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.

Day 3 of 3SquaresVT Challenge

1 in 7 Vermonters receive 3SquaresVT benefits and live this “Challenge” every day. What choices are you making this week that may be helping you see hunger in Vermont from their perspective?

What You Can Do: Help strengthen 3SquaresVT so that Vermonters can get the nutrition they need all day and all month long. Lawmakers in Washington DC are considering cutting future 3SquaresVT benefits to pay for child nutrition programs, like school meals. Call Congress and the White House and ask them to strengthen, not cut, 3SquaresVT (called SNAP at the national level). Tell them it doesn’t make sense to pay for lunch by cutting money for dinner. For more information, go to www.frac.org.

Day 2 of 3SquaresVT Challenge

According to the U.S. Census, 1 in 5 Vermont families struggled with hunger at some point last year. How is your 3SquaresVT Challenge experience changing how you think about this number?

What You Can Do: Help increase access to food resources for food insecure Vermonters. Make sure that public areas (town offices, libraries, churches, community centers, etc.) post information on 2-1-1, 3SquaresVT, school meals, and local food shelves.

Day 1 of 3SquaresVT Challenge

And so we begin the 3SquaresVT Challenge. How does it feel? What was it like to go grocery shopping on a limited budget; what choices did you have to make in the store?

What You Can Do: When you were shopping for the week, did you happen to notice if the grocery store actually accepts 3SquaresVT benefits? Ask you local store if they do, and if so, ask them to display the “We Welcome 3SquaresVT” cling-on decal the Campaign sent them (we have more if they need them). If they don’t accept benefits, give them the retailer flyer and encourage them to become authorized.