Foodbank prepares for winter - Vermont Foodbank

September 13, 2009

Foodbank prepares for winter

By JAIME CONE

BRATTLEBORO -- September is Hunger Action Month, and local food banks are hoping to raise hunger awareness early this year in preparation for winter.

That's one of the reasons why September was the month chosen, said Melinda Bussino, executive director of the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center on South Main Street.

"I think it's very important that we recognize there are hungry people in the community all through the year," she said. "The holidays translate into this great bounty then and a lack of it the rest of the year. We have just as many people who use the Drop In Center in September and June."

She said that September is an ideal time to raise awareness so that people will start to think about how they can help earlier in the year, and schools can get on board early in the school year as well.

Bussino said she has seen an increased need from the community this year with a startling new development in the people who show up seeking food.

"One of the appalling things I have seen here is children coming unaccompanied by a parent," she said. "They come to get food because there is nothing for dinner at home."

Children, clearly hungry and seeking food to take home, is a clear sign of a desperate family, said Bussino.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that more than 36 million Americans live in "food-insecure" households -- meaning they don't have dependable, consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food to maintain good health.

"In Vermont, one in eight people access the charitable food system, and more than 20,400 of them are children," said John Sayles, CEO of the Vermont Foodbank. "This month, we are calling on all Vermonters to do their part to fight hunger in their communities."

Hunger action month is taking place nationwide, and there are several ways people can get involved in their local communities.

People who would like to help can visit one of 15 pick-your-own apple orchards this month, pick their own apples, then donate a bag to the Vermont Foodbank.

All donated apples will be collected by the food bank and distributed to food shelves and meal sites around the state.

Or people could participate in Give a Little, Feed a Lot by committing to volunteer, advocate or organize a food drive for the Vermont Foodbank, which provides emergency food assistance for more than 66,000 people across the state each year through a network of nearly 280 food shelves, meal sites, shelters, senior centers and after-school programs.

The Vermont Foodbank just opened a new branch in Brattleboro that serves agencies like the Drop In Center in the southern part of the state.

The food bank is trying to reach out to every corner of the state to make deliveries to agencies more often, said Maurice Casey, director of the southern region of the Vermont Foodbank.

"At the end of the day, it's all about if we've been able to help the hungry people of Vermont," Casey said. "That's how we count our successes."

Throughout the month, people can visit www.vtfoodbank.org to learn more about how to help people struggling with hunger.

Jaime Cone can be reached at jcone@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 277.

September 13, 2009

Press Room