Anore Horton, Executive Director of Hunger Free Vermont and Williston resident, spoke to the club on May 18. Now in its 30th year, Hunger Free Vermont's mission is to create permanent systems that remove the need for people to access food pantries and feeding sites. The organization's focus is on changing policy and on helping people access programs such as 3SquaresVT, Vermont's name for SNAP or food stamps.
Today, hunger in Vermont is at the highest rate ever recorded. Income cut-offs for 3SquaresVT are very low, so many who need help are ineligible. Meals on Wheels, a program that helps address hunger among the elderly, hasn't seen an increase in federal contribution per meal in decades.
A positive development this year in addressing hunger in Vermont was the passage of the universal school meals bill. First introduced by Debbie Ingram in the state senate a number of years ago, Rep. Erin Brady of Williston was the introducing sponsor for the bill that passed this year. Published research conducted in Vermont and elsewhere demonstrates the positive effect on academic achievement when universal school meals are provided.
