July 2025 Letter to Volunteers

Dear Volunteers,

I’d like to begin by introducing our new board member, Aimee Cronin. She is a long-time shift volunteer who has now decided to join our board. She is a paralegal specialist in the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office. We are so glad to have her as both Jennifer Lovell and Richard Hoskings have resigned from the board for personal reasons. This was a hard decision for both, and we will miss them. Richard will still be doing pick-ups.

Our vision of a healthy, thriving community where everyone enjoys lasting food security is more important than ever. 3 Squares VT, which is the Vermont SNAP program, is still here, but the federal Budget Reconciliation Act of 2025, also called the Big Beautiful Bill, does include steep cuts to 3 Squares with up to 20 percent of recipients in Vermont potentially losing their eligibility. We don’t yet know when those cuts will come.

As we think about our important work, I want us to remember one of our values, which is compassion. We serve individuals and families with empathy, care, and kindness. Generally, we apply that to our clients, and they really appreciate our kindness and respect. I want to suggest that we extend that compassion to each other as volunteers and staff. It doesn’t take a genius to see and comment on mistakes and faults. What takes talent is seeing something that needs change or improvement, and figuring out how to come alongside, address it, and promote growth.

A new volunteer recently shared with us that on her first shift, everyone was welcoming, and she felt very supported. They made it easy to feel successful. That’s the way an organization grows!

Aunt Dot’s July Food Summary:
Purchased Food (Cost):

Purchased Food (Pounds):

Donations from Organizations

Donations from grocery stores

Thanks again for all you do! I’m so proud of all of us.

Sincerely,
Sue Miyamoto
Board President