MIDDLEBURY — As the same time that Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects (HOPE) is fielding a growing number of requests for food, clothing and other necessities, the Middlebury nonprofit is also readying its annual Holiday Shop and food boxes to ensure area folks in need have a joyful Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Jeanne Montross, who for the past 24 years has served as HOPE’s executive director, said she’s as concerned as she’s ever been about the organization’s ability to meet clients’ emergency needs at the dawn of a new winter.

HOPE has seen an 80% increase in the number of people seeking food at the nonprofit’s headquarters at 282 Boardman St. The organization was able to meet needs until recently thanks to what Montross called “a very generous contribution from one person.” But those funds have now dried up, meaning HOPE must work harder to meet the county’s food needs through small donations, grants and local food drives.

So far this year, the nonprofit’s food shelf has served 3,934 Addison County households made up of 8,827 individuals. Those numbers also reflect repeat visitors.

“Calls for food and other assistance rise during the third quarter of each year, and we will be challenged to meet them,” Montross stated in an October letter to prospective donors. “Food prices, which rose during the pandemic, have remained very high, and so we will not only need to purchase more food, that food will now cost twice what it did just two years ago.”

Adding to the problem: There’s no longer a food donation bin at Middlebury’s Hannaford supermarket, though the Hare and the Dog liquor store next door has agreed to host one, according to Montross. She said food shelves like HOPE’s have fewer sources from which to harvest free provisions.

“We have to pay for more of what used to be available for free, and many items are just not available,” she said.

HOPE this fall has also been asked to help a growing number of houseless folks who’ve temporarily settled in the shire town, either at the Charter House Emergency Shelter or at makeshift campsites in the village area.

The local homelessness problem could get significantly worse this winter, according to advocates like Susan Whitmore, executive director of John Graham Housing & Services.

In a recent op ed for the Addison Independent, Whitmore noted the state on Sept. 15 capped its emergency housing program (for those experiencing homelessness) at 1,100 hotel/motel rooms statewide, down from 1,700.

“Our shelters are full and affordable housing waitlists number in the hundreds. Even as many towns and cities have imposed new restrictions on camping in public areas, many households will have no other option but to camp this fall,” Whitmore said.

“We’re… offering use of our shower, tents, sleeping bags and food that lends itself to a lifestyle devoid of a kitchen,” Montrose said in her October letter, noting the HOPE’s recent houseless clients included a single mom with two children and an elderly man with a rescue dog.

Montross said HOPE is responding as best it can to the uptick increase in service requests. She thanked the many individuals and groups who have traditionally supported the food shelf, including area places of worship, civic groups like Rotary Club and Knights of Columbus, and Middlebury-area schools that conduct food drives.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOP

This is the time of year when the organization is also trying to ensure that low-income residents have the ingredients for at least one festive family meal and a couple of Christmas gifts for kids who might otherwise have none. To that end, HOPE and its dedicated volunteers are preparing the annual Holiday Shop, which allows parents to “shop” for a few free gifts for each of their children.

Sadly, this year’s HOPE Holiday Shop will open later — on Dec. 3, closing on Dec. 23 — with less inventory than in past years. It’s a testament to how many households were short on holiday funds last year, according to Montross.

“We served around 100 more children than in the previous year,” she said. “Some people are doing early toy drives to bring us more (gift inventory).”

The list of honorary HOPE Santa Clauses is impressive. Heather Potter, HOPE’s director of development, noted that area churches are conducting toy drives, while G. Stone Motors and Stone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram are doing a “Stuff the Truck” effort to accumulate presents. Two Brothers Tavern and Collins Aerospace are doing toy drives of their own, and Vermont Federal Credit Union has helped boost HOPE’s gift inventory. Montross added that Wow Toyz of Vergennes has donated “a wonderful selection of toys,” while North Country Federal Credit Union has helped with stuffed animals.

Vermont Federal Credit Union, M&T Bank, National Bank of Middlebury, Sparrow Art Supply, Simon Says, Middlebury Indoor Tennis and Middlebury Agway will all have toy drop boxes, according to Potter.

Middlebury College has also been a longtime supporter of the holiday shop.

“Bonnie’s Book Foundation has been extremely generous in providing a wonderful selection of books… and there are certainly others who are certainly doing toy drives within their own companies or organizations that will be very helpful to this effort,” Potter said.

So what kind of gifts are in most demand? Montross cited coloring books, board games, crafting kits, books, art supplies, and — especially for teens — gifts cards for such stores as the Vermont Book Shop, Deer Leap Books, TJ Maxx, Old Navy and Target. Montross suggested a $30-$50 limit per gift card.

HOPE has been phasing out clothes from its holiday shop, with a few exceptions: Flannel lounging pants for teens, as well as waterproof mittens for teens and children.

In addition to picking out items for their children, parents will be able to select a household gift. The options include such things as crockpots, toasters, stick blenders and panini presses.

Another avenue for Holiday Shop Giving: Pick up one or more of the tree-shaped tags you’ll finding hanging in various area businesses, including the National Bank of Middlebury. Each tag includes gift suggestions.

Donors can also bring their gifts to HOPE during business hours, or at the organization’s warehouse on Saturdays.

Those gifts should be unwrapped. Direct any questions to HOPE at 802-388-3608, at to [email protected].

Holiday Shop clients must make an appointment for their store visit and fill out a form substantiating they qualify for the service. A shopper can’t earn more than 185% of the federal poverty guideline, which is currently $4,810 per month for a family of four. Come in to fill out the application, or request one via email at [email protected].

Dave and Eileen Bearor have been longtime volunteers at the HOPE Holiday Shop. They take special pride and joy in decorating the shop, so it looks extra festive for shopping visits.

“It’s more Christmasy when it’s all decorated, and people feel more at ease and so happy to see everything look so bright and colorful. It puts a smile on their faces,” Eileen said. “You come in and it’s like a Christmas wonderland. And then you see all these toys and gifts. You can’t help but get excited.”

FOOD BOXES

Along with filling toy wish lists, HOPE will try make sure all Addison County households have access to a nice holiday meal. Households that meet the aforementioned poverty guideline qualify for a holiday food box that includes a turkey, stuffing mix, vegetables, potatoes, fruit, dessert fixings and other items.

In all, Montross believes HOPE will give out around 400 food boxes to folks needing one for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. Those seeking to reserve a holiday meal must fill out an application; visit HOPE to get one, or use the same contact info (email [email protected]) as for the Holiday Shop.

Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].