Willing Hands delivers 2 to 3 tons of healthy food weekly
Our concept is simple and effective.
- Willing Hands recovers fresh food that would otherwise be discarded from local groceries, farms, and bakeries.
- Willing Hands gives this nutritious food to local human services organization where it is free to people in need.
- Willing Hands operates seven days a week all year long.
A typical day might start with a delivery to the Upper Valley Haven, a homeless shelter for families in White River Junction, where we drop off about 125 pounds of fresh produce to fill their shelves. We then continue to the Hanover and Lebanon Food Stores to pick up produce to replenish the supply on our van.
Next, we visit Romano Circle family housing in West Lebanon where we are greeted by kids and parents anxious to see what bounty will come from the Willing Hands van. Then, it's off to Rogers House on the Lebanon Green where we are greeted by seniors looking for fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread to stock their refrigerators.
Now, it's time to replenish our van with a stop at a local Vermont farm that has excess sweet corn and broccoli and then with a return trip to the Lebanon and Hanover Food Stores. The day continues with a steady rhythm of pick-ups and deliveries.
At each stop, we take time to talk with people, learn about their lives, and build new friendships. A favorite topic is recipes and cooking. What do you do with your butternut squash? Willing Hands enjoys this opportunity to share information about healthy eating.
Willing Hands is a United Way Partner.