Vermont Business Magazine Hunger Free Vermont, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, Vermont Foodbank, legislators, and other advocates gathered at the Vermont Statehouse on Feb. 5 for 3SquaresVT Awareness Day.
Throughout the day, organizations, community groups, neighbors, legislators, and more celebrated the critical program, shared stories from program participants about the impact of 3SquaresVT, and spoke with legislators so they continue to protect and strengthen the 3SquaresVT program.
Known nationally as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), 3SquaresVT gives money every month to Vermonters to buy groceries. It’s a private and dignified program since participants can use 3SquaresVT just like a debit card and buy groceries that are right for them.
More than 63,400 Vermont residents participate in 3SquaresVT, which leverages more than $12.3 million of federal funds every month. This money goes directly to households who use that money at our local grocers, farmers markets, and businesses. 3SquaresVT supports food security and our state economy.
"3SquaresVT is the largest, most effective, and most stable food program available to help us achieve food security for all in Vermont, while bringing $12 million of federal funding into our food and farm economy each month" said Anore Horton, executive director of Hunger Free Vermont. "Hunger has increased 19% in Vermont over the past three years—we must keep 3SquaresVT strong.
“The State of Vermont can make policy choices that will ensure food security for everyone who lives here, while ensuring our farmers can profit from growing the food we all need. Together we will keep each other fed!” said Grace Oedel, the executive director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT).
“The programs we have been advocating for today: Crop Cash, and NOFA’s Farm Share Program, and Vermont Food Bank’s Vermonters Feeding Vermonters Program have been
essential sources of income for my farm during these startup years, and I know that these programs have been equally essential sources of nutritious food for my customers who enroll in them,” said Stoni Tomson, a fruit, vegetable and nut farmer at New Tradition Farm in Huntington.
“Without the 3 Squares program, I would have either gone without food or I would be eating things that would not be suitable for my chronic health conditions or my own mental health, making it difficult to support my clients and to maintain my own health.” said Julia Burgess, a community member who has used 3SquaresVT. “Instead, and because of the 3 Squares Program, I was able to provide myself with healthy, nutritious food options that I would not have been able to afford without the help of this valuable program.”
MONTPELIER (Feb. 5, 2026) — Hunger Free Vermont
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