Johnson Community Meal Program Expands

February 5, 2014

The Johnson CommUNITY Meal program, a free, bi-weekly lunchtime meal coordinated by Johnson State College Dining Services (Sodexo) with the help of JSC student volunteers, will begin offering weekly meals on Wednesdays starting March 5.

The change will double the number of meals offered through the program, which is a collaboration of Johnson State College, the United Church of Johnson and Laraway Youth & Family Services. The meals are provided as a way for community members to connect, while at the same time address a critical need in the Johnson area. Statewide, more than 7,500 (6 percent) of Vermont seniors and one in five children are “food insecure,” meaning they lack consistent access to healthy food.

Meals are served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the United Church of Johnson (across the street from Sterling Market on Route 15) on a walk-in basis. February meals will be offered Wednesday, Feb. 12 and 26, with weekly service beginning the following Wednesday.

Since December 2010, JSC Dining Services has provided 4,106 free meals through the program. To date, guests have contributed more than $2,503, which has been donated to the Johnson Food Shelf.