Learn About Your Foodbank

Q: How is Vermont Foodbank connected to Feeding America?

The Foodbank is a member of Feeding America , the nation’s network of food banks. Feeding America is comprised of 200+ food banks across the United States and in Puerto Rico, and is the largest charitable hunger organization in the country.

Q: What is the difference between a food bank and a food shelf or pantry?

We are the only food bank in Vermont . As a statewide organization, we use our three warehouse distribution centers to provide food to local partners in all 14 counties in Vermont. These local partners include food shelves, meal sites, schools, hospitals, senior centers, after-school programs, and many more local, independently operated organizations who share the vision and goal that everyone in Vermont has the food they need and want. Vermont Foodbank secures large quantities of food from grocery stores, food manufacturers, farms, businesses, restaurants, individuals, and Feeding America , the national network of food banks. After the product is examined and sorted, it is distributed statewide to our network partners . A food shelf is a local non-profit that provides food directly to individuals in need . A food shelf may obtain food from the Vermont Foodbank, from individual donors, and through wholesale and/or retail purchase. Visit our Find a Food Shelf page to see the Vermont Foodbank network partners in your community.

Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization and only food bank, providing nourishing food through a network of more than 300 community partners – food shelves, meal sites, senior centers, after-school programs, schools, and hospitals.

Vermont Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, provides about 12 million pounds of food annually to people throughout Vermont.

Photo of the Vermont Foodbank's Barre Distribution Center.

Where Does the Food Come From?

The food we share is donated or purchased, from sources including local Vermont farms and food producers, nationwide food producers, federal food sources, grocery stores, and small food retailers. Learn more about hunger in Vermont and the ways you can get involved.

What's the difference between a food bank and a food shelf or pantry?

Vermont Foodbank is the only food bank in Vermont. As a statewide organization, we use our three warehouse distribution centers to provide food to local partners in all 14 counties in Vermont. These local partners include food shelves, meal sites, schools, hospitals, senior centers, after-school programs, and many more independently operated organizations that share the vision and goal that everyone in Vermont has the food they need and want.

Vermont Foodbank secures large quantities of food from grocery stores, food manufacturers, farms, businesses, restaurants, individuals, and Feeding America, the national network of food banks. After the product is examined and sorted, it is distributed statewide to our network partners.

A food shelf is a local non-profit that provides food directly to individuals in need. A food shelf may obtain food from Vermont Foodbank, from individual donors, and through wholesale and/or retail purchase. Visit our Find a Food Shelf page to see the Vermont Foodbank network partners in your community.

More Information

How Do We Do Our Work?

Our Mission

The mission of the Vermont Foodbank is to gather and share quality food and nurture partnerships so that no one in Vermont will go hungry.

Our Vision, Strategic Direction, and Commitments

Our Vision For Vermont

Everyone in Vermont…

has equitable access to enough nourishing food every day.
takes action to eliminate hunger and poverty.
has what they need to thrive.

Have more questions about the Foodbank or our programs? Read our FAQ!

Read the FAQ

Our Locations

Barre

33 Parker Road
Barre, Vermont 05641
802-476-3341

Brattleboro

22 Browne Court Unit #108
Brattleboro, Vermont 05301
802-246-0993

Rutland

92 Park Street
Rutland, Vermont 05701
802-747-7984

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Since 2018, Vermont Foodbank has been on a journey to become a more inclusive and diverse organization that centers equity in everything we do.

Learn More

Food Security Innovation Lab

The Food Security Innovation Lab is a time-bound initiative created to develop and execute pilot projects and study their potential for scalability and their effectiveness at addressing root causes of food insecurity.

Learn More

Board of Trustees

Mitzi Johnson

Board Chair

Penrose Jackson

Board Vice Chair

Amy Davenport

Vermont Superior Court Judge, Retired

Will Eberle

Recovery Vermont

Mike Hourigan

Ellucian

Ian MacFarland

Burton Snowboards

Martha Trombley Oakes

Vermont Community Foundation

Jacob Park

Vermont State University

Melissa Roberge

Hannaford Supermarkets

Liz Ruffa

Merck Forest

More Information About the Foodbank

Financial Information

Privacy Policy

Contact Us

There are many ways you can help neighbors facing hunger in Vermont. Donations are very important to the ongoing success of the Foodbank; please consider donating or becoming a sustaining monthly donor. In addition, please visit our Get Involved page to learn about many more ways you can help!

The Foodbank does not distribute food directly to individuals, but to our Network Partners. If you know someone in need, they should first visit their local food shelf or meal site. You can also direct them to our Access Food page for information about programs and assistance that we also provide.

The Foodbank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks. Feeding America is comprised of 200+ food banks across the United States and in Puerto Rico, and is the largest charitable hunger organization in the country.

The Foodbank headquarters is located in the Wilson Industrial Park at 33 Parker Road in Barre. We also have locations in Brattleboro and Rutland.

The Foodbank opened its doors in 1986.

An agency must be a member of the Vermont Foodbank network to acquire food from us. Once a member, or Network Partner, as we call them, the agency can access free and cooperatively purchased food to distribute in their communities. Network Partners can pick up their order at one of the Foodbank’s warehouses in Barre, Brattleboro or Rutland or have it delivered to them on a regular schedule. To learn how to become a network partner please visit our Become a Network Partner page.

We work with over 200 network partners throughout Vermont who receive food from the Foodbank. Visit our Find a Food Shelf page to find a network partner in your community.

The number of people who access food through our services varies from year to year based on many factors. To learn more about the current state of hunger in Vermont please visit our Learn About Hunger page.

There are hundreds of thousands of our Vermont neighbors – including children, seniors and working families – who are unable to put enough food on the table. Visits to their local food shelves can help with this shortfall, and that’s where the Foodbank comes in. We acquire and distribute food to over 200 network partners around the state – food shelves, pantries, senior meal programs and other community meal sites – enabling our neighbors to put nourishing food on their tables.

We are the only food bank in Vermont. As a statewide organization, we use our three warehouse distribution centers to provide food to local partners in all 14 counties in Vermont. These local partners include food shelves, meal sites, schools, hospitals, senior centers, after-school programs, and many more local, independently operated organizations who share the vision and goal that everyone in Vermont has the food they need and want. Vermont Foodbank secures large quantities of food from grocery stores, food manufacturers, farms, businesses, restaurants, individuals, and Feeding America, the national network of food banks. After the product is examined and sorted, it is distributed statewide to our network partners.

A food shelf is a local non-profit that provides food directly to individuals in need. A food shelf may obtain food from the Vermont Foodbank, from individual donors, and through wholesale and/or retail purchase. Visit our Find a Food Shelf page to see the Vermont Foodbank network partners in your community.

Food insecurity is when a family or an individual is unable to obtain enough safe and nutritious food from socially acceptable sources in order to lead an active and healthy life.