PUTNEY, VT—This year the 36th Annual Putney Craft Tour slated for Thanksgiving Weekend is not only a Top Ten Winter event as named by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, but also is helping to fight hunger in the community. The tour is partnering with the Putney Foodshelf by using art to support food for those who are in need.
The Putney Craft Tour is more than a once a year event. “Many of the studios are open year round, some by appointment, and the tour wants to be a resource for our community in ways that we can. Using our art to support our neighbors and young people in need is a way for us to give something back,” says Nancy Calicchio, artist on the tour who spearheaded the project. Each studio on the Putney Craft Tour will showcase an object for sale with the proceeds going to the Foodshelf.
The Tour takes place Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 28, 29 and 30 (10-5 each day) when 26 artists enthusiastically prepare their working studios for visits by community members and out of town guests, seeking to provide experiences that are informative, interesting and fun.
Now the tour affords a way for shoppers to give something back to the community while purchasing a one-of-a kind item of art in clay, glass, wood, metal and fiber and even cheese. In addition, most of the studios will be featuring small tastes of locally sourced specialty foods such as cider, honey, cheese, salsas, and pumpkin bread.
Hunger is no stranger to this part of Vermont. About 50 percent of the students at Putney Central School qualify for the free and reduced lunch program.
Twice a week at its location in the Putney Community Center, the Putney Foodshelf provides healthy supplemental food to area families in need.
A year ago, the Putney Foodshelf began a Family Food Bag program through PCS. Every Friday year-round, the Foodshelf sends home a bag of food, enough to feed the entire family for the weekend, to 10 families currently. Putney Foodshelf volunteers say they are looking for canned foods such as fish, fruit, soup, chili and vegetables, as well as cereals, pastas and pasta sauce, peanut butter, boxed meals which include macaroni and cheese, and rice.
The Putney Foodshelf counts on donations to help those who are struggling to feed their families.
For more information about the Putney Craft Tour go to www.putneycrafts.com. For more information on the Putney Food shelf call Putney Family Services at 387-2120. Monetary donations can be sent to P.O. Box 337, Putney, Vt. 05346.
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