It’s the second day of the 11th Annual Stuff-A-Truck event being held outside of 802 Toyota‘s nearly-completed new building. Frank FM’s TJ Michaels, Froggy’s JD Green and numerous supporters have been outside with the truck, doing what they can to help Central Vermonters in need.
“I’ve been doing this for 11 years,” said TJ. “We do this for the Salvation Army mostly because I think each of us has a story to tell.”
TJ reflects on his past; remembering his early days as a disc jockey, coming home and looking into the fridge to find a bottle of ketchup and some baking soda. That was a time when the Salvation Army was helping him, and now he’s giving back.
This year’s event is more important than ever – the Salvation Army Food Shelf has seen an increase in need for food by Vermont families by 155 percent over the last two years. Last year they broke records; raising over 18 tons of food and $12,000, but it was also the first time the Food Shelf’s supply didn’t last the whole year.
TJ tells us that 1 in 6 Vermonters struggle for food, and even though you may think you don’t know someone who is struggling like that, 10 percent of Vermonters use the Food Shelf at one point or another. It hits us close to home here, and we have to help.
Vermont has pulled together strongly, especially after Irene. TJ says that we’ve encompassed the Vermont Strong theme, and to them it really means taking care of each other. This year they hope to fill more than just one truck in order to be able to feed all those in need through the whole year.
If you haven’t stopped by the Stuff-A-Truck drive yet, please do! All donations, small and large really make a difference. Let’s be Vermont Strong – and let’s stuff two trucks! Stop by 802 Toyota on the Berlin Mall Road in Berlin, Vt. any time now through November 18.
