Date: September 7, 2009

Laraway Youth and Family Services chosen as 2009 recipient of Marianne Metropoulos Humanitarian Award by the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger

Laraway, a Johnson-based agency serving at-risk children and their families, was selected for their outstanding efforts to end hunger in Vermont. For the last three summers, Laraway prepared free summer lunches which are disbursed to summer feeding programs across Lamoille County, feeding up to 180 children per day. 

Children experiencing food insecurity are especially vulnerable in summer when away from school-based breakfast and lunch offerings.  Twenty-nine thousand Vermont children rely on free and reduced price meals during the school year.  A national report released by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) reveals that only 4,684 of these children have access to such meals during the summer months.

Marissa Parisi, Executive Director of the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger says, “Summer food programs provide important nutrition to low-income children and are a source of economic stimulus to communities that can make the numbers work. However, the meal reimbursements are designed for large urban areas and often don’t cover actual costs in rural areas where it is hard to reach the economy of scale needed. Laraway has committed the needed resources and capacity to become a model program in Vermont.”

The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger will present the award on Thursday, September 17th at 6:00 p.m. at Laraway’s Open House at 275 Route 15 West in Johnson.  The public is invited.  For more information or to RSVP, please call 802-635-2805 x 205.

Contact:  Katherine Stamper
Company name:  Laraway Youth and Family Services, Johnson, Vermont
Phone:  802-635-2805 x 205 (W) or 802-878-9691 (H)
FAX:  802-635-7273
E-mail:  KatherineS@Laraway.org
Website:  www.Laraway.org

Contact:  Ann Janda
Company name:  Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger
Phone:  802-865-0255
Email: 
Website:  www.vtnohunger.org

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The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger is a statewide nonprofit organization that works with state agencies and community groups to develop sustainable hunger solutions. Since 1993 the Campaign’s outreach programs have substantially enhanced Vermont’s nutrition safety net and increased access to nutritious foods.

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