Hannaford Supermarkets announced Aug. 13 a $20,000 donation to support Vermont families as they seek to meet the most basic needs for themselves and their children during a period of economic hardship resulting from the coronavirus global health pandemic.
The donation includes $10,000 each to Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and BROC Community Action in Southwestern Vermont, which will use the funding to increase access to housing, food and employment opportunities for families in the greater Burlington, Rutland and Bennington areas. The Vermont donation is one part of an overall $250,000 commitment from Hannaford to help families in New England and New York adversely impacted by the pandemic. Since March 2020, Hannaford has donated $1.25 million to Covid-19 relief efforts, including hunger relief, homeless outreach organizations and local agriculture.
According to a survey conducted by the Urban Institute in late March and early April, more than four in 10 parents reported that they or someone in their family lost work due to the coronavirus and that low-income parents were less likely to be able to work from home. The study also found that more than one-third of parents had problems paying for housing, utility, food or medical costs at the onset of the pandemic and reduced spending on food and savings, resulting in increased debt.
“The pandemic has resulted in a groundswell of new issues and struggles for families throughout our community, including health concerns, job loss, financial difficulties and decreased access to childcare and education for their children. Our lowest-income families have borne the brunt of this impact and need our help now more than ever,” said Hannaford Supermarkets President Mike Vail. “At Hannaford, we consider the family unit the core of our community and are pleased to support parents and children throughout New England and New York with this donation. This effort truly exemplifies our commitment to being Greater than Groceries.”
The $10,000 grant from Hannaford will support BROC Community Action in Southwestern Vermont’s efforts to address housing challenges resulting from the pandemic, including relocating newly homeless families to permanent affordable housing. The donation will also be used to support the agency’s food shelves in Rutland and Bennington which have experienced a spike in demand since mid-March, resulting in a 40% increase in the number of people served in Rutland. Additionally, the Bennington food shelf is now open five days a week as opposed to only two prior to the pandemic.
“This critical funding from Hannaford will assist many vulnerable Vermonters in need right now,” said BROC Community Action in Southwestern Vermont CEO Tom Donahue. “Hannaford Supermarkets is a responsible business that truly cares about their communities and our residents. We are proud to be their partner in helping others during this incredibly difficult time.”
BROC Community Action in Southwestern Vermont works to change conditions that either cause poverty or stand in the way of its elimination. The agency assists low-income Vermonters with basic needs and helps them develop skills and resources for self-sufficiency through employment opportunities. For more information or to donate, visit BROC.org.
