With a long-held mission of feeding the hungry, the parish community of Our Lady of the Lake continues to serve parishioners and the surrounding communities through their more-than-decade-long practice of food distribution.

The parish, which serves faith communities in South Hero, Isle LaMotte, Alburgh and Grand Isle, facilitates the initiative with food provided by Hannaford Supermarket in Swanton and the Healthy Roots Gleaning Program in Grand Isle.

A small team of dedicated parish volunteers handles this wide-reaching program which serves 150-200 people monthly through three Alburgh distribution centers: St. Amadeus Church, Islands in the Sun Senior Center and Pine Manor Senior Center.

Laura Limoge, parish secretary, spoke highly of the “tirelessness” of parish volunteers who bring the program to life. She also commended the generosity of both the gleaning program which is a “co-op of local farmers rescuing produce to help feed their neighbors,” as well Hannaford Supermarket, both of which make the food distribution initiative possible through their food donations.

In addition, through the efforts of both the southern and northern churches, the annual Christmas food drive will distribute some 200 full-dinner food boxes during the holiday season.

In the northern churches of St. Amadeus in Alburgh and St. Joseph in Isle LaMotte, the food basket program is a collaboration with the United Way and Hannaford Supermarket, as well as members of the parish and surrounding community.

In the southern churches of St. Rose of Lima in South Hero and St. Joseph in Grand Isle, the food baskets are created solely through financial donations from parishioners and members of the local community.

Those interested in volunteering in the north or receiving information on how to be of assistance may call Maurice Gauthier at 802-796-4418.

— Originally published in the Winter 2021 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.