AGNES AYLWARD | Barre
MARIA DOON | Health Coordinator
Somewhere deep in the back of Chief Operating Officer Nancy Lothian’s mind is the image of her father growing up hungry. One of 13 kids, there were many days he spent without enough food. This memory is part of what fuels her passion to provide fresh food to the community through the Health Care Share (HCS) program, which she champions. The other reason is, simply, “It’s the right thing to do.”
This year her team raised $30,000 and provided fresh food for 150 families - nearly 600 people. Through organized fundraising events and donations collected through payroll deduction, the HCS program allows employees to contribute to “food shares” for produce grown at the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) farm in Richmond. The farm is one arm of the nonprofit youth leadership service organization, which uses conservation projects as a vehicle for learning. The shares are distributed weekly and provide more than ten pounds of freshly harvested vegetables to families in need for three months. Through confidential referrals by physicians, nurses and employers, the shares go directly to families in need.
Agnes Aylward of Barre is part of the program. Like many people in the community, her fixed income doesn’t allow for much wiggle room at the grocery store. For her, the fresh veggies and the idea of young people learning about agriculture is a “Win. Win. Win.”
In 2016, the program will expand to help families during the non-growing season with six free food shelves and healthy cooking classes through partnerships with the Vermont Foodbank and Hunger Mountain Coop.
Nancy’s hope is to fill the gap for families so there will never be seasons of hunger again.
