by Susan Summers
To say the least, the months of April and May were frenzied for staff members and volunteers at Resources Vail Food Bank, but immensely gratifying on many levels. General Manager Stefanie Stark and Vail Depot Thrift Store manager Tabitha Johnson showed their true colors in devising new ways to serve food bank clients and finding alternate sources for groceries. The closure of the thrift store and associated lack of revenue added to the sense of urgency. As Stefanie put it, “it was wild, and we had to make a few things up as we went along, but the people of Vail have been amazing.” For example, many food bank volunteers at high risk for COVID-19 were forced to step back from their duties, so the muster call went out and was answered cheerfully by a different set of volunteers. Equally amazing were the number of anonymous angels driving through the food bank parking lot, rolling down their windows and handing cash donations to staff members. To them and all the donors—businesses, foundations, and individuals—the ReSources board of directors says thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
A special thanks goes to Arby’s on Old Vail Road for giving 50% of their Sunday revenue to Resources Vail Food Bank, as well as for the raffle they conducted. As of this writing, Arby’s has donated $12,000 to feeding their neighbors! Generous donors also include: Hudbay; Peter and Debbie Backus’s Vail Foundation; the Laird Norton Family Foundation; Jeanne Missey Osgood; the Rincon Optimist Club; Randolph Neese; and Brian Pecsek. Individuals who contributed smaller amounts are too numerous to mention here, but they should know that the cumulative effect of their generosity has kept Resources Vail Food Bank open during rough times. There have been many tears of gratitude shed by food bank clients in recent weeks, but they are meant for our community of givers. Thank you all!
