HANDS - Helping And Nurturing Diverse Seniors

31/10/2025

Thank you all for your support and well wishes as we navigate our organizational transition ❤️

We are excited to announce that Cathedral Square will now host our HANDS in the Kitchen program! They will receive a seed grant from HANDS to help ensure the program’s long-term success. Classes will initially be available to residents at the 28 properties of Cathedral Square and will expand in the new year. Participants will experience the same workshop format, and Chef Robin Burnett will continue teaching, with classes already underway this month.

We are so excited to partner with Cathedral Square! For more information please visit: https://cathedralsquare.org/hands-in-the-kitchen

Happy 🎃

27/10/2025

After twenty-one magical years of serving our elder community, we at HANDS have made the hard decision to wind down our organization. We want to thank all of you for joining us in supporting older adults in our community ❤️.

HANDS was founded in 2004 by Megan Humphrey as a nimble effort to fill the gaps in food access for older adults in Chittenden County. Through Megan’s leadership and collaborations, HANDS has benefited from countless dedicated volunteers and board members, all striving for a community without hunger.

Due to limited capacity among our board team, we are winding down our operations. However, we are pleased to share that we have charted a path forward with two partner organizations to continue the legacy of two of our programs: HANDS in the Kitchen and Diverse Pantry.

HANDS will cease taking donations immediately, and all programs will cease being administered by HANDS, including Season’s Eatings. We sincerely hope that you will continue to donate to organizations that support older Vermonters - the need is ever-increasing, and every little bit helps!

A million thank yous to you for your support over the years, and to Megan Humphrey for her vision, passion, and unwavering commitment to the mission of HANDS.

Please visit our website at handsvt.org for updates on how to support HANDS’ legacy and partners. Here are a few of our favorite memories. Please tag us if you also want to share any HANDS memories ❤️.

In Gratitude,
The HANDS Board

22/05/2025

FREE SEEDS AND PLANTS THIS FRIDAY!
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The 36th Annual Garden Day will be on Friday, May 23. In partnership with 3SquaresVT, will distribute donated seeds and seedlings to help Vermonters save money by growing their own vegetables. CVOEO also invites Vermont residents to apply for 3SquaresVT while participating in the event.

Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Location: Old North End Community Center, 20 Allen St, Burlington, VT 05401

17/05/2025

Mark your calendars for a week from today!

Hoping to start or expand your vegetable garden? We have free seeds and seedlings ready for you! Join us at CVOEO's Garden Day happening on Friday, May 23, from 9 AM to 12 PM, outside the Old North End Community Center at 20 Allen St., in Burlington.

Garden Day is a community collaboration between CVOEO’s Community Action Network, partnering farms, and 3SquaresVT. During this annual event, Community Action Network staff distribute seeds and seedlings to help Vermonters save money by growing their own vegetables. CVOEO also invites Vermont residents to apply for 3SquaresVT while participating in the event, which helps our neighbors keep food on the table all year round.

Thanks to our friends at Green Mountain Power for their generous contribution toward Garden Day! Together, we can ensure that more folks in our community are able to grow sustainable and nutritious food.

15/05/2025

There will be a FREE veggie plant giveaway on Friday, May 23rd from 9:00am-Noon at the O.N.E. Community Center (CORE at ONE Community Center).

20 Allen Street.

This event will be sponsored by CVOEO. We look forward to seeing you there!

30/04/2025

Hello HANDS community! Our friends at Hunger Free Vermont and Vermont Foodbank are joining forces with other Northeast States in a Day of Action and we need your help!

Congress is considering devastating cuts to SNAP that would increase hunger, and weaken our economy and food systems—harming not only individuals who rely on SNAP, but our farmers, grocers, and businesses.
Please call or email Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, and Congresswoman Balin to let them know that we need to protect SNAP.

There are scripts and prompts and a whole toolkit on Hunger Free Vermont’s website to make it easy!

Thank you so much for raising your voice to protect SNAP!

https://www.hungerfreevt.org/protect-snap?utm_medium=social&utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=snapdayofaction

09/04/2025

Danielle Arigoni, author of "Climate Change for an Aging Nation", gave a great presentation today, as part of the Tri-State Conference on Aging, about the effects of climate change on older adults. Where people live, a lack of communication without cellphones or computers, disabilities, isolation, a lack of transportation, the fact that so many older adults live alone in mobile homes, etc. are all factors in a higher rate of death in climate change related weather...fires, flooding, heatwaves, hurricanes, etc. And Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are three of the oldest states in the U.S. so we really need to plan ahead, and be sure to include older adults and their specific issues and concerns.

13/02/2025

Happy Valentine's Day!

15/01/2025

Better late than never! We included photos of a few of our INCREDIBLE volunteers who helped out with our 2024 Season’s Eatings!

We ❤️ all of you and appreciate the time and love you give for our constituents.

Happy 2025!

08/01/2025

Here at HANDS, our strength comes from wonderful partnerships with local organizations, foundations, volunteers, and donors. We want to give a special shoutout to Heavenly Cents Thrift Shop (Essex Junction) for their incredible financial support of our 2025 Season’s Eatings efforts!

Established in 1995, Heavenly Cents Thrift Shop is a local thrift shop staffed by volunteers that sells affordable clothing, linen, shoes, and household items while donating proceeds to local organizations. Their mission is to serve the local community by offering gently used high-quality merchandise at affordable prices and financially supporting non-profit organizations. They are amazing and truly complement the mission of HANDS and our work with local constituents.

Interested in donating items to Heavenly Cents Thrift Shop? Visit 37 Main Street, Essex Junction, or call 802-879-6552 on Tues 10-1, Wed 4-7 and Sat 10-1.

With gratitude,
The HANDS Team

21/12/2024

Happy Solstice! Now the days will be getting longer.

21/12/2024

We are heading into some bitter cold weather with wind chills below 0. Here's some information about a local emergency shelter for the too many folks sleeping outside. Thanks for helping to spread the word.

Burlington city officials will open a cold weather shelter this weekend as temperatures are expected to drop to near zero, with subzero wind chills in the forecast for Sunday.