December 2007

Support Your Local Food Shelf
Watch this VPT & You spot by clicking here.



During this special season of giving, you can give back to your community by supporting those who are less fortunate.

During the past decade, the number of families accessing one of the 270 food shelves in the state has increased by 10%. In 2006 alone, the Vermont Foodbank provided food to 66,000 Vermonters.

Here are some daunting statistics:

• 38% of food shelf users choose between buying food or paying for heat
• 33% choose between buying groceries or paying for rent or mortgage
• 28% choose between buying food or buying medicine

You can help with donations of food, or by volunteering at your local community food shelf.

This holiday season, support the Vermont Foodbank or your local food shelf, and give your neighbors a gift that will make a difference all year long.

Community Resources

Anti-hunger organizations working in Vermont and across the country.

Vermont Organizations:

Food Works at Two Rivers Center 64 Main Street Montpelier, VT 802-223-1515, 800-310-1515 info@tworiverscenter.org Food Works at Two Rivers Center was founded in 1987 to address the root causes of childhood hunger by returning students and their communities back to the land through hands-on food and gardening educational opportunities.   Food Works has many volunteer opportunities, click here for contact information.

Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA) PO Box 697 Richmond, VT 802-434-4122 info@nofavt.org NOFA Vermont is a non-profit association of farmers, gardeners, and consumers working to promote an economically viable and ecologically sound Vermont food system for the benefit of current and future generations. NOFA was originally founded in Putney, Vermont in 1971 and is one of the oldest organic farming associations in the US. NOFA has grown from a small group of individuals to over 1000 members in Vermont. Today, there are seven state chapters in the Northeast and an Interstate Council. Each year, NOFA Vermont's Farm Share Program provides a season's worth of fresh farm products (vegetables, eggs, bread, meat) to low-income families and children, and serves seniors through the Senior Farm Share Program. Visit NOFA’s website for a listing of Vermont certified organic farms, Vermont's’ farmers markets and other useful links.

Salvation Farms 813 Brook Road Wolcott, VT 802-888-5055 salvagedonation@yahoo.com Salvation Farms is a not for profit, citizen-based project located in Wolcott, Vermont. The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) serves as their fiscal sponsor and advisor. Their mission is to harvest excess farm produce, making it available to Vermonters in need. They are a cost free resource available to farmers and food sites, providing volunteer crews for salvaging farm surplus and arranging storage and distribution of fresh food donations. Donation recipients consist of local emergency food sites, educational and care giving institutions, retirement communities, non-profits, and the Vermont Foodbank. Salvation Farms considers “Vermonters in need” to include those who are food insecure and/or nutritionally insecure. Click here for volunteer options.

Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger 180 Flynn Avenue Burlington, VT 802-865-0255 vtcech@vtnohunger.org The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger is a statewide nonprofit organization that combats hunger through advocacy, education, and technical assistance - providing communities with the tools to create and sustain local nutrition programs that feed hungry children. VTCECH helps communities: Provide free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch in schools. Organize supervised activities and summer meals to at-risk kids. Teach low-income parents and teens how to purchase and prepare nutritious meals though Cooking for Life classes. Help families, elders, and children access the Food Stamp Program. Provide meals to children in early childcare settings though the Child Care Food Program. Click here for information on how to get involved with Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger.

Vermont Foodbank P.O. Box 254 South Barre, VT 802-476-3341, 800-585-2265 kcrowningshield@secondharvest.org The mission of the Vermont Foodbank is to gather and share quality food and nurture partnerships that will end hunger in Vermont. A food bank is not a food shelf: A food bank secures large quantities of food and food-related products from commercial suppliers, concerned citizens, and other sources. There are lots of ways to pitch in at the Foodbank and they need and welcome assistance year round. Whether it’s preparing food in the Community Kitchen, stuffing envelopes for a mailing or sorting and packing food during a Saturday Sort-a-thon, your work will be appreciated! Find out more about volunteering at the Barre facility. Click here to connect you with your local Representative/Senator. This page also features articles about hunger and an opportunity to sign up for our advocacy email listserv. Because they are the state’s ONLY food bank, donations reach every community across Vermont. Monetary donations, stock or in-kind products are greatly appreciated.

National Organizations:

America's Second Harvest America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network feeds America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engages our country in the fight to end hunger.

Institute for Research on Poverty IRP is a center for interdisciplinary research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the United States. It is based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As one of three Area Poverty Research Centers sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it has a particular interest in poverty and family welfare in the Midwest.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is one of the nation’s premier policy organizations working at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

Center on Hunger and Poverty The Center on Hunger and Poverty promotes policies that improve the lives of low-income children and families. Center activities include research and policy analysis, public education initiatives, and assistance to policy makers and organizations across the country on poverty- and hunger-related issues. Center activities also include a series of special projects.

Coalition on Human Needs The Coalition on Human Needs is an alliance of national organizations working together to promote public policies that address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable people.

Community Food Security Coalition The Community Food Security Coalition is a North American organization of social and economic justice, environmental, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, community development, labor, anti-poverty, anti-hunger, and other groups. The Coalition has 325 organizational members in 41 states, four Canadian provinces and the District of Columbia. They are dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food to all people at all times. They seek to develop self-reliance among all communities in obtaining their food and to create a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy, and sustainability.

Congressional Hunger Center The Congressional Hunger Center (CHC) is a nonprofit anti-hunger training organization founded by former Rep. Tony Hall and located in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA) are the co-chairs of our Board of Directors and exemplify our bipartisan approach to ending hunger.

And be sure to watch VPT & You on-air updates, airing throughout our program schedule.