A petition calling on the gubernatorial candidates to make ending hunger in Vermont a campaign priority garnered hundreds of signatures and was delivered to candidates Matt Dunne, Peter Galbraith, Bruce Lisman, Sue Minter, and Phil Scott.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, more than 80,000 people in Vermont are food insecure; however, the Foodbank serves 153,000 people each year, indicating that hunger and poverty in Vermont run deeper than the official numbers suggest. The petition has garnered close to 500 signatures, and been seen by more than 15,000 people on Facebook and other social networks.
“This petition struck a chord with many in Vermont,” said John Sayles, Vermont Foodbank CEO. “Many Vermonters recognize what hunger isn’t a distant issue – it affects our neighbors, colleagues, and own our families. Through advocacy efforts like this and the continuing work we do at the community and civic levels, we’re going to continue to fight every day to ensure that every Vermonter has access to a secure, healthy food supply.”
The petition comes in advance of the start of Hunger Action Month, which runs through the month of September. As part of a nationwide advocacy effort led by Feeding America, the Foodbank, volunteers, and allies will work to engage elected officials and the communities in raising the issue of the pervasive nature of hunger in the state.
About the Vermont Foodbank
Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving Vermont through a network of food shelves, meal sites, shelters, senior centers and youth programs. In FY2015, the Vermont Foodbank distributed 10 million pounds of food to 153,100 Vermonters. The Vermont Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, is nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation. Learn more at www.vtfoodbank.org.