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Hunger Solutions Toolkit
The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger has assembled a toolkit of resources in order to provide information both to those seeking services and to engaged community citizens, businesses and schools. Download or print out the entire toolkit (.pdf), or review the materials and suggestions below.
What You Can Do if You are Seeking Food Assistance:
- Apply for 3SquaresVT (formerly Food Stamps). New changes make more people eligible for the program. Benefits are distributed on a debit card; seniors can have benefits deposited as cash into their bank accounts. Visit www.vermontfoodhelp.com or call the Department of Children and Families at 1-800-287-0589.
- Take advantage of free or reduced price school meals. Families can apply at any time in the school year. All breakfasts served to low-income kids are free. Contact your local school for an application or download one from the web (.pdf).
- Visit your local food shelf or community meal program. Individuals and families can go to their local food shelves or community meal programs to receive emergency food assistance. Dial 2-1-1 for information on locations and hours in your community.
What Engaged Citizens, Community Leaders, Churches, and Community Organizations Can Do:
- Make sure that school meal applications are available and accessible. Put applications wherever families gather – libraries, laundromats, town offices etc. Contact your local school for an application, or download one from the web (.pdf). Distribute this helpful brochure (.pdf) with the applications as well.
- Submit the following newspaper articles to your local newspaper or newsletter:
- Submit to your church, school, or other organization this newsletter bulletin (.pdf).
- Find out if the food stores in your town accept 3SquaresVT (Food Stamps). If they don't, encourage them to find out how to start with our Fast Facts for Grocers flyer (.pdf), and tell them about vermontfoodhelp.com's information for retailers.
- Post the 3SquaresVT expansion flyer (.pdf) and revised income charts (.pdf) on bulletin boards at your local grocery, library, doctor’s office, town building and workplace.
- Volunteer or donate to your local food shelf or community meal program. For information on charitable food in your community, dial 2-1-1.
- Sign up for our E-Update for news and information about how you can help--join our mailing list today.
- For even more ideas on ways you can help spread awareness and end hunger in Vermont, click here.
What Schools Can Do:
- Make school meal applications available. Place school meal applications wherever families gather such as libraries, laundromats, child care facilities, health clinics, and the town office. Download an application now (.pdf), or click here for an application in one of twenty-five foreign languages.
- Include in your next school newsletter this sample article (.pdf), or these short newsletter announcements (.pdf).
- Include nutrition resource envelope stuffers with report cards and letters home to parents:
- Increase participation in your school meal program. Offer breakfast in the classroom or at snack time, reach out to families in need. Use these tips and best practices:
- Participate in the annual Hike for Hunger and download the "Feeding Minds" Hunger Curriculum to use as a lesson plan in your classroom. Both are a great way to raise awareness about hunger in your school community.
- Sign up for our E-Update for news and information about how you can help--join our mailing list today.
What Businesses Can Do:
- Include envelope stuffers in monthly bills or statements encouraging your customers to access nutrition programs. Commit to including one envelope stuffer a month for the next three months:
- Encourage food retailers in your local business association to accept 3SquaresVT and promote the new program eligibility changes in their stores. Information to help retailers get started with the program is available here.
- Make alleviating hunger your business’s contribution to the community in 2009. Encourage employees to reach out to their families and neighbors and spread the word about applying for nutrition programs. Ask employees to share the following materials in their own communities:
- Find your local food shelf by calling 2-1-1 and find out what items they need most. Work with employees and customers to keep the food shelf stocked.
- Sign up for our E-Update for news and information about how you can help--join our mailing list today.
For more information, please email
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