Employee Owners of Vermont helps combat hunger in sixth annual fundraiser

In celebration of Employee Ownership Month, the Employee Owners of Vermont, an active group of local employee-owned companies, raised just under $30,000 in October for the group’s sixth annual fundraiser for the Vermont Foodbank.

Every dollar raised throughout the fundraiser has been donated directly to the Vermont Foodbank to support the organization’s work in providing meals for those in our communities facing hardship.

This year, 11 of Vermont's employee-owned companies participated in the fundraiser: Vermont Information Processing, VHV Company, PC Construction, Stone Environmental, Hallam-ICS, 89 North, Switchback Brewing Company, Phoenix Feeds, DuBois & King, Tuttle Print & Promo, and Mass Bay Brewing Company. The Vermont Employee Ownership Center also participated in the fundraiser.

Including a donation from PC Construction sent via mail, the group raised a total of $29,808. This will provide the equivalent of over $123,405 in groceries to Vermonters in need.

“When what we are hearing from our network of partners and experiencing at our direct distributions is that food security continues to be a reality for so many of our neighbors, partnerships, like we have with EOVT, are crucial in supporting our mission-driven initiative to ensure that everyone in Vermont has access to nourishing food every day,” said Melissa Disorda of Vermont Foodbank. “On behalf of the Vermont Foodbank, and our neighbors facing food insecurity, Thank you!”

VHV, a heating and ventilation company based in Winooski, opted to match each donation made by one of the company’s employee owners. The company thanked their employees for their generosity in a comment on the fundraising website, recognizing that their “commitment to helping those in need is admirable.”

Employee Owners of Vermont was formed in September 2018 out of a wish to work together and benefit Vermont communities. In its first Foodbank Fundraiser that October, the group of employee owners raised $17,800 for Vermont Foodbank. In the five years since, the group has collaborated on a variety of community service projects and events. The group's primary focus remains relieving hunger in Vermont.