2022-11-15T09:48:50-05:00 2021-12-31 030280081 JMM & ASSOCIATES PC 336 WATER TOWER CIR STE 801 COLCHESTER VT 05446 990 2021-01-01 030336357 HUNGER FREE VERMONT INC HUNG 8028650255 38 EASTWOOD DRIVE SUITE 100 SOUTH BURLINGTON VT 05403 ANORE HORTON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 8028650255 2022-11-14 true ANORE HORTON 999009999 RANDALL L SARGENT CPA P00136499 8026555665 2022-11-15 2021 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z ANORE HORTON 38 EASTWOOD DRIVE SUITE 100 SOUTH BURLINGTON VT 05403 1646144 false X WWW.HUNGERFREEVT.ORG X 1993 VT TO END THE INJUSTICE OF HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION FOR ALL VERMONTERS. 11 11 17 1100 0 1520836 1618944 2075 2775 5668 21416 2030 3009 1530609 1646144 7000 40202 0 899124 975991 0 159803 281664 300192 1187788 1316385 342821 329759 1140214 1314936 201294 46257 938920 1268679 X TO END THE INJUSTICE OF HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION FOR ALL VERMONTERS. false false 605721 10202 775 CHILD NUTRITION INITIATIVES SCHOOL AGE INITIATIVES: HUNGER FREE VERMONT PROVIDES FREE, CUSTOMIZED COACHING AND TRAINING FOR SCHOOLS, TOWNS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN ESTABLISHING, AND EXPANDING PARTICIPATION IN, ALL OF THE FEDERAL CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO OPERATE. THESE INCLUDE SCHOOL BREAKFAST, SCHOOL LUNCH, AFTERSCHOOL MEALS AND SNACKS, AND SUMMER MEALS. THESE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS PROVIDE A RELIABLE SOURCE OF NUTRITION FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, AND ALSO REDUCE FAMILY HUNGER BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MUST SPEND TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN. SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON HELPING SCHOOLS IMPLEMENT CREATIVE WAYS TO REACH ALL CHILDREN WITH MEALS, EVEN WHEN SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED. WE WERE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT VERMONT WAS THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT ACTUALLY SERVED MORE SCHOOL MEALS IN 2020 THAN WE DID IN 2019. SUMMER MEALS EXPANSION: BECAUSE SUMMER IS A PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TIME FOR FOOD INSECURE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND BECAUSE SUMMER MEAL PROGRAMS REACH ONLY A FRACTION OF ALL LOW-INCOME CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM, HUNGER FREE VERMONT DEVOTES CONSIDERABLE STAFF TIME AND RESOURCES TO EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE ACCESS TO A SUMMER MEAL SITE FOR THE FULL TEN WEEKS OF SUMMER VACATION EACH YEAR. WE DO THIS THROUGH DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING THROUGH OUR HUNGER COUNCILS, AND A CONCERTED MEDIA AND ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN. EVEN DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HELPED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT VERMONT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM FLEXIBILITIES IN 2020 TO BREAK ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS FOR THE NUMBER OF FREE SUMMER MEALS PROVIDED TO CHILDREN, AND HELPED KEEP VERMONT'S LEVEL OF CHILD HUNGER TO ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE NATION. UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS CAMPAIGN: HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY AFFECT MANY VERMONT FAMILIES WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOME MAKES THEM INELIGIBLE FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS, AND, BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA THEY FACE, MANY STUDENTS WILL NOT USE THEIR SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. IN ADDITION, WHEN ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE, SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS ARE MORE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE, CAN AFFORD TO PURCHASE MORE LOCAL FOOD, AND CAN SERVE HIGHER QUALITY MEALS. HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS THEREFORE COMMITTED TO MAKING SCHOOL MEALS A UNIVERSAL AND FUNDAMENTAL PART OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AT ALL VERMONT SCHOOLS BY ADVOCATING TO BRING ABOUT STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE. THANKS TO FEDERAL WAIVERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, NEARLY ALL SCHOOLS IN VERMONT OFFERED UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS SINCE MARCH 2020. THROUGH A ROBUST, COMMUNITY DRIVEN EFFORT, WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE THIS CHANGE PERMANENT SO NO CHILD LOSES ACCESS TO SCHOOL MEALS. EARLY CHILDHOOD NUTRITION: BECAUSE GOOD NUTRITION IS ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL WHILE A YOUNG CHILD'S BRAIN IS DEVELOPING, HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS HELPING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS BUILD NUTRITION INTO THE CORE OF THEIR PROGRAMS. WE CONDUCT FREE TRAININGS FOR DIRECTORS AND WORKERS REPRESENTING CHILDCARE CENTERS AND HOMES FROM AROUND THE STATE ON HOW TO INCORPORATE BETTER NUTRITION AND MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTO THEIR PROGRAMS. WE TRAIN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS ABOUT HOW TO IDENTIFY FOOD INSECURITIES IN CHILDREN AND HOW TO TALK TO FAMILIES ABOUT FOOD ACCESS RESOURCES BY CONNECTING FOLKS TO SNAP AND WIC. HUNGER FREE VERMONT ALSO SERVES AS THE VOICE FOR NUTRITIOUS MEALS IN CHILDCARE IN COALITIONS ADVOCATING FOR IMPROVING AND EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE CAPACITY IN VERMONT. SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE HAVE ALSO HELPED CONNECT CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO SCHOOLS AS A NEW SOURCE OF HEALTHY MEALS. ALTHOUGH THE WAIVERS THAT ALLOWED SCHOOLS TO SERVE MEALS TO ALL CHILDREN 18 AND UNDER FOR FREE HAVE ENDED, WE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE AGENCY OF EDUCATION TO HELP STREAMLINE THE PROCESS OF SCHOOLS BEING ABLE TO VEND MEALS TO CHILDCARE PROGRAMS. THROUGHOUT 2021 WE CONDUCTED FOCUS GROUPS WITH CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ALL OVER VERMONT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO PROVIDING MEALS AND SNACKS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS SO THAT WE COULD TAILOR OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO BETTER SUPPORT MEAL PROGRAM EXPANSION IN CHILDCARE AND TO HELP US MORE ACCURATELY ADVOCATE FOR MEAL PROGRAM FLEXIBILITIES THAT WOULD DECREASE BARRIERS TO CHILDCARE NUTRITION PROGRAMMING AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. 296039 30000 FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IMPROVES ACCESS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN 3SQUARESVT (KNOWN NATIONALLY AS SNAP) WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE, CONSISTENT, AND DIGNIFIED MEANS TO PREVENT HUNGER IN THE US. SNAP PROVIDES FUNDS ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN USE TO BUY FOOD TO PREPARE AT HOME. HUNGER FREE VERMONT WORKS WITH STATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN EVERY VERMONT COUNTY TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM, REMOVE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, AND TRAIN HUNDREDS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO DO APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE ALL THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. SINCE HUNGER FREE VERMONT BEGAN WORKING ON IMPROVING ACCESS, PARTICIPATION IN 3SQUARESVT HAS INCREASED BY MORE THAN 80%. OUR STATE IS NOW NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR CONNECTING THOSE AT THE LOWEST INCOME LEVELS TO SNAP. OUR FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES TEAM ALSO WORKS TO EXPAND 3SQUARESVT USE AT FARMERS MARKETS, RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE VALUE OF 3SQUARESVT, AND ENGAGES PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING THIS BIGGEST FOOD SAFETY NET FROM HARMFUL FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES AND CUTS. SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON GETTING ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT 3SQUARESVT AND OTHER WAYS TO GET HEALTHY FOOD OUT TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VERMONTERS, INCLUDING THOSE NEWLY UNEMPLOYED WHO HAVE NEVER BEFORE FACED HUNGER. WE HAVE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR IMPORTANT COVID-ERA EXPANSIONS OF 3SQUARESVT, LIKE ENSURING ACCESS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND INCREASED BENEFIT AMOUNTS DURING UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF HUNGER. ABENAKI FOOD SECURITY / FOOD SOVEREIGNTY PROJECTS: IN 2020, HUNGER FREE VERMONT BEGAN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LEADERS OF THE FOUR STATE- RECOGNIZED ABENAKI TRIBES IN VERMONT, WITH THE GOAL OF SEEKING FUNDING TO DIRECTLY REGRANT TO THE TRIBES FOR THEIR OWN COMMUNITY FOOD SOVEREIGNTY PROJECTS. IN ADDITION, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE TRIBES' COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED FOOD SECURITY FOR TRIBAL CITIZENS, WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF HUNGER AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES LINKED TO FOOD INSECURITY OF ANY GROUP IN VERMONT. 105891 2000 ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: HUNGER FREE VERMONT RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT HUNGER AND ITS SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL LEADERS IN TAKING ACTION TO END HUNGER THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THROUGH THE HUNGER COUNCILS OF VERMONT. THE 10 HUNGER COUNCILS ARE MADE UP OF OVER 1,000 LOCAL LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO LEARNING ABOUT HUNGER AND WORKING TO ADDRESS HUNGER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE STATE BY COORDINATING EFFORTS AND SHARING INFORMATION.THE HUNGER COUNCILS ALSO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ARE A FORUM FOR HIGHLIGHTING AND ADDRESSING EMERGING CHALLENGES IN COMMUNITIES. THE HUNGER COUNCILS BECAME CRITICAL REGIONAL FORUMS FOR PLANNING EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. MOST OF THE COUNCILS MET WEEKLY OR MONTHLY THROUGHOUT 2021, AND HELPED TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY FOOD NEEDS, LOCATE AND COORDINATE VOLUNTEERS FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS, AND SHARE LOCAL NEEDS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. ADVOCACY INITIATIVES: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS VERMONT'S PRINCIPAL ANTI- HUNGER AUTHORITY AND LEADING FOOD SECURITY POLICY ADVOCATE. HUNGER FREE VERMONT'S ADVOCACY HAS LED TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, VERMONT BECOMING THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO ELIMINATE REDUCED-PRICE SCHOOL MEALS, QUADRUPLING FUNDING FOR OUR STATE'S FARM TO SCHOOL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD GRANT PROGRAM, SECURING STATE FUNDING TO INCENTIVIZE LOCAL FOOD PURCHASING BY VERMONT SCHOOLS, AND ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT BEFORE ANY STATE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES CAN BE MADE TO THE 3SQUARESVT PROGRAM. HUNGER FREE VERMONT HAS BEEN ASKED TO SHARE OUR ADVOCACY STRATEGIES WITH OTHER ANTI-HUNGER ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND AS A RESULT WE HAVE HELPED MANY OTHER STATES ACHIEVE SOME OF THESE SAME OUTCOMES. IN 2019, HUNGER FREE VERMONT LAUNCHED THE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS CAMPAIGN, A MULTI- YEAR LEGISLATIVE EFFORT TO BRING SCHOOL MEALS TO ALL VERMONT STUDENTS AT NO COST TO THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH SUCCESSFULLY PASSED LEGISLATION IN THE STATE SENATE IN 2021. IN 2021, WE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR THE CONTINUATION OF PANDEMIC-ERA FEDERAL POLICIES LIKE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, EXPANDED ACCESS TO 3SQUARESVT AND SUMMER MEAL PROGRAMS, AND THE CONTINUATION OF FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS. ADDITIONALLY, IN COALITION WITH PARTNERS WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED THAT THE STATE OF VERMONT USE SOME OF THE FEDERAL PANDEMIC-RELATED FUNDING TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO FOOD AND ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN VERMONT. FOOD AS MEDICINE: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS ALSO COMMITTED TO BETTER CONNECTING HUNGER AS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY, HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROVIDERS ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HUNGER AND HEALTH AND IS IMPLEMENTING FOOD INSECURITY SCREENING AND REFERRAL PROTOCOLS IN MEDICAL SETTINGS. 1007651 true true false true false false false false false true true false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 7 0 17 true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false X 11 11 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false X X X GRETCHEN HAASE-DUBOSC 8028650255 38 EASTWOOD DRIVE SUITE 100 SOUTH BURLINGTON VT 05403 ANORE HORTON EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 86000 0 4300 CATHERINE DAVIS BOARD CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 KEN WHITE V.P./SECRETA 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JEFF DANNIES TREASURER/MO 1.00 X X 0 0 0 CHRISTINE BONGARTZ DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ERIN HEINS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM HOFMANN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 THOMAS PARON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 NICOLE REILLY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SHANE ROGERS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN TUNNICLIFFE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 STEPHANIE WALSH DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LISA HELMHOLZ-ADAMS LEFT IN 2021 DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 86000 4300 false false false 519239 1099705 4944 1618944 CONFERENCES/STIPENDS/OTHER 611430 2775 2775 2775 21416 21416 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 3009 3009 3009 1646144 5784 21416 40202 40202 90300 64113 13545 12642 704942 536399 82368 86175 16199 12333 1880 1986 107019 80325 13184 13510 57531 43181 7087 7263 7900 7900 82821 78254 4567 16805 15794 1011 29520 12768 1936 14816 1279 1037 106 136 102896 76801 13119 12976 1294 1270 24 21560 14664 3850 3046 8406 6310 1035 1061 4629 3469 570 590 PROGRAM EXPENSES 15731 15731 MISCELLANEOUS 7351 5000 2351 1316385 1007651 148931 159803 260734 362856 599223 526276 132990 249633 9600 114019 94298 19780 19721 127487 146850 1140214 1314936 41079 46257 160215 201294 46257 X 723765 1142257 215155 126422 938920 1268679 1140214 1314936 329759 X true X false true false X 1197843 1020608 1293544 1520836 1618944 6651775 1197843 1020608 1293544 1520836 1618944 6651775 608371 6043404 380 569 1332 5668 21416 29365 62048 62048 6743188 62350 0.89620 0.93090 X PART II, LINE 10 62,048 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false true false false false false true 4676 false false 4676 false SCHEDULE C, PART II-B, LINE 1 IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGED IN LIMITED ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDED LEADING EFFORTS TO PASS A STATE BILL THAT WOULD BRING UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS TO ALL SCHOOLS IN VERMONT, ADVOCATING IN COALITION WITH PARTNERS FOR ONGOING COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDING TO SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY, AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS BY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE STATE'S FARM TO SCHOOL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD GRANTS PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION ADVOCATED FOR EXTENDING USDA WAIVERS RELATED TO FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND OTHER EXPANSIONS OF FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. 127487 19363 146850 123475 4012 127487 false false 114019 94298 19721 19721 X SCHEDULE D, PAGE 3, PART X HUNGER FREE VERMONT INC. BELIEVES THAT IT HAS APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FOR ANY TAX POSITIONS TAKEN AND, AS SUCH, DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT ARE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. true WHITE PINE ASSOCIATION 188 ALLEN BENT ROAD WEST BRAINTREE VT 05669 141974240 501A2 15000 FOOD INSECURITY ABENAKI HELPING ABENAKI 156 BACON DRIVE SHELBURNE VT 05482 841704125 501C3 15000 FOOD INSECURITY 1 1 SCHEDULE I, PAGE 1, PART I, LINE 2 ALBERTSONS COMPANIES FOUNDATION FUNDED A 59,000 MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES GRANT THAT SUPPORTED OUR WORK TO HELP TWO OF VERMONT'S ABENAKI TRIBES CREATE NEW WAYS FOR THEIR MEMBERS TO INCREASE THEIR ACCESS TO MORE TRADITIONAL AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD SOURCES. A PORTION OF THIS GRANT WAS DESIGNATED FOR REGRANTING FUNDS TO HELP SEED FOOD SOVEREIGNTY PROJECTS. HUNGER FREE VERMONT INTENTIONALLY CREATED A STRUCTURE OF REGRANTING THAT DID NOT REQUIRE ROBUST AND PROHIBITIVE GRANT TRACKING FOR THE ABENAKI TRIBES WITH WHOM WE WORKED, BUT SEVERAL MEMBERS OF HUNGER FREE VERMONT STAFF WORKED CLOSELY WITH TRIBE MEMBERS TO LEARN ABOUT AND EVEN VISIT THE PROJECTS FOR WHICH THESE FUNDS WERE GIVEN. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A CHILD NUTRITION INITIATIVES SCHOOL AGE INITIATIVES: HUNGER FREE VERMONT PROVIDES FREE, CUSTOMIZED COACHING AND TRAINING FOR SCHOOLS, TOWNS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN ESTABLISHING, AND EXPANDING PARTICIPATION IN, ALL OF THE FEDERAL CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO OPERATE. THESE INCLUDE SCHOOL BREAKFAST, SCHOOL LUNCH, AFTERSCHOOL MEALS AND SNACKS, AND SUMMER MEALS. THESE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS PROVIDE A RELIABLE SOURCE OF NUTRITION FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, AND ALSO REDUCE FAMILY HUNGER BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MUST SPEND TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN. SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON HELPING SCHOOLS IMPLEMENT CREATIVE WAYS TO REACH ALL CHILDREN WITH MEALS, EVEN WHEN SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED. WE WERE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT VERMONT WAS THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT ACTUALLY SERVED MORE SCHOOL MEALS IN 2020 THAN WE DID IN 2019. SUMMER MEALS EXPANSION: BECAUSE SUMMER IS A PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TIME FOR FOOD INSECURE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND BECAUSE SUMMER MEAL PROGRAMS REACH ONLY A FRACTION OF ALL LOW-INCOME CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM, HUNGER FREE VERMONT DEVOTES CONSIDERABLE STAFF TIME AND RESOURCES TO EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE ACCESS TO A SUMMER MEAL SITE FOR THE FULL TEN WEEKS OF SUMMER VACATION EACH YEAR. WE DO THIS THROUGH DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING THROUGH OUR HUNGER COUNCILS, AND A CONCERTED MEDIA AND ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN. EVEN DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HELPED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT VERMONT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM FLEXIBILITIES IN 2020 TO BREAK ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS FOR THE NUMBER OF FREE SUMMER MEALS PROVIDED TO CHILDREN, AND HELPED KEEP VERMONT'S LEVEL OF CHILD HUNGER TO ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE NATION. UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS CAMPAIGN: HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY AFFECT MANY VERMONT FAMILIES WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOME MAKES THEM INELIGIBLE FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS, AND, BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA THEY FACE, MANY STUDENTS WILL NOT USE THEIR SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. IN ADDITION, WHEN ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE, SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS ARE MORE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE, CAN AFFORD TO PURCHASE MORE LOCAL FOOD, AND CAN SERVE HIGHER QUALITY MEALS. HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS THEREFORE COMMITTED TO MAKING SCHOOL MEALS A UNIVERSAL AND FUNDAMENTAL PART OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AT ALL VERMONT SCHOOLS BY ADVOCATING TO BRING ABOUT STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE. THANKS TO FEDERAL WAIVERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, NEARLY ALL SCHOOLS IN VERMONT OFFERED UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS SINCE MARCH 2020. THROUGH A ROBUST, COMMUNITY DRIVEN EFFORT, WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE THIS CHANGE PERMANENT SO NO CHILD LOSES ACCESS TO SCHOOL MEALS. EARLY CHILDHOOD NUTRITION: BECAUSE GOOD NUTRITION IS ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL WHILE A YOUNG CHILD'S BRAIN IS DEVELOPING, HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS HELPING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS BUILD NUTRITION INTO THE CORE OF THEIR PROGRAMS. WE CONDUCT FREE TRAININGS FOR DIRECTORS AND WORKERS REPRESENTING CHILDCARE CENTERS AND HOMES FROM AROUND THE STATE ON HOW TO INCORPORATE BETTER NUTRITION AND MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTO THEIR PROGRAMS. WE TRAIN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS ABOUT HOW TO IDENTIFY FOOD INSECURITIES IN CHILDREN AND HOW TO TALK TO FAMILIES ABOUT FOOD ACCESS RESOURCES BY CONNECTING FOLKS TO SNAP AND WIC. HUNGER FREE VERMONT ALSO SERVES AS THE VOICE FOR NUTRITIOUS MEALS IN CHILDCARE IN COALITIONS ADVOCATING FOR IMPROVING AND EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE CAPACITY IN VERMONT. SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE HAVE ALSO HELPED CONNECT CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO SCHOOLS AS A NEW SOURCE OF HEALTHY MEALS. ALTHOUGH THE WAIVERS THAT ALLOWED SCHOOLS TO SERVE MEALS TO ALL CHILDREN 18 AND UNDER FOR FREE HAVE ENDED, WE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE AGENCY OF EDUCATION TO HELP STREAMLINE THE PROCESS OF SCHOOLS BEING ABLE TO VEND MEALS TO CHILDCARE PROGRAMS. THROUGHOUT 2021 WE CONDUCTED FOCUS GROUPS WITH CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ALL OVER VERMONT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO PROVIDING MEALS AND SNACKS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS SO THAT WE COULD TAILOR OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO BETTER SUPPORT MEAL PROGRAM EXPANSION IN CHILDCARE AND TO HELP US MORE ACCURATELY ADVOCATE FOR MEAL PROGRAM FLEXIBILITIES THAT WOULD DECREASE BARRIERS TO CHILDCARE NUTRITION PROGRAMMING AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IMPROVES ACCESS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN 3SQUARESVT (KNOWN NATIONALLY AS SNAP) WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE, CONSISTENT, AND DIGNIFIED MEANS TO PREVENT HUNGER IN THE US. SNAP PROVIDES FUNDS ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN USE TO BUY FOOD TO PREPARE AT HOME. HUNGER FREE VERMONT WORKS WITH STATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN EVERY VERMONT COUNTY TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM, REMOVE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, AND TRAIN HUNDREDS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO DO APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE ALL THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. SINCE HUNGER FREE VERMONT BEGAN WORKING ON IMPROVING ACCESS, PARTICIPATION IN 3SQUARESVT HAS INCREASED BY MORE THAN 80%. OUR STATE IS NOW NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR CONNECTING THOSE AT THE LOWEST INCOME LEVELS TO SNAP. OUR FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES TEAM ALSO WORKS TO EXPAND 3SQUARESVT USE AT FARMERS MARKETS, RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE VALUE OF 3SQUARESVT, AND ENGAGES PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING THIS BIGGEST FOOD SAFETY NET FROM HARMFUL FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES AND CUTS. SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON GETTING ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT 3SQUARESVT AND OTHER WAYS TO GET HEALTHY FOOD OUT TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VERMONTERS, INCLUDING THOSE NEWLY UNEMPLOYED WHO HAVE NEVER BEFORE FACED HUNGER. WE HAVE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR IMPORTANT COVID-ERA EXPANSIONS OF 3SQUARESVT, LIKE ENSURING ACCESS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND INCREASED BENEFIT AMOUNTS DURING UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF HUNGER. ABENAKI FOOD SECURITY / FOOD SOVEREIGNTY PROJECTS: IN 2020, HUNGER FREE VERMONT BEGAN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LEADERS OF THE FOUR STATE- RECOGNIZED ABENAKI TRIBES IN VERMONT, WITH THE GOAL OF SEEKING FUNDING TO DIRECTLY REGRANT TO THE TRIBES FOR THEIR OWN COMMUNITY FOOD SOVEREIGNTY PROJECTS. IN ADDITION, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE TRIBES' COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED FOOD SECURITY FOR TRIBAL CITIZENS, WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF HUNGER AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES LINKED TO FOOD INSECURITY OF ANY GROUP IN VERMONT. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4C ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: HUNGER FREE VERMONT RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT HUNGER AND ITS SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL LEADERS IN TAKING ACTION TO END HUNGER THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THROUGH THE HUNGER COUNCILS OF VERMONT. THE 10 HUNGER COUNCILS ARE MADE UP OF OVER 1,000 LOCAL LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO LEARNING ABOUT HUNGER AND WORKING TO ADDRESS HUNGER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE STATE BY COORDINATING EFFORTS AND SHARING INFORMATION.THE HUNGER COUNCILS ALSO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ARE A FORUM FOR HIGHLIGHTING AND ADDRESSING EMERGING CHALLENGES IN COMMUNITIES. THE HUNGER COUNCILS BECAME CRITICAL REGIONAL FORUMS FOR PLANNING EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. MOST OF THE COUNCILS MET WEEKLY OR MONTHLY THROUGHOUT 2021, AND HELPED TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY FOOD NEEDS, LOCATE AND COORDINATE VOLUNTEERS FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS, AND SHARE LOCAL NEEDS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. ADVOCACY INITIATIVES: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS VERMONT'S PRINCIPAL ANTI- HUNGER AUTHORITY AND LEADING FOOD SECURITY POLICY ADVOCATE. HUNGER FREE VERMONT'S ADVOCACY HAS LED TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, VERMONT BECOMING THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO ELIMINATE REDUCED-PRICE SCHOOL MEALS, QUADRUPLING FUNDING FOR OUR STATE'S FARM TO SCHOOL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD GRANT PROGRAM, SECURING STATE FUNDING TO INCENTIVIZE LOCAL FOOD PURCHASING BY VERMONT SCHOOLS, AND ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT BEFORE ANY STATE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES CAN BE MADE TO THE 3SQUARESVT PROGRAM. HUNGER FREE VERMONT HAS BEEN ASKED TO SHARE OUR ADVOCACY STRATEGIES WITH OTHER ANTI-HUNGER ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND AS A RESULT WE HAVE HELPED MANY OTHER STATES ACHIEVE SOME OF THESE SAME OUTCOMES. IN 2019, HUNGER FREE VERMONT LAUNCHED THE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS CAMPAIGN, A MULTI- YEAR LEGISLATIVE EFFORT TO BRING SCHOOL MEALS TO ALL VERMONT STUDENTS AT NO COST TO THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH SUCCESSFULLY PASSED LEGISLATION IN THE STATE SENATE IN 2021. IN 2021, WE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR THE CONTINUATION OF PANDEMIC-ERA FEDERAL POLICIES LIKE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, EXPANDED ACCESS TO 3SQUARESVT AND SUMMER MEAL PROGRAMS, AND THE CONTINUATION OF FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS. ADDITIONALLY, IN COALITION WITH PARTNERS WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED THAT THE STATE OF VERMONT USE SOME OF THE FEDERAL PANDEMIC-RELATED FUNDING TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO FOOD AND ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN VERMONT. FOOD AS MEDICINE: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS ALSO COMMITTED TO BETTER CONNECTING HUNGER AS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY, HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROVIDERS ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HUNGER AND HEALTH AND IS IMPLEMENTING FOOD INSECURITY SCREENING AND REFERRAL PROTOCOLS IN MEDICAL SETTINGS. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, BOARD CHAIR, AND THE BOARD TREASURER REVIEW THE 990 BEFORE IT IS FILED. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C THE BOARD AND STAFF DISCUSS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND REVIEW ANY SCENARIO WHICH POTENTIALLY CAUSES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR STAFF OR BOARD. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DETERMINES IF AN INCREASE IN COMPENSATION IS WARRANTED. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.