Local food shelves reported an overwhelming increase in requests this winter, and an average of 75 people eat breakfast at one of five Barre churches each weekday. Hunger is clearly a serious issue for the people of Barre City and Town. The Greater Barre Democrats will sponsor a public forum featuring John Sayles, Executive Director of the Vermont Food Bank, on Wednesday, January 29, 2014, at 6pm at the Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington St., Barre.
The program, free and open to all, will review the scope and trends of hunger in Vermont and provide time for discussion of solutions. Food Bank statistics reveal that one in five Vermont children and one in eight Vermonters are food insecure, while over 8,000 people participated in 3SquaresVT (formerly known as Food Stamps). Organizers are hoping that discussion with Sayles will offer some ideas about what individuals and community groups can do to help forestall the increases.
Joan and Don Carrigan, members of the Greater Barre Democrats, will moderate the questions and discussion following Sayles presentation. This is the first in a monthly series on critical community issues organized by the Barre Democrats. For more information, contact Marianne Kotch at 476-4185.