Champlain Islands Food Shelf

05/04/2026

The Champlain Islands Food Shelf is in need of reusable bags!

Bags are a critical part of getting food safely to our customers' homes: for both in-person pickup and at-home deliveries. If you have any clean, sturdy reusable bags that you are willing to part with, we would love to put them to good use!

Bag donations can be dropped off on Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 am or Wednesdays 1-5:30 pm at the Food Shelf (St. Joseph's Church: 185 Route 2 in Grand Isle).

Thank you!

04/23/2026

The Champlain Islands Food Shelf (CIFS) is in timely need of cat and dog food donations. There are various ways to help:

- Drop off a donation direct to CIFS (Tuesdays 9:30-11:30 am and Wednesdays 1-5:30 pm at St. Joseph's Church in Grand Isle)

- Ship a donation to CIFS via an online service, such as Chewy (please mail to P.O. Box 24 North Hero, VT 05474)

- Make a monetary donation to CIFS via our website https://www.champlainislandsfoodshelf.org/donate-now

- Help us spread the word! Islands pets thank you for your consideration in helping keep their bowls and bellies full.

04/19/2026

The Champlain Islands Food Shelf (CIFS) is sustained through a variety of donations, ranging from individuals to foundations. We are extremely grateful to have received a monetary donation from Vermont's own 'Mike Loyer Foundation' - an ongoing supporter of the CIFS. Our donors help keep the shelves stocked for the many seeking food assistance in our community.

To learn more about the inception of the Foundation, a full list of the many projects they support, and the fun ways they raise money (including an annual golf tournament they host each July 18), visit: https://theclassicmikeloyer.org/

As shared on their website: 'Mike would be proud of the work being done by this foundation and we are honored to carry on his legacy. We have been humbled by the continuous support we have received from Mike’s massive circle of friends and the local community. This support helps to keep The Classic Michael Loyer Foundation alive and able to give back to the community that Mike loved so much.'

Photo 1: CIFS Shelves on 4/15/26
Photo 2: Memorial Golf Tournament; credit Mike Loyer Foundation
Photo 3: Mike Loyer; credit Mike Loyer Foundation

02/08/2026

We are once again in need of egg cartons for the Champlain Islands Food Shelf. Thank you in advance - every donation helps!

The Champlain Islands Food Shelf (CIFS) is seeking your gently used egg cartons! We buy wholesale flats of local eggs and then divide them up into dozens for our customers.

If you have any cartons to spare, please drop them off at the CIFS (St Joseph's Church; 185 Route 2 in Grand Isle) on Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 am or Wednesdays from 2-5:30 pm. Thank you!

Photo Credit: Loaves and Fishes Pantry

01/01/2026

An End-of-Year Note from the Champlain Islands Food Shelf Executive Board:

As 2025 comes to an end, we wish to extend our gratitude to the many who helped sustain the Champlain Islands Food Shelf (CIFS) through another year. Despite the countless national challenges to food security that have unfolded, the generosity of the community allowed us to offer consistent and dignified access to groceries and household supplies to our Island neighbors.

This year, we served 204 distinct households (80-100 households per month); this is a 33% increase from last year. Volunteers supported throughout these 2,469 visits: from stocking shelves on Tuesdays to assisting clients on their Wednesday shopping trips. We are very fortunate to have an incredible group of around 50 volunteers who help bring our mission to life.
Furthermore, we have a wonderful manager, Whitney Doremus, who seamlessly juggles the many moving parts each week - all with a welcoming smile. In addition to weekly distributions, CIFS participates in various holiday efforts supported by community organizations, including an annual fundraiser with the Emmons Islands Haunted Trail (2,000 lbs of food and $2,500) and the compilation of Thanksgiving bags (bags were distributed to 101 households this year).

The CIFS also collaborates with various non-profit organizations, such as Healthy Roots, C.I.D.E.R., CVOEO, Vermont Fuel Assistance, and the Vermont Foodbank. With the assistance of grants and donations, we’re able to source fresh produce, eggs, and dairy from local farm partners, including Blue Heron Farm, Dreamwalker Farm, Monument Dairy Farm, and Sandy Bottom Farm. We are grateful to be further supported by Islands businesses that donate staff time, storage space, and/or products to the CIFS, including Emmon’s Supermarket, Keeler Bay Variety, and Wally’s Place to name a few.

We are proud of the work that is behind us and feel hopeful about that to come. Thank you to each of you who has supported the Champlain Islands Food Shelf this year. Whether it be through a donation from an individual or organization, volunteering your time, or just spreading the word about our work towards food security, we depend on you to keep our shelves stocked and doors open.

Wishing you and yours a joyous and peaceful New Year.

With deep gratitude,

Champlain Islands Food Shelf Executive Board

Diane Bahrenburg, Chair
Alisha Utter, Vice-Chair
Bettina Speyer, Treasurer
Laurie Redel, Secretary

11/29/2025

This year's fundraising recipient of the 'Celebrate Craft Holiday Art Show' in South Burlington was the Champlain Islands Food Shelf (CIFS). The Art Show resulted in 261 pounds of food and $224 in monetary donations. We are grateful for all who participated in the event and fundraising effort!

'We have such a sense of urgency': Weekend-long craft show in South Burlington raising money and donations for Grand Isle County residents recovering after government shutdown

11/22/2025

The Champlain Islands Food Shelf (CIFS) is seeking your gently used egg cartons! We buy wholesale flats of local eggs and then divide them up into dozens for our customers.

If you have any cartons to spare, please drop them off at the CIFS (St Joseph's Church; 185 Route 2 in Grand Isle) on Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 am or Wednesdays from 2-5:30 pm. Thank you!

Photo Credit: Loaves and Fishes Pantry

10/23/2025

Thank you to Seb's Snack Bar for finishing out their season with a fundraiser for the Champlain Islands Food Shelf! Through their efforts, $700 was raised, which will directly support alleviating food insecurity in the Islands.

10/14/2025

Some more behind-the-scenes snapshots courtesy of the Emmons Island Haunted Trail of the breadth of efforts that go into collecting, sorting, and stocking food donations for the Champlain Islands Food Shelf through their incredible annual fundraiser event.

10/14/2025

What a great turnout at Emmons Island Haunted Trail this year! The event generated 2000 pounds of food and a $2500 donation to the Champlain Islands Food Shelf.

Many thanks to all who contributed food/money and to the weekend volunteers who worked through all of the food donations (collecting/sorting food on Saturday and getting it all put away on our shelves on Sunday)! Of course, this bounty is made possible by the generous folks of Emmons Island Haunted Trail. This event makes a BIG impact on helping keep our shelves full and is very much appreciated each year.