Community Leadership

Photos from community meal program in Johnson, VT



At the March 15th Hunger Council of Lamoille Valley meeting, we were pleased to hear from our partners at Johnson State College that they would continue to provide a weekly community meal to the citizens of Johnson.

In March 2008, the Johnson United Church began hosting a weekly community meal to local residents.  Johnson consistently has high rates of poverty and food insecurity when compared to other Lamoille and Vermont communities.  The goal of this program was to provide a free meal for local residents and also build a greater sense of community within Johnson.

While Johnson State College has played the leading role in this program, it has been enthusiastically supported by a number of other organizations, including the United Church of Johnson, Laraway Youth & Family Services, the Lamoille Valley Hunger Coalition, the Johnson Food Shelf, Copley Hospital, WLVB Radio, the Vermont Food Bank, and  the Lamoille County Court Diversion & Restorative Justice programs.

However, in 2010 the program was discontinued and in jeopardy of permanently ending due to lack of resources.  Fortunately, Johnson State College’s ARAMARK Dining Services generously stepped in to continue the program and now provides lunch twice a month to the community.

As part of a contract negotiated with the Vermont State Colleges, in July 2012 a new food service provider, Sodexo, will take over operations at JSC -- and the company has agreed to continue the Johnson Community Meal program. 

The community meal will be provided through ARAMARK through May 9^th which is will be a special meal to honor the dedication of volunteers, organizations, and neighbors who have dined at the meal over the past year and a half.  Meals on May 23^rd, June 13^th, and June 27^th will be sponsored by Ian Keller, owner of the HUB, and Meg Loscomb of Lovin’ Cup.  Sodexo will take over the program on June 11^th.