Johnson EATS

Johnson EATS Committee Monthly Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 19, 2026 6:00 pm, Masonic Temple Basement (Temporary Library) ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND - WE ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Meeting will be open to virtual attendance Board Members (P=Present; A=Absent) Pam Jaspersohn P Kate Riley A Jasmine Yuris P Diane Lehouillier A Charlotte Roozekrans P Gregor Novakowski P Jesse Whitworth P Also present: Dane VanNosdeln (JES Principal), Bill Jaspersohn, and Dorigen Keeney Agenda 1.​ Action item (had to be done so result could be texted in to Adrianne on the Select Board for action): a.​ Discussion: Mike’s request for Johnson EATS to serve as the pass-thru org for Johnson General Store grant to create a WIC point of sale system. i.​ Benefits: WIC families will be served in Johnson, expanding their access to foods made possible by the WIC program – serving this population is clearly part of the EATS mission ii.​ Possible conflicts of interest: 1.​ this grant will come from the same pot as the one to which Valerie is applying for her grocery carts (also using Johnson EATS as the pass-thru org) – but the pot is large (~$300,000) and the two grants together are small (~$20,000 to upgrade the point of sale system) 2.​ Mike’s store is a private business and we are a not-for-profit, but we have supported him in the past as part of our mission to make food accessible; so making him more solvent while helping those in need does not seem like a conflict but an added benefit b.​ Motion: Jesse moved that the Johnson EATS committee will serve as the fiscal receiver and pass through for the grant application submitted in our name and intended for the Johnson General Stores WIC point of sale upgrade project and authorized receipt and disbursement of any award funds strictly in accordance with the application and all grant conditions with separate tracking and required reporting. Any material changes to scope, budget or the pastor amendment must return to the committee and the select board for approval. The authorization is subject to and contingent upon select board approval and direction.  c.​ Motion was seconded and passed unanimously.​ 2.​ No additions or Changes to the Agenda 3.​ Motion to approve January Minutes passed unanimously 4.​ JES (represented by Dane) and Food Shelf Connection (represented by Dorigen) a.​ Strengthening the bridge between Johnson Elementary School and the Food Shelf…reducing barriers / stigma + improving awareness i.​ Dane uses JES Jaguar Journal (online and paper) to advertise resources and inform families of what’s needed for food donations; in addition to Johnson Food Shelf, he’ll add 211 (any needs hotline), and will put out flyer with QR code that has opening hours for all food shelves (put out by Morrisville Food Shelf(??) and available through United Way(??)) ii.​ Food Shelf ran a deficit last year, okay so far with savings, but looking at March 1 – lots of Vermonters will lose their food stamps – so John Gregg working on a fundraising campaign (member-based); may also need a nest egg in case town moves shelf out of that rent-free space; always looking for volunteers to do administrative work and deliver food donations from stores – 1.​ please give list of tasks and times, and EATS will work on this iii.​ But what other connections can be made between JES and food shelf? 1.​ Dorigen can send PDF of trifold with info to put into backpacks 2.​ JES serves 3 meals a day and sends kids home with leftovers and snack food but doesn’t help with vacation times – so maybe a backpack program is needed, but identifying who needs the food is harder since the free lunch for all program began – that’s why sending them to the food shelf to choose for themselves is good 3.​ Paperwork problems with sending home real food (eggs, milk…) from the food shelf – need to know how many kids and seniors served (for grant writing), total numbers of individuals and households (for VT Food Bank), and signed forms about income caps (for gov’t commodity program) 4.​ VSU-food shelf program in the works to get a work study student to bring students down by van on Saturdays to choose the healthier foods (e.g., frozen meats, etc.) that they wouldn’t get if a satellite shelf were set up on campus. 5.​ The JES PTO and staff could try new MOW model designed by Summer Daniels (CEO) to create bags of food for seniors to deliver along with the hot meals (many have signed up for this) – PTO members could pack and deliver bags like these to JES families as needed – staff know the families in need and/or Dorigen can share sign-up brochure for this, and deliverers can get the paperwork filled out – addresses the transportation problem and the shame issue (plus to have staff stopping by to say hi to kids…). EATS will put out a call for volunteers to deliver. , 5.​ JES Meal Discussion a.​ Food i.​ Emily Snodgrass and cohort at GMTC is making chicken and dumplings and bread for 300 (using their PR money for this) – Jasmine and others doing pick-up; ​BE SURE TO ADVERTISE GMTC DID THIS (Emily and kids can’t be there unfortunately…) ii.​ no veggie option yet, but kitchen’s available with Larry Smith’s help to set up the cooking station as needed – maybe ask MOW iii.​ Dee getting butter; iv.​ Lottie getting a loaf of gluten-free bread b.​ Food resource tables: food shelf, pizza oven, MOW, Salvation Farms, -- need to get WIC/food stamps sign-up option, Johnson EATS table to encourage involvement – 5 6-8 ft tables needed, not the super long ones c.​ Dane says staff thinks games would be too distracting; but decorating can be done in the food half of gym beginning at 1:20 (more decorated) and set up the other half at 2:15 with (12?) tables and (150?) chairs for eating d.​ Bowls and plates – Pam buying 220 X 12 oz to go cups from EATS budget; JES silverware available for use e.​ Service – Dane to talk to student council about serving and busing between groups coming f.​ Publicizing – Dane will do Jag Journal and individual calls/messages all at once; EATS can make a flyer for interventionist staff to hand out at the doors to guide people to the meal g.​ Decorations – helium balloons, branches with stuff hanging (PAM!!!) 6.​ Food Shelf Discussion a.​ All in favor of sending out email to EATS list advertising a volunteer “call list” for last-minute needs, especially for deliveries around Johnson / Eden / Belvidere, and potentially also quick help with pickups, rides, or coverage when the usual plan falls through (maybe some school staff would sign up too?). One or two signed up b.​ Chili Cookoff (to support food shelf) at United Church – March 1 at 4-6 or 5-7 i.​ Need volunteers to make chili, take donations, etc. - Pam and Bill signed up to arrive at 3. ii.​ Advertising on FPF 7.​ Community Meals a.​ VSC – does not seem interested in doing another May meal there but worth continuing to talk to see if there’s another way b.​ JES – Dane seems very open to doing more – esp. if this one goes well – and great to partner with GMTC again – great experience for students 8.​ NOFA VT Winter Conference a.​ Gregor, Jacob Farber, Aubrey Wagner, Joy, and Jasmine attended and were thankful for the experience. Key note speaker was Ira Wallace of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange | foodsystems.centers | Virginia Tech; workshops on  seed saving and silvopasturing and mulberries and growing farmers (intergenerational farming)… 9.​ Treasurer’s Report a.​ Lottie sent it separately 10.​Grants (VCF, Discover Johnson, FAHC…) a.​ Discussion of how to apply for a Select Board grant for $1200 for an oven and whether to apply for more at the same time for community meals and a store of utensils for this. General agreement to go for something larger 11.​Brochure report: a.​ Bill said it’s with Adrienne – almost done but waiting for her to design new logo 12.​Meeting adjourned