Vermont Business Magazine Two-thirds of children in Vermont are at risk of hunger, according to a new report from Hunger Free Vermont.
The report, titled “Creating a Food Secure Future for All Vermont’s Children by 2035” was released this year by Hunger Free Vermont in collaboration with Vermont Foodbank and Feeding Champlain Valley.
In 2025, approximately 79,000 Vermont children, about ⅔ of all kids in the state, were at risk of hunger because they live in households not able to afford all their basic needs.
In collaboration with nearly 100 stakeholders, Hunger Free Vermont identified the following 14 strategies as central levers for creating a food secure future for all Vermont's children. Committed action toward fulfilling these initiatives will immediately help build a better future for Vermont children; one where kids have the food they need to live, learn, and play in their home and care or education setting, and where families are freed from the terrible stress of worrying about how to adequately nourish their children.
“The great news is that every one of these strategies for creating permanent and dignified food security for all Vermont families is totally doable,” said Anore Horton, Hunger Free Vermont’s executive director. “Yes, ending childhood hunger in every corner of Vermont will take courage, dedication, collaboration, political will, and resources—but it absolutely can be done!”
Strategies for ensuring food security for children at home
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Expand efforts to reach Vermont’s lowest-income families with dignified and convenient access to food through the charitable food system.
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Connect more low-income families with 3SquaresVT by ensuring every eligible family in Vermont has the information and support they need to enroll.
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Pass legislation to improve the adequacy of Reach Up payments to the lowest income single parent households.
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Expand Non-congregate Summer Meals.
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Build a successful, permanent Summer EBT program.
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Leverage Healthcare to Recognize and Alleviate Food Insecurity.
Strategies for feeding children in education and care settings
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Continue and expand Vermont’s Universal School Meals Program.
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Make the Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP) fully functional for Early Childhood Education programs.
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Expand afterschool and summer meals.
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Build robust training and education for Child Nutrition Programs.
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Invest in the Child Nutrition Program workforce.
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Eliminate structural barriers to school meal programs.
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Provide accessible, culturally, and religiously responsive meals in Child Nutrition Programs.
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Invest in Farm to School & Early Childhood.
Progress already made
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Secured $157,000 in state funding to support sponsors of CACFP to ensure Family Child Care Homes can participate in the meal program
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Expanded Universal School Meals into Universal Pre-K programs
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Supported the creation of several translated food access materials so that more folks have access to information about how to get food all year round
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Began a Halal in school meals pilot project
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Supported a dramatic increase in summer food service programs around the state
This strategic plan outlines the current progress of each of the outlined strategies, as well as the organizations and agencies who will be responsible for implementing the action steps identified for each strategy.
The Turrell Fund, National Life Group Foundation, and the Vermont Community Foundation are working together to support the early stages of this project, and to inspire other funders to join in the noble and critical work of making sure that no child goes hungry.
For more information, visit www.hungerfreevt.org/child-food-security-report.
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT (June 11, 2026) — Hunger Free Vermont
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