It seems spring has finally arrived, and our spring edition of Kernels is here with it.
Spring in Vermont is a time of renewal. New life begins under the melting snow, and paths of green appear on south-facing hills. Gentler days are ahead. The winter thaw can also bring harsh challenges, like frost heaves and roads with muddy ruts up to your axle. Any of can get stuck in that muddy rut. Thankfully, here in Vermont neighbors stop to lend a hand and pull each other out.
At Vermont Foodbank, we know that, like the cyclical nature of the seasons—the thaw after the freeze, the reseeding after the harvest—so too is the nature of giving and receiving.
In this spring edition of Kernels, we’re checking in with a cook at a community meal site, a local potato farmer, and our state lawmakers. These stories highlight the ways our community is pushing through the thawing earth of uncertain times, sharing what we have to give when we have it, and asking for help when we need it.
Thank you for being a part of this community that helps friends and neighbors who could use a hand or are experiencing a difficult season. And thank you for traveling the road to a food-secure Vermont with us. I firmly believe we’re headed in the right direction, and that together we can reach our destination.
John Sayles, CEO
P.S. If you have a story to share or an idea that you’d like us to consider writing about in a future edition, please let us know!
“Summer often is one of the hungriest times of the year for families with school-age children.” This is the opening line of a new national report on summer meals published by the Food & Research Action Center (FRAC).
Bob and Barb are Vermont farmers with a passion for growing and sharing one staple, nutrient-dense crop with their community: potatoes. They also partner with Vermont Foodbank to make sure their local potatoes are available to neighbors experiencing hunger.
3SquaresVT (SNAP) provides help with groceries to about 61,000 people in Vermont. An estimated 60% of people who are eligible are not enrolled. Could you be one of them?
