooperative exists to create and maintain a vibrant neighborhood of wholesome people, sustainable native meals techniques, and thriving cooperative commerce.
