November 9, 2026To the Community:
As more Vermonters turn to their local food shelves this year to bridge the gap between wages and living expenses, food shelves are relying more heavily on community donations to keep their shelves stocked.
This spirit of community giving is at the heart of Harvest for Hunger, an annual fundraising campaign at Woodstock Farmers’ Market. Running Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, the holiday campaign invites customers at both its Woodstock and Waterbury stores to round up their purchases to the next dollar. All proceeds will benefit local food shelves, helping them purchase fresh produce in the months ahead.
To get things started, WFM began each store's campaign with a $500 donation.
Making every dollar count
What makes Harvest for Hunger unique is how the donations are used. Rather than simply writing a check, the market turns the funds raised into a weekly credit that each food shelf can use to purchase produce. Produce managers work directly with food shelf volunteers to determine what’s needed each week. Harvest for Hunger wholesale partner, Black River Produce, then delivers fresh produce the next day. Volunteers then pick up their produce and stock their shelves with fresh, sustainably grown items that might otherwise be difficult to afford.
Funds raised in Woodstock support the Woodstock Community Food Shelf and the Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf. Donations collected in Waterbury support the Waterbury Common Market (formerly known as the Waterbury Area Food Shelf). Through their partnership with the Woodstock Market, these food shelves can purchase produce at very competitive wholesale prices, helping every dollar go further.
“It’s an urgent time of need for so many,” said Woodstock Farmers’ Market founder Patrick Crowl. “It feels great, knowing fresh produce is going right down the road to our local food shelf, where our neighbors can fill their baskets. This kind of food drive is unusual. We love to make great fruit and vegetables accessible to all. That’s what this program is all about.”
Meeting a growing need
As the cost of living rises faster than many people’s wages, more Vermonters are turning to local food shelves to help make ends meet. The Vermont Foodbank reports a 30 percent year-over-year increase in visits from community members seeking food assistance. The Woodstock Community Food Shelf is seeing a similar trend, with visits in September 2026 up 30 percent compared with September 2025.
“It's both inspiring and humbling to see how many people trust us when they
need help,” said Judi Greene, board chair of the Woodstock Community Food Shelf. “We're distributing more food than ever before, and our shelves empty quickly because the need is real. Every donation—whether it's food, funds, or time—goes directly to helping our neighbors put meals on their tables.”
Small change adds up
Harvest for Hunger has been a Woodstock Farmers’ Market tradition since 2006, when it began as “Penny Power,” a simple name for making change with spare change.
Last year, customers raised $15,604.24 across the market’s two stores: $12,283.56 in Woodstock and $3,320.68 in Waterbury.
“Every year we’re amazed at the generosity of our customers,” Crowl said. “Whether they live locally or are from out of town, everyone is eager to give what they can to help our neighbors in need. A few cents here and there really adds up—our communities raised over $15,000 in two months! That’s incredible.”
Customers can support Harvest for Hunger by rounding up their purchases at either Woodstock Farmers’ Market location—both Woodstock and Waterbury—from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
Amanda Kuhnert
Woodstock Farmers' Market