City Market is a vital community partner to a variety of local organizations. The Co-op works to focus its partnerships and outreach efforts to programs that work to alleviate childhood hunger and that promote the sustainability of agriculture. Here is a sampling of some of the Co-op's outreach programs and our partners.

Senior Lunch

City Market launched the Lunch with Neighbors program in January 2005 by serving hot meals to residents of four senior centers in Burlington. The Lunch with Neighbors program is attended by many to enjoy a warm meal and the company of their neighbors. At each senior center, residents will offer their help with getting the meal served. The program has been chosen as one of the best activities by residents of the three Burlington Housing Authority centers. City Market is thankful to be able to provide the senior centers the Lunch with Neighbors program twice a month, as we work to strengthen the options for nutritious meals in the community.

City Market Annual Harvest Celebration

City Market celebrates Vermont's annual harvest by gathering as many of our Vermont vendors and producers as we can fit into a tent and opening the doors wide to the community to celebrate not only the abundance of local food but also the people. For the past six years, City Market’s Harvest Celebration has grown to include the regional producers whom residents see at local farmers’ markets, as well as up and coming vendors just breaking into the marketplace. "Seeing some different vendors that you don't see elsewhere," was a comment heard after last year’s event. Community members enjoy this event because they can sample a variety of delicious local food for free, and perhaps even more important, because of the ability to put a face on the local vendors whose products line City Market shelves.

Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf

Each year, City Market donates over $10,000 in both in-kind donations and financial support to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. In addition, the Co-op supports the Food Shelf with tear tickets at the registers. Our customers have given over $80,000 in the last three years to the Food Shelf. We also maintain a donation box for shoppers and we send them any surplus items from grocery, produce and the deli. The Food Shelf truck picks up a load from us five days a week.

Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS)

Each year in December, City Market has donated the proceeds from our annual Holiday Tree sale to the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS). The annual tree sale has been held at the Co-op for the past 11 years, bringing the total donation to over $44,000. City Market staff, Co-op members and community volunteers assist customers with trees throughout the sale. The fresh, local trees are delivered from Moffatt’s Farm in Craftsbury and are sold for only $30. According to COTS, $18 covers a night of emergency shelter for an adult at the Waystation. $50 pays for two new backpacks and school supplies for two children in their family shelters.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Each spring at the peak of sugaring season, the Co-op hosts the Vermont Maple Board’s maple sugar house and provides sugar on snow with donated syrup from our own Peter Purinton, whose syrup is featured in our bulk section. We also team up with the Department of Agriculture at the Champlain Valley Fair each August to provide cooking demonstrations utilizing local ingredients to showcase our connections to local farmers.

Bicycle Benefits Program

We love it when our customers ride their bicycles to the Co-op! We recently became a participant in Bicycle Benefits program by offering a 5% discount to bicyclists that show their bike sticker attached to their helmet. The Bicycle Benefits stickers are sold at our Customer Service desk.

Healthy City

City Market is a proud sponsor of a new van for Healthy City farms in order for gleaned produce to be delivered to community organizations.

Donations

City Market makes regular monetary donations for school functions, community fundraisers and citywide events. 30 days notice prior to an event is required to process all donation requests. All requests within the allotted time frame will be considered. Please send donation requests in writing to Christine Parlia or snail mail to: Christine Parlia, City Market, 82 So. Winooski Ave. Burlington, VT 05401

City Market Sponsorships

City Market is proud to be involved with a variety of events and organizations in the Burlington area. Here is a sampling of where our sponsorship dollars have gone: Jazzfest, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), Burlington Business Association, Burlington School Food Project, Vermont Woman’s Expo, Boys & Girls Club of Burlington, Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, Kids CAN Help Food Drive, First Night Burlington, Junior Iron Chef Competition, Vermont Business Expo, Way to Go Week, and Old North End Little League.