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Hunger Campaign Says Vermont Nutrition Is Slipping

Burlington, Vermont - November 29, 2007

Advocates for low-income Vermonters say hunger remains a serious problem in spite of general prosperity in America. Now, a documentary film describing the problem premiered in Burlington.

The event was well-attended as the Main Street Landing on the waterfront opened its doors for the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger. About 150 people turned out to watch the premier of Every Child. Every Day. It's a seventeen-minute documentary on hunger in Vermont. Film makers Jim Ritvo and Dave Raizman say almost ten percent of Vermont households (9.6%) are "food insecure," meaning that for the lack of money, they have decreased the quality and quantity of food to the point where they are frequently hungry.

Such as a mother who cut back her food budget. She says, "190 dollars a month. During the school year, it lasts me. When it's summer time, it's very hard."

Film maker Jim Rotvo said, "We interviewed her with eight or nine days left in the month, and she had about eight dollars left on her food stamp card. And she was gong to eat, or serve, Raman pasta or noodles for eight consecutive days. And that obviously is not the kind of nutrition you want. It's going to lead to obesity."

His colleague, Dave Raizman, added, "I think when you have a really limited budget, you've got to spread that around. You buy cheap food, and cheap food is fattening. And that's why you see so much obesity among low income people. It's how you get by."

The hunger campaign says existing nutrition programs can take care of the problem -- and the film will help get the word out. 

Robert Dostis, executive director of the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, told WCAX News, "First and foremost, it's about educating the community. And that's how we hope to use Every Child Every Day, as a tool to educate Vermonters about the issue. But again, letting them know that solutions exist. We just need to get those solutions out there."

The advocates say a strong hunger safety net already exists, based on federal programs. To which Dostis added, "And to couple them with the emergency food system, nutrition education and training, and local food and agriculture programs -- we can end hunger in this state."

Andy Potter - WCAX News