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Food Stamp Outreach and
Education Program
The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger (VTCECH) created the Food Stamp Outreach and Education Program in the fall of 2000 in response to the overwhelming need for food assistance in Vermont. Fewer people were participating in the Food Stamp Program; however, more people were relying on emergency food shelves to feed themselves and their families. It was evident that many people who were eligible for food stamps were not participating in the program. |
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The Food Stamp Program is a federally funded nutrition program designed to alleviate hunger and malnutrition. The program provides monthly benefits to low-income households that can be used to purchase food.
- During 2006, an average of 47,202 Vermonters received food stamps
each month
- Forty percent of Vermont's food stamp recipients are children
- Up to 30 percent of the Vermont children who are potentially eligible for food stamps did not receive the benefit in 2006
Despite a rise in the use of emergency food shelves, the number of people receiving food stamps in Vermont has declined in the past ten years. In response to this problem, VTCECH is organizing and conducting train-the-trainer sessions with community leaders and volunteers at service organizations statewide and facilitating a food stamp work group to address participation barriers to the Food Stamp Program. The Food Stamp Outreach and Education Program is working to ease application procedures and increase participation, educate people on food stamp eligibility and application requirements, and help Vermonters access this important nutrition program.
- An estimated 39,412 eligible Vermonters are not participating in the
Food Stamp Program
- In 2006, VTCECH’s Food Stamp Outreach and Education Program trained over 290 staff members and community volunteers at service organizations across the state
VTCECH is also working to improve outreach to Vermont’s growing immigrant and refugee community by preparing translations of food stamp informational materials in the four languages most commonly spoken by Vermont’s refugee and immigrant communities (French, Spanish, Serbo-Croatian and Vietnamese). For copies of the translated food stamp materials, contact VTCECH’s Food Stamp Outreach Coordinator, Cassandra Gekas. We are continuing to research trends and promote participation by special target groups including homeless Vermonters, former Reach Up participants, elderly and disabled Vermonters.
For more information or to sign up for the Food Stamp Outreach Project’s email updates, contact Cassandra Gekas, Food Stamp Outreach Coordinator.
Vermont ’s Food Stamp Program is administered by the Department for Children and Families, Economic Services Division (formerly PATH). To receive an application, contact ESD at 1-800-287-0589 or visit the ESD website. You can also download an application from our website,
www.vermontfoodhelp.com |
