November 12, 2026 | By Lisa ScagliottiWaterbury Rotary Club’s annual Turkey Drive is Saturday, with the collection supporting the Waterbury Common Market’s supplies for holiday tables in Waterbury and surrounding communities.
Next door in Duxbury, the Green Mountain Community Food Shelf is hoping to build on momentum from last weekend’s collection event held at the Berlin Mall to keep its food supplies stocked through the holidays.
Here are details below on how to support both organizations as they help meet the needs of local families in the upcoming weeks, and when and how to visit to pick up fixings for meals and more.
Turkey Drive for Waterbury Common Market
Waterbury Rotary’s annual Turkey Drive will take place near the Waterbury Common Market, at 57 South Main Street, this Saturday. Rotary volunteers will be set up along both sides of the street to collect turkeys, other food items, and monetary donations between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Rotarian Jim Myers volunteers at the 2024 Turkey Drive. Look for Rotarians on Saturday along Main Street near the Waterbury Common Market collecting turkeys and other donations ahead of the holidays. Photo by Gordon Miller
Donors will not need to get out of their vehicles as Rotarians will be ready to collect all donations, explained Rotary volunteer Ariel Mondlak.
The goal of the drive is to collect 100 turkeys and other food items that will be packaged for free holiday meals for market patrons. Rotary members also provide the market with pies for the Thanksgiving meal distribution.
Common Market Director Sara Whitehair explains that those wishing to pick up a holiday turkey and meal supplies will be able to do so the following weekend on Saturday, Nov. 21, between 10 a.m. and noon at the market. Those interested in receiving the turkeys and other foods are asked to sign up in advance. Do so in person at the market or by calling 802-244-1561 or emailing wafsmainstreet@gmail.com.
A second special holiday meal distribution will be done in December with meal packages ready for pickup on Saturday, Dec. 19, between 10 a.m. and noon at the market. Signing up to reserve the December holiday food items is also required, either in person at the market or by phone.
The market’s food distribution will be available to residents in the Waterbury Common Market’s service area, which covers Waterbury, Stowe, Duxbury, Bolton, Moretown and Middlesex.
The market is open Monday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon; Wednesdays, 3-6 p.m. Now through New Year’s, the market will have some Friday-Saturday holiday closures: Nov. 27-28, Dec. 25-26, and Jan. 1-2. More information is on the market’s website here. The market is also on Facebook and Instagram.
Duxbury: Green Mountain Community Food Shelf
The Green Mountain Community Food Shelf in Duxbury is a smaller operation that also serves the local community. Also known as the Duxbury Elf Food Shelf, it’s located at the Green Mountain Community Alliance Church at 4987 Vermont Route 100 in Duxbury.
Weekly hours are Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon and Sundays noon to 2 p.m. for both donations and for community members to visit to pick up groceries and other household supplies at no charge.
Leadership transitioned earlier this year. Elizabeth Danyew is a new manager now. She said the food shelf currently has about 40 regular patrons who are shopping for about 100 people. The organization is online with a Facebook page. Contact them via email at gmcfoodshelf@gmail.com or call or text to 802-234-3944.
“We are open to anyone in Vermont,” Danyew said. “We are thankful to serve individuals and families in need. We are also thankful for food, personal hygiene items and financial donations.”
Tips for donating
Managers at both local food shelves always look for donations of unopened, unexpired non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, and monetary donations, of course.
Some items in high demand are: hearty soups; snacks including granola bars, crackers, pretzels, nuts; drinks including coffee, tea, juices, sodas; canned meals such as pasta, stews, chili; canned tuna and chicken; personal care items such as shampoo, conditioner, soaps, toothpaste; feminine care items such as pads and tampons. Egg cartons and reusable bags are also appreciated.
For more suggestions, contact the Waterbury Common Market and the Green Mountain Community Food Shelf by phone, email or social media.