BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – While some spent Wednesday opening presents, others spent the day giving back. That includes volunteers at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington who gave out free meals for the holiday week.
“I’m a regular volunteer at the library and I knew that [Christmas] was a day that they had a need for volunteers,” volunteer Becky Rabin said.
No one should go without a meal this holiday season– that’s the goal staff and volunteers at the Fletcher Free Library worked hard to achieve this year. The library stocked its fridges with ham dinners put together by Farm House Group Events.
“Folks can pick them up, bring them to their homes or folks they know who can’t get out of the house. We always hear so much gratitude and, of course, we’re grateful to Farmhouse,” said Emer Pond Feeney, Fletcher Free Library’s assistant director.
They started out with 100 meals and had 25 left by Christmas Day. But a last-minute donation from Saint Mark’s Catholic Church swooped in to save the day, refilling the fridges with an additional 50.
“A lot of folks tell us that this is a special thing they do every year. They plan on coming for a couple of hours and they just people the space with us and help us be a welcoming and warm, cozy spot for folks,” said Pond Feeney.
Some people stopped to donate cookies, cake and other sweets. Others spent the afternoon volunteering. They say as the homelessness crisis rages on, it’s important to lend a helping hand, especially during the holiday season.
“It’s a great opportunity to support our community and given that there are lots of unhoused people in our community this is one spot that people come,’ said Rabin.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.