Vt. food banks bracing for swine flu

September 20, 2009

BARRE - Already facing up to a 45 percent increase in families seeking food assistance this year over last, the Vermont Foodbank is grappling with another worry - how to ensure low-income families have enough food on hand in the event of a swine flu outbreak in Vermont.

"The people we serve have a hard time keeping a day's food supply on hand," said Ed Fox, chief operating officer at the Barre-based Foodbank, standing Saturday in the cold outside the Price Chopper grocery store in Barre for a food drive project.

He said Vermonters are encouraged to keep a two-week food supply on hand if the flu strikes, allowing them time to stay home and not spread the illness. An added complication for many low-income families is the financial burden of having children - who might receive two meals a day at school through the free and subsidized meal program - home should they contract the flu or their school closes.

"We're working with Vermont Emergency Management on how we can be a first responder to help them out if a situation comes up," Fox said, referring to any potential outbreak of the H1N1 flu commonly known as swine flu.

Fox noted that a similar situation arose when the Sutton Elementary School closed in December because of a mold problem. He said the Foodbank brought additional food to the local food shelf, recognizing that more than 50 percent of the children attending that school participated in the free and reduced food program.

A swine flu outbreak could create a similar problem on a much larger scale.

"We want to be able to respond to that need," Fox said.

In addition to the Foodbank, the Saturday dairy food drive also included Ben & Jerry's, the Agency of Agriculture, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, the Vermont Grocers Association and HP Hood-Booth Brothers. It is the fourth such food drive this summer.

Norwich University student volunteers helped with collections, which took place at the Price Chopper, the Shaw's in Berlin and Hannaford in Barre.

Norwich senior Ashley Gavin, who coordinated the student involvement, said 11 undergrads - from freshmen to seniors - agreed to participate. Gavin, who is an AmeriCorps member, said she has focused on hunger initiatives like the dairy food drive in part because the results are visible.

"I'm big on seeing the difference," she said, noting that the dairy products collected Saturday would find their way into the kitchens of needy families. "It's tangible."

Dairy was the theme of the drive for two reasons. First, Fox said, dairy items are perishable and often not among the items people donate to the Foodbank. The cheese, yogurt and milk being dropped into a cardboard box outside Price Chopper and the other stores Saturday would be distributed in a timely manner to the Foodbank's 270 partners - local food shelves, senior meals programs and others - around the state.

As Fox spoke, a man carrying a handful of helium-filled balloons for a special occasion and a few grocery bags dropped a half-gallon of milk into the box as he headed to his car.

But, Fox added, the other reason for focusing on dairy items was to support Vermont's farmers, who are struggling with low milk prices and high expenses.

"It's a great idea to promote Vermont dairy farmers," he said.

In a release on the food drive from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the agency said, "Our dairy farmers are facing an unprecedented crisis. The most significant downturn in milk prices paid to dairy farmers in decades coupled with the cost of production is making the business of dairy farming difficult and in some cases impossible."

Fox said the demand on the Vermont Foodbank has increased sharply this year, largely because of the economic downturn. He said many of those turning to food shelves and other programs are working Vermonters who cannot make ends meet, particularly at the end of the month.

"People are running out of money," Fox said, noting that they pay rent, heat and electric bills first. "Food is the one item you do have control over."

sue.allen@timesargus.com

September 20, 2009

Press Room