Vermont Food Stamps program rewarded

Vermont Public Radio reports that the federal government has awarded Vermont with $269,000 for the way it administers the federal food stamps program. Indeed, Vermont is one of four state that has improved the percentage of people eligible for food stamps who actually apply for and receive them.  Over the last year the number of people enrolled increased from 48,000 people to 53,000 people.  Steve Dale from the state Department for Children and Families believes that rising fuel costs may play a role in the increased number of participants.

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Food for the Hungry

The Champlain Islander reports that Franklin Grand Isle Community Action has run food shelves in Grand Isle and Franklin counties for the past thirty years. This year the Grand Isle food shelf has seen an increase of twenty new families every month. Both food shelves provide individuals at or below 2005 of the federal poverty level with a bag of assorted food each month. Notably, the amount of food distributed depends on the number of people in each household and the distributed items are donated or purchased. 

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New film explores poverty in Vermont

Vermont Public Radio reports that the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger is releasing a new movie called "Every Child, Every Day" that explores poverty and hunger in Vermont.  The film features real-life anecdotes from Vermonters living in poverty and discusses solutions that could help curb poverty and hunger rates in the state.

The film will premiered at 1:30 PM on Thursday, November 29th, at the Main Street Performing Arts Center, located at Lake & College Streets on Burlington's Waterfront.  The event will also include speakers Senator Bernie Sanders, State Representative Rich Westman, Northfield Savings Bank President Tom Pelletier, VTCECH Board President Elizabeth Bassett, and VTCECH Executive Director Robert Dostis, MS RD, and will conclude with a Q&A session with the film makers, Jim Ritvo and Dave Raizman.

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Life at the edge

The Rutland Herald reports that the Vermont Council on Childhood Poverty is hosting a public forum in each county with the goal of reducing childhood poverty by 50-percent in ten years.  The forums have revealed that a lack of transportation, housing, and jobs that pay a livable wage are important contributors to the poverty crisis.

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Food Stamps: Old stereotypes no longer true

According to Renee Richardson, the director of Vermont's food and nutrition programs, some people who need food stamps do not participate in the state Food Stamp program because of the stigma attached to using the stamps.  The Times Argus reports that churches, food advocacy groups, and civic leaders trying to call attention to this stigma are participating in the "Food Stamp Challenge."  Food Stamp Challenge participants voluntarily spend no more than $1 per person per meal on food.  Notably in 2006, the Food Stamp program brought $54.68 million into Vermont and thirty-eight percent of the 50,000 Vermonters that receive food stamps are children.
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Federal cuts, increased demand squeeze Vermont pantries

The Vermont Food Bank reports that in 2005, an average of 10,357 Vermont families used emergency food shelves each month. Some of the 135 Vermont food shelves that provide for these families struggle to stock their storerooms with enough food. Distributing food to those in need and federal cutbacks to a USDA commodities program have also proved problematic for food shelves.
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Lunch programs serves rising need in county

According to the Brattleboro Reformer, the Rockingham Summer Food Program has been serving free summer lunches to children for three years.  When the program first started, the program served nineteen meals per day.  Today, the program provides eighty meals per day.  The Food Research and Action Center reports that Vermont currently ranks ninth in that nation for providing free meals at recreation programs.  Last summer 5,400 Vermont children ate at one of ninety-four sites that provide free summer food.  Notably, this figure represents one-fourth of the total number of children who receive free or reduced lunches during the school year.
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Farmers’ market to accept food stamps, debit cards

The Burlington Free Press reports that the Winooski Farmers' Market is now accepting food stamps thanks to grant money from the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, the Center for Rural Studies, the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, the Vermont Department for Children and Families, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture.
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Hunger programs see drop in federal surpluses

The Times Argus reports that high prices for agricultural commodities are restricting the ability of food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens to provide food for the 66,000 Vermonters who rely on food security systems.
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Winooski program provides meals, activities

The Burlington Free Press reports that Winooski's Summer Youth Food and Enrichment Program provides free breakfast, lunch, and supervised activities for more than 100 kids.  The program is open to youth ages six to fourteen and provides meals and activities on a daily basis for nine weeks during the summer.  Meals are also open to anyone under age eighteen.  Some of the supervised activities provided include swimming, gardening, skateboarding, art, sports, and field trips.