Handmade Bowls Full of Soup, Sundaes, and Love: A Fundraiser for HFVT

I received an unexpected gift a few weeks ago from the children of the Charlotte Congregational Church. Our Board Member, Marcia Bristow brought me a hand shaped, ceramic bowl made especially for the “Soup Supper” fundraiser on March 13th that benefited Hunger Free Vermont. The children molded 75 bowls and hand painted them with colorful glazes, each one a unique creation. The children then welcomed their community to enjoy homemade soups served in the bowls along with bread and ice cream sundaes. Dinner was free and children collected donations for Hunger Free Vermont raising more than $700 for our organization.

Thank you to the children of the Charlotte Congressional Church for this wonderful fundraiser. You are special kids, and I really love my bowl!

Photograph from Shelburne News

International Human Rights Day

Today is International Human Rights Day which marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Noted in Article 25 of the declaration is “the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food…”

This month is a time of celebration for many families across our state. However, too many Vermonters don’t have the means to put meals on the table to gather with friends, family, and neighbors. Food insecurity has been on the rise in our state for the last few years. Having limited or no access to nutritious food is not a standard of living and it is not a life choice. It is a violation of human rights.

Vermont’s state motto is Freedom & Unity. Nothing makes a person freer than being able to feed themselves and their families. The health and well-being of Vermonters are directly linked to the food they eat and have access too on a daily basis. Limited access to food and the low-food security statistics are keeping Vermonters from living our state motto to their fullest potential. We can do better.

Our organization’s belief statements best articulate our vision for a hunger free Vermont:

• We believe everyone has the right to food to sustain an active and healthy life and that the source of that food is consistent and reliable.
• We believe everyone has the right to choose a diet that is nutritious, varied, and culturally appropriate.
• We believe everyone has the right to food access through dignified means and traditional channels.
• We believe everyone has the right to sufficient knowledge regarding good nutrition and cooking skills, to sustain them throughout their lives.
• We believe in social sustainability: access to nutritious, affordable food is built in to the fabric of all communities.
• We believe children need quality food and nutrition education to reach their full potential.

Thank you for standing with us to live these beliefs everyday on behalf of the 1 in 7 Vermont households who struggle with food security in Vermont. Together we can ensure that every Vermonter has the right to be healthy and hunger free.

3SquaresVT Challenge Completed

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 3SquaresVT Challenge last week as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. There were over 70 participants, including DCF Commissioner Steve Dale, who took on the challenge to live on the average 3SquaresVT (formerly food stamps) budget—approximately $1.80 per meal. It seems that we all learned something about the barriers to participation and the tremendous amount of planning and resourcefulness required to eat well on a budget. All of us at the Campaign thank you for taking part in this awareness effort and our hope is that you will continue to raise awareness and advocate for food insecure Vermonters in your community. To learn more about hunger in Vermont and ways you can help, go to www.vtnohunger.org and click on “get involved.”

Day 7 of 3SquaresVT Challenge

Congratulations, it’s the last day of the Challenge – you made it! Hopefully, this week has given you some things to think about and has sparked some good conversations. Any final thoughts to share?

What You Can Do: Stay aware and engaged! To end hunger in Vermont and across the globe, we all must be aware of the problems and work together – individuals, communities, and our government – to find solutions. Sign up for the Campaign’s monthly Hunger and Nutrition E-Update to stay informed on the latest research, materials, events, and legislation related to hunger and nutrition programs in Vermont. Learn more about 3SquaresVT at www.vermontfoodhelp.com.

Day 6 of 3SquaresVT Challenge

Only 2 days to go – how is your food budget stretching? Have you had to turn down any food along the way, invitations to eat out, joining in a potluck, or that coffee on the go? What are the social consequences you’re seeing this week as you make these choices? What would it be like to make these tough choices all the time?

What You Can Do: Many Vermonters still do not see the “hidden hunger” in our state. Tell a friend about the issue; share these hunger facts. Use social networking to inform people – invite your friends to be fans of the Campaign and the Foodbank on Facebook.

Day 5 of 3SquaresVT Challange

Ok, be honest, are you still enjoying the Challenge at this point? Tired of rice and beans? Craving a little Ben and Jerry’s? Your family complaining at the dinner table?

What You Can Do: While 3SquaresVT benefits are intended to supplement a household’s food budget, the reality is that many families rely solely on 3SquaresVT for their food money, and it often runs out before the end of the month, forcing them to visit food shelves, borrow food or money, or find other ways to get food. Donate money or food to your local food shelf – they often run low on nutrient dense foods. Don’t know how to find your local food shelf or when they are open? Call 2-1-1 or search the 2-1-1 database.

Day 4 of 3SquaresVT Challenge

We’re more than half way through the Challenge – how is it going? Many people take the Challenge to see if it’s possible to eat nutritiously on a limited budget. How are you trying to make it work?

What You Can Do: Nutrition is key to good health. Doctors are often a liaison into people’s lives. Encourage local physicians and other medical providers to ask their patients about food insecurity and to provide information and referrals to food resources.