Grateful Hearts Bennington

12/16/2024

A huge thank you to everyone who chopped, diced, stirred, simmered, roasted, and packaged in 2024! This year was indeed a banner year, with:

Over 45,000 meals/servings were distributed through the Food Cupboards, Sunday Suppers, medical offices, and other local organizations supporting neighbors in Bennington.

More than 6,500 pounds of produce are processed from local farms and the Vermont Foodbank.

Volunteer hours are increasing by 35%!

All of this was made possible by the incredible generosity of our Bennington community — those who give their time, talent, and resources.
Thanks to our volunteers and partnerships with GBCS, local farms, and the Foodbank, we produced each meal for under $1.

Recipients have expressed deep appreciation for the consistently delicious and nourishing meals. Let’s celebrate this amazing year and the spirit of giving that you all made possible!

Send a message to learn more

11/18/2024

Dear Neighbors,

It's getting close to Thanksgiving, which is about more than the food on our tables—the promise of belonging, security, and care. At Grateful Hearts Bennington, we’re on a mission to ensure that everyone in our community feels that promise.

Here’s the reality: many of our neighbors face the difficult question of where their next meal will come from. With partners like the Vermont Foodbank, local farmers, and volunteers who give their time and hearts, we’re not just handing out meals; we’re nurturing a community where everyone is fed, seen, and valued.

Every dollar you contribute is more than money. It’s a message, a reminder that we’re all in this together and that we gain a lot when we give a little.

Can you help Grateful Hearts nourish our Bennington neighbors in need? Your support fuels every meal we make and every family we feed. Let’s turn generosity into something real and tangible and do it together.

Thank you for believing in a stronger, healthier community. This is the season to give, and with your help, we’ll be able to provide nourishing meals all year.

To learn more about Grateful Hearts Bennington and to make a donation, please visit our website: https://www.gratefulheartsbennington.org/participate

Thanks to all our volunteers and supporters, we could craft over 43,000 meals for Bennington neighbors at under $1 per meal. Every dollar donated is a meal given.

With gratitude,

Grateful Hearts Bennington

 Join us, meet neighbors, have fun with us. Your participation is impactful.Donate or Volunteer Make a donation.Be it time, talent or treasury, your donation to Grateful Hearts is an investment in the wellbeing and nourishment of the communities we serve.  Help us nourish our neighbors. Donate   ...

05/20/2024

Grateful Hearts Bennington is turning 1 🎉

Help us celebrate by supporting our mission: creating healthy, delicious meals from locally sourced produce for those in need. 🍽

Here are three awesome ways you can join our big-hearted family:

1. Volunteer Your Time: Do you have a few hours to spare? Get involved in the kitchen or with organization opportunities. 👩‍🍳

2. Share Your Talents: Whether you're a culinary wizard, an organizational guru, or just a great people person, we need your unique skills to succeed. 🌟

3. Donate: Not everyone has the time to spare. Your donations help us buy fresh produce and maintain our operation. We can produce ready-made meals for $1 and all meals are free. 😋

We started with 600 meals a week in 2023. By May 2024, we were producing over 1300 meals a week to keep neighbors fed. We need your help to keep the love (and meals) flowing. 💞 Interested in joining Grateful Hearts Bennington? Please check out our website and share this letter with your friends. The more people know about Grateful Hearts Bennington, the greater the impact. Your generosity and support mean the world to us. 🙏❤️

01/29/2024

Grateful Hearts Bennington will be in the kitchen this week chopping and chatting Tuesday Jan. 30th from 10-430 and packaging Wednesday, Jan. 31st from 9:30 - noon.

Come down to the GBCS Bennington kitchen during those times if you have a few hours and want to help out! We will be cooking up some Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili, Borscht, and Warm Roasted Cabbage and Sweet Potato Salad just to name a few!

01/25/2024

Grateful hearts meals are back and stocked at the GBCS Bennington kitchen cupboard be sure to get yours share before they run out!



01/16/2024

Snow Day!

Due to the oncoming inclement weather Grateful Hearts Bennington will be canceled this week but look forward to chopping and chatting and making wholesome plant-forward meals for the community next week!

01/15/2024

Join Grateful Hearts this week in the kitchen! Chopping and chatting will take place from 10-4pm in the kitchen at GBCS Bennington, and packaging will take place from 9:30-11am on Wednesday.

This week's menu includes:
Braised Cabbage wedges with a Balsamic Glaze and Parmesan
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Pineapple over wilted Dark Greens
Cabbage, White Bean, and Potato Soup, and for breakfast
& Granola with Triple Berries and Yogurt!

🧑‍🍳😋

12/19/2023

Grateful hearts menu this week!

Cashew Carrot Ginger Soup
Pumpkin Chili
Winter Vegetable and Bean Soup
Potato, Cabbage and Feta Frittata
Carmel Apple Bread Pudding

Stop by GBCS Bennington to get yours this week!

12/01/2023

Our many thanks to Natasha and the crew at the Bennington Community Market for catering our holiday party last night! Absolutely delicious we could not have been happier! 🤤 ♥️

11/27/2023

Grateful Hearts Bennington is back in the GBCS Bennington kitchen this week! On the menu is a Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup, Butternut Squash Chili, Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal, Broccoli Carrot Slaw, and Baked Spiced Apples. 🤤🥦🍎

Come and join us in making these delicious and nutritious meals for the community! We will be chopping and chatting all day Tuesday from 10 am to 430 pm. Or, help pack on Wednesday from 9:30 to 11. All are welcome!

11/27/2023

BIG NEWS - NEW WINTER LOCATION for the COMMUITY CAFÉ

Though we started outdoors in January of last year, the Bennington Community Café is moving INDOORS for the winter. Starting with today's café session we will be at St. Peter's Episcopal Church on the corner of Pleasant St. and School St. in Bennington. Enter through the large red doors on the School Street side of the building.

Our hours will be the same: 1:30pm - 3:00pm every Saturday. We will still serve delicious, nutritious meals made by talented volunteer cooks and bakers. Everything on our menu will remain pay-what-you-choose. We look forward to returning to GBCS Bennington in the warmer weather. We hope you'll come by and see our new spot!

The café is a community project supported by Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bennington, St Peter's Episcopal Church, The Apple Barn and Country Bake Shop, Pie on the Porch Bakery, King Arthur Baking Company, and volunteers from throughout Bennington County.

11/23/2023

Thank you so much to all the hearts and wonderful people who work so hard every day to provide food for this community. Moreover, thank you to our volunteers who make a huge difference in people's lives. Their efforts and others' work to make wholesome plant-forward meals community are truly appreciated and we cannot thank you enough. We are grateful for you.🫶🙏🦃