SunCommon holiday fundraiser provides 20,000 meals
Jan. 27, 2021 | By Waterbury RoundaboutSunCommon’s holiday campaign to have those interested in renewable solar energy help support area food shelves has resulted in donations that will provide some 20,000 meals for local residents, the company announced.
Every year during the holiday season, SunCommon hosts a campaign to highlight important issues in its local communities. For the 2021 holiday season, the company partnered with the Vermont Foodbank, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, and the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to raise awareness and funds for those experiencing hunger in the region.
SunCommon donated $20 to the campaign for every household that looked into solar in November and December, resulting in funds to provide over 20,000 meals for families facing hunger.
“We wanted to create a campaign that allowed us to focus on our mission of addressing the climate crisis, while recognizing the urgency of our neighbors experiencing hunger right now,” said Jake Elliott, SunCommon’s Impact Partnership Manager. “After learning that rates of hunger had only gotten worse through the pandemic and that relief funding was going to be expiring, it was clear this was where our energy needed to go this year.”
According to the Vermont Foodbank, nearly one in four people in Vermont experienced food insecurity prior to the pandemic and that rose to one in three during the COVID-19 crisis.
The statistics in New York are similar, and additional state and federal support may expire soon.
“The pandemic continues to create unpredictability and disruptions impacting all of us and exacerbating the rate of food insecurity across Vermont,” said John Sayles, CEO of the Vermont Foodbank. “We see these challenges with food insecurity continuing throughout 2022.”
More information: vtfoodbank.org and suncommon.com/holiday-giving-program-2021.