USDA Deputy Undersecretary Janey Thornton Visits VT

School Nutrition Directors, Afterschool Program Directors, and VT Department of Education

Deputy Undersecretary, Janey Thornton; Regional Administrator, James Arena-DeRosa;

Child Nutrition Advocacy Manager, Anore Horton; Phil Fiermonte Outreach Director for Senator Sanders

On Monday we had the pleasure of hosting USDA Deputy Undersecretary, Janey Thornton in Vermont. Thanks to an invitation from Senator Sanders' team, Dr. Thornton joined Hunger Free Vermont staff and our state partners to discuss the challenges of using the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).  In Vermont our schools and afterschool programs work hard to provide meals during critical times for children age birth to 18.  However, there are many regulatory barriers to accessing the program which deters many childcare centers and schools from using CACFP to feed children.  Currently Vermont ranks in the bottom 5 states in childcare centers using CACFP.  Many more schools and afterschool programs in Vermont could run the CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program, but feel they lack the staff and administrative capacity to apply for and run an additional federal nutrition program.  We were grateful for Dr. Thornton's openness to hearing our feedback about the program and we provided her with a long list of policy changes needed to operate CACFP in a rural state.  This meeting was just another example of Vermont's great collaborative partnerships. Schools, state agencies, and non-profit organization regularly work together to end hunger for our children by coming together with a united voice.  We were pleased and grateful to be part of this productive discussion!

Community Leadership

Photos from community meal program in Johnson, VT



At the March 15th Hunger Council of Lamoille Valley meeting, we were pleased to hear from our partners at Johnson State College that they would continue to provide a weekly community meal to the citizens of Johnson.

In March 2008, the Johnson United Church began hosting a weekly community meal to local residents.  Johnson consistently has high rates of poverty and food insecurity when compared to other Lamoille and Vermont communities.  The goal of this program was to provide a free meal for local residents and also build a greater sense of community within Johnson.

While Johnson State College has played the leading role in this program, it has been enthusiastically supported by a number of other organizations, including the United Church of Johnson, Laraway Youth & Family Services, the Lamoille Valley Hunger Coalition, the Johnson Food Shelf, Copley Hospital, WLVB Radio, the Vermont Food Bank, and  the Lamoille County Court Diversion & Restorative Justice programs.

However, in 2010 the program was discontinued and in jeopardy of permanently ending due to lack of resources.  Fortunately, Johnson State College’s ARAMARK Dining Services generously stepped in to continue the program and now provides lunch twice a month to the community.

As part of a contract negotiated with the Vermont State Colleges, in July 2012 a new food service provider, Sodexo, will take over operations at JSC -- and the company has agreed to continue the Johnson Community Meal program. 

The community meal will be provided through ARAMARK through May 9^th which is will be a special meal to honor the dedication of volunteers, organizations, and neighbors who have dined at the meal over the past year and a half.  Meals on May 23^rd, June 13^th, and June 27^th will be sponsored by Ian Keller, owner of the HUB, and Meg Loscomb of Lovin’ Cup.  Sodexo will take over the program on June 11^th. 

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.