Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles, along with other groups fighting food insecurity in the state, made a plea to state lawmakers in early June: Give us additional funds immediately in order to address a growing food crisis in Vermont this summer.
We talk with Sayles about rising food insecurity in Vermont as the coronavirus pandemic continues amid an economic recession.
Sayles and leaders of other food security groups in Vermont penned a letter to state legislators on June 5, asking for $38 million from the federal CARES Act for hunger relief efforts. The request includes a $20 million increase for the state's 3SquaresVT program through SNAP, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as food stamps.
With federal unemployment benefits set to end and Vermonters in need likely to have exhausted their savings, Sayles warned food insecurity will likely rise in the coming months or, at best, remain at current high levels.
Our guest is:
- John Sayles, CEO of the Vermont Food Bank
Broadcast live on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
