While we are all struggling with the challenges of the pandemic, many of our friends and neighbors are just trying to keep food on the table. Everyone needs and deserves a bountiful holiday meal on Christmas. The Chester-Andover Family Center is determined to provide each of our more than one hundred Food Shelf recipients with everything they need to prepare their holiday meal. There are several ways you can participate in this Food Drive.

On December 12, we will be at the Chester Helping Hands-Katsiroubous Cares Produce Drop at CAES in Chester from 9-11. Family Center Volunteers will be there to accept your cash donations, non-perishable food items as well as turkeys and hams. Help us provide a bountiful holiday meal for our food shelf recipients.
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You can also Donate a Katsiroubous Cares Produce Box.  A Katsiroubous Cares Produce Box cost $25 and can be ordered and paid for online. Go to our website at www.chester-andoverfamilycenter.org. The donation link is at the top of our homepage. Your produce box donations will be delivered to our Food Shelf.
 
We are available to accept your food donations at the Food Shelf on Thursdays, 1-5 and Fridays, 10-2. Monetary contributions are always welcome as that allows us to purchase in bulk. Send a check to CAFC, PO Box 302, Chester VT. Donate through PayPal on our website, www.chester-andoverfamilycenter.org
 
Lastly, please tell your friends and neighbors about the Chester Andover Family Center. If someone you know is struggling to pay a bill, in need of food or a warm coat, tell them to call us at 802-875-3236 and leave a message. A Family Center volunteer will return their call and find a way to help.

ROCKINGHAM – T he MOOver’s winter seasonal bus route connecting Bellows Falls, Springfield, Chester, and Okemo began November 27th.

The route is designed to bring employees all along the route to work at Okemo and back home. Stops include Penguin Mart in Bellows Falls, Springfield Plaza, Chester Depot, Chester Green, Ludlow, Okemo, and Jackson Gore. It is supported by a generous contribution by Okemo Mountain Resort, along with state and federal funding. There is no passenger fare for the service.

“We appreciate Okemo’s contribution that makes this route possible,” said Christine Howe, MOOver General Manager. “It has been running for many years and also allows us to provide seasonal fixed route service to Chester as well.”
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There are two round trips in the morning and one in the afternoon on weekends and holidays. Midweek non-holiday there is one morning and one afternoon round trip. For the complete schedule visit www.crtransit.org .

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March, the Chester-Andover Family Center has continued to provide supplemental, nourishing food for Food Shelf recipients and Financial Assistance to families struggling to make ends meet. This has been made possible through the generous donations of our community and beyond.

Katsiroubous Produce, now famously known in Chester for their weekly, Saturday morning produce drop, has been generously donating produce boxes to our food shelf since March. JoJo and Jim Chlebiogiannos have been instrumental in sustaining this initiative that benefits not only the CAFC but the greater Chester community. Jim is vice -president of Katsiroubous Produce and JoJo manages the weekly box sign-up. She also contributes baked goods and stews to the curb-side market, currently raising money for a Christmas Toy Drive.

This past week, JoJo and Jim Chlebogiannis sponsored a raffle for Jabra 75t active elite earbuds at the Produce Box drop in Chester to raise money for Dog and Cat Food. It was a huge success, raising over $900. They collaborated with Muddy Paws Canine Center in Windham and Bellows Falls Pet Supply to purchase 1000 pounds of dog and cat food for distribution by the Chester-Andover Family Center Food Shelf.
It is impossible to exaggerate what a gift this is for CAFC Food Shelf recipients. Putting food on the table to keep one’s family nourished and healthy is always a priority. Imagine having to make a choice between food for your children and food for your pet, who is also a part of your family. This generous donation will bring joy and relief to countless families that depend on our food shelf.
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The Chester-Andover Family Center thanks Katsiroubous Produce, JoJo and Jim and all the Chester Helping Hands volunteers for supporting not only the CAFC but our whole community during these challenging times. These weekly produce boxes provide nourishing, fresh food and challenge us to cook and enjoy something new every week. And for the Dog and Cat Food donation, we know that Pet owners everywhere say “thank you”.