Collaboration Furthers Our Mission

Kali Alvarez

Kitchen Operations Manager

FRESH Food Program

Vermont Works for Women



Over the last two years Hunger Free Vermont has worked closely with Vermont Works for Women to further both organizations’ missions.  Three years ago we reached out to Vermont Works for Women and asked if they would be willing to expand their workforce development programs to include culinary training and catering of meals to childcare centers using the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).  Vermont has historically ranked in the bottom ten percent of states in the use of CACFP which provides meal reimbursements for low-income children in childcare centers.  Vermont Works for Women bravely took on this charge and in little more than a year FRESH Food has produced over 23,000 meals for children in the region and plans to double its production within the next six months.  Our team at Hunger Free Vermont continues to recruit childcare centers for CACFP and the FRESH Food program in Chittenden County.  We’ve heard copious praise from parents, childcare center staff, and children who participate in this program for both the meal quality and the improved health outcomes in those who participate.

It has been a pleasure collaborating with the Vermont Works for Women team to meet our joint missions in Chittenden County.  We strongly support the expansion of the FRESH Food program and will continue to actively collaborate so that more children can benefit from the nutritious and high-quality food the FRESH Food program provides.