Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public is once again teaming up with Vermont Foodbank and the Vermont Community Foundation for its 11th annual Giving Tuesday partnership, mobilizing generosity to support Vermonters facing hunger and food insecurity.
Now through Giving Tuesday, every gift made to Vermont Public will activate the equivalent of 18 meals for Vermont Foodbank to provide to Vermonters facing food insecurity, thanks to contributions from the Vermont Community Foundation and its fundholders.
Plus, when Vermont Public receives 2,000 gifts, the Holly and Bob Miller Charitable Fund and the Food for the Soul Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation will contribute an additional $125,000 to the Foodbank — the equivalent of more than 140,000 additional meals.
“It’s a privilege to partner again with Vermont Foodbank and the Vermont Community Foundation for Giving Tuesday,” said Vijay Singh, Vermont Public CEO. “Our mission is rooted in serving and uplifting communities across the state, and this day reflects that spirit in action. Vermonters continue to meet the moment, helping one another while also supporting the vital role of public media.”
Giving Tuesday, a global celebration of philanthropy held annually the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, encourages people to channel their holiday spirit into supporting community organizations and initiatives that strengthen local well-being.
This long-standing partnership has played a vital role in helping meet the rising demand for food assistance. Since 2015, Vermont Public’s audience has helped secure more than 455,000 meals for Vermonters experiencing hunger.
“We’ve seen again how powerful partnership is here in Vermont — whether it is responding to floods or supporting each other through harmful disruptions in important federal programs like SNAP — people in Vermont continue to pull together and use their voices and resources for the good of everyone,” said John Sayles, CEO of Vermont Foodbank. “Keeping public media strong is part of that equation. Together, we can make sure we all have access to the nourishing food we need and want.”
This year’s campaign comes at a particularly challenging time. According to the Vermont Foodbank, in recent weeks several Vermont communities have shared concerns about food accessibility, specifically related to food shelves, citing examples of increased traffic, expanded hours, concern about having enough food, and messages from community members who are struggling to put dinner on the table. Recent years have brought a cascade of hardships, including catastrophic flooding, a worsening housing crisis, economic strain, fluctuating SNAP benefits, and ripple effects from federal disruptions.
“For more than a decade, Giving Tuesday has been a chance for Vermonters to show what generosity looks like in action,” said Dan Smith, president & CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation “This partnership between Vermont Public, Vermont Foodbank, and the Vermont Community Foundation brings together listeners, neighbors, and community members whose collective spirit makes these gifts possible. In a year where more Vermonters are turning to local programs for support, we’re deeply grateful to our fundholders, who have added $125,000 to expand the match and help even more Vermonters put food on the table.”
About Vermont Public
Vermont Public is an independent and community-supported public media organization, serving Vermont with trusted, award-winning journalism, internationally recognized kids’ programming, and locally hosted classical music. It also provides local access to national and international public television and radio programs from NPR, PBS, BBC and more. Vermont Public’s programs, reporting, and resources are available statewide and beyond on radio and television broadcast networks, digital platforms and at events throughout the region. More information about programming, stations, services, and ways to support is available at vermontpublic.org.
About Vermont Foodbank
Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger relief organization, providing nutritious food through a network of more than 300 community partners—food shelves, meal sites, senior centers, after-school programs, schools, and hospitals. Food insecurity has increased dramatically due to recent crises, and the Foodbank continues working to ensure every Vermonter has the food they need to thrive. Learn more at vtfoodbank.org.
About the Vermont Community Foundation
The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as an enduring source of philanthropic support for Vermont communities. A family of more than 1,000 funds, foundations, and supporting organizations, the Foundation makes it easy for the people who care about Vermont to find and fund the causes they love. The Community Foundation and its partners put nearly $80 million annually to work in Vermont communities and beyond. The heart of its work is closing the opportunity gap—the divide that leaves too many Vermonters struggling to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. The Community Foundation envisions Vermont at its best—where everyone can build a bright, secure future. Visit vermontcf.org or call 802-388-3355 for more information. Give where your heart lives.
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