LETTER: Gratitude for Nov. 1-2 food drive success

November 9, 2025 | By Carol Baitz

To the Community:

Nov. 1-2 Weekend Food Drive: My sincerest gratitude to our community during this uncertain time for food security. The local food shelves were blown away by the donations. We delivered 10 full carloads to the Waterbury Common Market and two carloads to the Duxbury Elf Shelf. Our community also donated at least $500 for the food shelves. Along with the canned goods, we collected at least 20 gallons of milk, 20 dozen eggs, lots of cheese, yogurt, fresh fruits and veggies, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, pasta and sauce, snacks, juices and boxes full of personal care items.
If you are in need, please know that your community cares!

Waterbury Common Market is open: Monday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon; Wednesday, 3-6 p.m.

Duxbury Elf Food Shelf is open: Thursdays 6:30-10 a.m. or you can call Ruth Haskins at 802-371-9906 for alternate pick-up times.

A special thank you to all of the volunteers who helped collect and deliver food. I couldn’t have done it without you. Also, my sincerest thanks to both Waterbury Village Market and Shaw’s grocery store. Both were gracious hosts and provided inexhaustible banana boxes to put the donated items in.
Misconceptions about SNAP (a.k.a. food stamps): Of the 42 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits, 80% are in households with a child or children, an older adult, or a disabled person. Most participants live in a household where one or more adults work. Because wages have not kept pace with inflation for over 40 years, a large percentage of Americans do not earn enough to live on. SNAP benefits are designed to bridge the gap to help all Americans meet basic needs.

To quote singer Billie Eilish, “Why do we have billionaires?”—a rhetorical challenge to the existence of extreme wealth and a call for the ultra-wealthy to donate their money to those in need, a plea for wealth to be used for the greater good, rather than accumulated by a few individuals. If corporations had paid wages that kept up with inflation for the last 40 years, the average minimum wage today would be $25 per hour. Instead, CEOs, corporate owners, boards, and stock owners have systematically kept wages low to provide maximum earnings for the top. Imagine if the minimum wage was $25 per hour—80% of SNAP participants would not need assistance. Food for thought.

P.S. Next steps following the No Kings rally on Oct. 18: Many have asked about what we can do next. Let’s join John Bauer for the Waterbury Democratic Committee meeting on Nov. 10, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., above the Reservoir restaurant. Please see his Front Porch Forum post on Oct. 28 for more details. You do not have to be a Democrat to join in, just someone who cares about democracy!

As always, your friend and neighbor,

Carol Baitz

Waterbury