Americans may not be able to agree about much these days, but most would say there is a lot to be anxious about. The cost of everything seems to be rising, and social safety net programs are being cut. In Burlington’s New North End, a group of volunteers is doing its best to provide relief and stability at the North End Food Pantry.
During the longest government shutdown in our country’s history, SNAP benefits were frozen, leaving 42 million Americans and 65,000 Vermonters hungry. The State of Vermont issued partial benefits to Vermonters through 3SquaresVT, but food banks were seeing increased need and attendance even without the shutdown.
The North End Food Pantry is open Saturday and Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Odd Fellows Lodge on North Avenue and serves almost 700 people monthly. Everyone is welcome, and there is no paperwork to fill out. Founder Thom Fleury greets guests at the entry and also accepts a steady stream of donations from community members. People arrive by 8:50 a.m. and head upstairs to receive a number. When their number is called, they choose fresh produce and baked goods, then pick up clothing, shoes, diapers, shelf-stable food and toiletries downstairs.
Seven Days senior multimedia journalist Eva Sollberger spent a few mornings at the pantry meeting people and learning about the volunteer-led organization.
Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about filming the episode.
Why did you pick this story?
Food banks have been in the news a lot lately, but I actually started talking to Linda Looney, board secretary at the pantry, back in January. Looney’s daughter emailed me when I did an open call on social media searching for stories about people helping their communities. Looney’s husband and grandkids also volunteer at the pantry. We planned to do this video before the government shutdown happened and the need grew more intense.
Where does the food come from?
The produce, deli and bakery items are picked up earlier in the morning from Hannaford supermarkets. Every Friday, vegetables are donated from the Intervale Community Farm. On a Sunday morning I met retired farmer Larry Pillsbury, who was dropping off boxes of food from Hannaford and the Williston Community Food Shelf, which is not open on Sundays. A steady stream of donations came in all morning from community members as well.
Have you been to the Odd Fellows Lodge?
It was my first time visiting, and the majestic throne-like chairs and funky décor were a treat. Zachary York is the noble grand and elected leader at the Odd Fellows Lodge. York also volunteers for the pantry and picked up food donations earlier in the morning. He shared that “It’s a vital lifeline for people in this community.”
Why did you interview more volunteers than guests?
I would have liked to include more stories from the people picking up food, but I can also understand why they might be nervous about appearing in a video. There is a stigma attached to being food insecure, even though it is something anyone could experience. A number of visitors were not comfortable being filmed, so Looney announced that I would only film hands and feet and any faces would be blurred.
Any final thoughts?
As one woman was leaving with full bags of food, she called out to me by name and said, “This place is a lifesaver.” She didn’t want to be interviewed, but I hope she will be OK with me sharing her sentiment here, which is probably felt by many neighbors in the New North End.
The original print version of this article was headlined “A Neighborhood Staple | The North End Food Pantry provides food and stability in Burlington”
This article appears in Nov 19-25 2025.
Dining and Cooking