Donating to Food Pantries
Helping our neighbors
Donating non-perishable and unspoiled perishable food helps stock the shelves at food banks, soup kitchens, pantries and shelters and keeps perfectly otherwise good food from ending up in landfills. Donations of perishable food from places such as restaurants, commercial kitchens and other institutions also help families in need and require special handling and coordination for timely distribution. Donations from farmers and gleaners are also ways to provide healthy food to those in need.
The act of donating food by institutions, organizations, individuals and gleaners when acting in good faith are protected by The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 from liability for injuries arising from the consumption of the donated food.

Always contact the food pantry before making a donation especially perishable food, to be certain they will accept your donation and can provide proper storage to keep the food fresh.
Food shelters in the BCSWA service area:
In addition to the below, Meals on Wheels provides food, delivered to homes of those in need and in several locations in Bennington County. Call 802-442-8012 if you are interested in donating.
The Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless provides support and services for the homeless. Contact 802-442-2424 if you are interested in donating.
Those in italics are listed on the Vermont Foodbank website which collects and distributes food to food banks and other service organizations.
Arlington Food Shelf
165 Old Mill Rd.
Arlington, VT 05250
802-257-4069
CONTACT:
Volunteer Coordinator, Jack Gunther 802-375-6328
Town Clerk for emergency appointments: 802-375-2332
Bible Baptist Church of Bennington
1425 Harwood Hill Rd.
Bennington, VT 05201
CONTACT:
Eleanor Twardy
802-447-3618
802-442-4281
BROC Community Action
332 Orchard Rd.
Bennington, VT 05201
CONTACT:
Meg Hanna, Food Shelf Coordinator
802-447-7517
Community Food Cupboard
Manchester Town Hall
6039 Main St.
Manchester, VT 05254
CONTACT:
Martha Carey
802-362-0057
802-770-4346
Green Mountain Christian Center
440 Main St.
Bennington, VT 05201
CONTACT:
802-447-7224
St John Baptist Church
5 Houghton St.
North Bennington VT
CONTACT:
802-447-7504
Kitchen Cupboard
Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, Inc.
121 Depot St.
PO Box 702
Bennington, VT 05201
CONTACT:
Penny Vanaman
802-447-3700
Pownal Food Pantry
Methodist Church
CONTACT:
802-440-0217
Rupert Food Pantry
Rupert Town Garage
CONTACT:
Kelly Lewis
802-394-2491
Sacred Heart Saint Francis De Sales HIS Pantry
238 West Main St
Bennington, VT 05201
CONTACT:
Joan Charboneau
802-442-3141
802-442-1720
Shaftsbury United Methodist Church
127 Church St.
Shaftsbury, VT 05262
CONTACT:
Brenda and George Keen, Coordinators
802-681-7194