By Susan Ohanian, Contributor

In November, the smell of food is different. It is an orange smell. A squash and pumpkin smell. It tastes like cinnamon and can fill up a house in the morning…. Food is better in November than any other time of year.
~ Cynthia Rylant, In November

You can read more good thoughts about November in prize-winning author Rylant’s picture book, In November, available just footsteps away at the Charlotte Public Library.

Or you can give Barbara Pym a try. Here’s her November comment: “It was a cold November day and she had dressed herself up in layers of cardigans and covered the whole lot with her old tweed coat, the one she might have used for feeding the chickens in.”

Certainly, we’re beginning to see those temperatures that have us putting on layers of cardigans. And this brings us to the very good news that the Kids Winter Clothes Program went off without a hitch. Tai Dinnan coordinated a community effort with Sally Wadhams, member of the Charlotte Grange, to provide 14 children with winter jackets, snow pants and boots. A special thanks to those who helped with donations, sorting and making sure every child has warm clothes this winter.

Charlotte Food Shelf volunteers have been busy preparing for the fast-approaching holidays. Thanksgiving dinner basket menu items are provided by grades K through 4 Charlotte Central School families and teachers. This great community outreach is coordinated by CCS staff member Betsy Lloyd.

Volunteers deliver the dinner baskets to the Food Shelf for registered families to pick up curbside at the Food Shelf on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

We give thanks to the Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg Rotary, which is continuing their traditional generosity of providing a fresh turkey to each family.

The Food Shelf has a special November wish list: stuffing mixes, banana, cranberry and pumpkin-style bread mixes, canned cranberry sauce, fresh onions and potatoes, yams and fresh fruit (such as tangerines, apples and pears). Also: large aluminum pans for baking the turkey and anything festive to decorate the table. The Food Shelf needs these items by Nov. 17 in order to add them to the dinner baskets.

This November, let us all give thanks for the food on our tables and for the grace of living in our sharing community.

Please note: for emergency food, call John at 425-3130. For information on different types of assistance and eligibility, check the website.

The website also contains information about other Vermont resources offering additional assistance.

Reminder: The Charlotte Food Shelf, Inc. is a nonprofit organization supported by the Charlotte Congregational Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church and the Charlotte community. Our organization is run by volunteers, and all donations made to the Food Shelf go directly for nutritious food and assistance to our neighbors in Charlotte and North Ferrisburgh.

Checks may be mailed to Charlotte Food Shelf and Assistance, P.O. Box 83, Charlotte, VT 05445.





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