2019-09-11T07:10:34-05:00 2018-12-31 030280081 JMM & ASSOCIATES PC 336 WATER TOWER CIR STE 801 COLCHESTER VT 05446 990 2018-01-01 030336357 HUNGER FREE VERMONT INC HUNG 8028650255 38 EASTWOOD DRIVE SUITE 100 SOUTH BURLINGTON VT 05403 ANORE HORTON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 8028650255 2019-08-07 true RANDALL L SARGENT CPA P00136499 8026555665 2019-09-04 64.88.174.3 2019-09-11 07:10:34 CD P 1AD411E049554EB474F1A76C7C0DE76A84237027 9BBA44C6CC3302089FEB233D051BC5EA9D16FD9B 2018 2019-02-21 02:37:17Z ANORE HORTON 38 EASTWOOD DRIVE SUITE 100 SOUTH BURLINGTON VT 05403 1044158 false X WWW.HUNGERFREEVT.ORG X 1993 VT TO END THE INJUSTICE OF HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION FOR ALL VERMONTERS. 12 12 17 950 0 1197843 1020608 21699 20231 380 569 62048 2750 1281970 1044158 20067 26212 0 834735 795736 0 204839 228499 246395 1083301 1068343 198669 -24185 516960 510243 69556 87024 447404 423219 X TO END THE INJUSTICE OF HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION FOR ALL VERMONTERS. true false 197201 4083 FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES: 3SQUARESVT: 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. HFVT WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM, REMOVE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, AND TRAIN SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO DO APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE ALL THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. IN 2018, HUNGER FREE VERMONT STAFF PROVIDED 15 TRAININGS TO 325 SERVICE PROVIDERS ACROSS VERMONT WITH ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO HELP VERMONTERS APPLY FOR 3SQUARESVT. IN 2001 THERE WERE ONLY 38,558 PARTICIPANTS. LAST YEAR, AN AVERAGE OF 70,000 VERMONTERS PARTICIPATED EACH MONTH, AND OUR STATE IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR REACHING MANY OF THOSE ELIGIBLE. 166551 10500 CHILD NUTRITION INITIATIVES: SCHOOL AGE: HUNGER FREE VERMONT ASSISTS 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 FOOD INSECURITY AND HUNGER BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MUST SPEND TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN DURING THE WEEK. DURING SCHOOL YEAR 2018-19, HUNGER FREE VERMONT PROVIDED CUSTOMIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 55 UNIQUE VERMONT SUPERVISORY UNIONS, SCHOOLS, OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS, 76 SCHOOLS IN VERMONT OFFERED UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS IN 2018, AND VERMONT RANKED 2 IN THE NATION IN REACHING LOW-INCOME STUDENTS THROUGH THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM. 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. IN 2018 HUNGER FREE VERMONT CONDUCTED FREE TRAININGS ON NUTRITION TO DIRECTORS AND WORKERS REPRESENTING AT LEAST 37 CHILDCARE CENTERS FROM AROUND THE STATE, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 200 YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. 107780 3850 ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION: COMMUNITY EDUCATION: HUNGER FREE VERMONT RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT HUNGER AND EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL LEADERS TO ADDRESS HUNGER THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THROUGH THE HUNGER COUNCILS OF VERMONT. THE 10 HUNGER COUNCILS INVOLVE ABOUT 1,000 LOCAL LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO LEARNING ABOUT HUNGER AND IMPROVING COMMUNITY AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY. THE HUNGER COUNCILS COORDINATE EFFORTS AND BUILD STRONG NUTRITION SAFETY NETS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL AND STATEWIDE. THE HUNGER COUNCILS ALSO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEED AND ARE A FORUM FOR HIGHLIGHTING AND ADDRESSING EMERGING CHALLENGES IN COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING HUNGER: BY EDUCATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE LOCAL CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF HUNGER AND PROVIDING TOOLS TO IMPROVE NUTRITION AND REDUCE HUNGER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND. 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. ADVOCACY: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS VERMONT'S PRINCIPAL ANTI-HUNGER AUTHORITY AND LEADING FOOD SECURITY POLICY ADVOCATE. HUNGER FREE VERMONT WAS THE PRIMARY FORCE BEHIND ACT 22, WHICH GREATLY INCREASED ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM IN 2003. IN 2008, WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED TO EXPAND 3SQUARESVT, AND IN 2014, THANKS TO LEGISLATION SUPPORTED BY HUNGER FREE VERMONT, VERMONT BECAME THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO ALL LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. MORE RECENTLY, HUNGER FREE VERMONT'S ADVOCACY HAS LED TO VERMONT BECOMING THE FIRST STATE TO INVEST IN UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, AND A MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE VERMONT FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM - QUADRUPLING FUNDING AND MAKING THE PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS. IN 2018, HUNGER FREE VERMONT SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR STATE LEGISLATION THAT MANDATES GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ANY TIME THERE ARE FEDERAL CHANGES TO THE SNAP PROGRAM. THEY ALSO LEAD THE VERMONT FARM BILL NUTRITION COALITION IN ADVOCATING FOR THE 2018 FARM BILL THAT PROTECTED AND STRENGTHENED FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP. VERMONT CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO ALL FEDERALLY FUNDED FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF VERMONTERS. NUTRITION AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH: THE LEARNING KITCHEN: HUNGER FREE VERMONT'S LEARNING KITCHEN CLASSES EMPOWER LOW-INCOME VERMONTERS TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES THROUGH NUTRITION EDUCATION, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND IMPROVING COOKING SKILLS. THE LEARNING KITCHEN STARTED IN 1999 WITH JUST 5 SERIES AND 47 PARTICIPANTS. TO DATE THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF SERIES SERVING OVER 8,000 VERMONTERS. 236198 26212 1798 PARTNERSHIP FOR A HUNGER-FREE GRAND ISLE COUNTY: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS THE LEAD ORGANIZATION COORDINATING A COLLECTIVE IMPACT PARTNERSHIP WITH 10 OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND NORTHWEST VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT CREATIVE PROJECTS TO REDUCE HUNGER AMONG VARIOUS POPULATIONS (CHILDREN, SENIORS, ETC.) IN GRAND ISLE COUNTY. GRAND ISLE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST ISOLATED IN VERMONT, LACKING EVEN ONE FULL-SERVICE GROCERY STORE, AND EXPERIENCES HIGHER LEVELS OF FOOD INSECURITY THAN VERMONT'S STATEWIDE AVERAGE. FIVE DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS WERE LAUNCHED IN 2017, INCLUDING: PROVIDING FREE TRANSPORTATION AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET; MAILING NUTRITION RESOURCE MATERIALS TO ALL FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN GRAND ISLE SCHOOLS; WORKING WITH MEDICAL PROVIDERS IN GRAND ISLE COUNTY TO SCREEN THEIR PATIENTS FOR HUNGER; DEVELOPING A RESOURCE GUIDE TO HELP TRUSTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS STEER PEOPLE IN NEED TO NUTRITION ASSISTANCE; AND DELIVERING PRODUCE TO MEALS ON WHEELS RECIPIENTS TO INCREASE THEIR CONSUMPTION OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. 236198 26212 1798 707730 true true false true false false false false false true true false false false false true true 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 9 0 17 true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false X 12 12 false false true false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false X X X GRETCHEN STERN 8028650255 38 EASTWOOD DRIVE SUITE 100 SOUTH BURLINGTON VT 05403 DARREN ALLEN BOARD CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 PAMELA PUTHOOR VICE CHAIR/S 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JEFF DANNIES TREASURER/MO 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ALISON BELL DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 COLLEEN BROWN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 CATHY DAVIS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LISA HELMHOLZ-ADAMS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 AMY LEVINE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 NICOLE ROHRIG DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL SIROTKIN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN TUNNICLIFFE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KEN WHITE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MISSE AXELROD TERM ENDED DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JENNIFER ANDREWS TERM ENDED DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LAURA CARLSMITH TERM ENDED DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 BRIAN WAXLER TERM ENDED DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANORE HORTON EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 80795 0 4040 80795 4040 false false false 241795 778813 1426 1020608 CONFERENCES/STIPENDS/OTHER 611430 20231 20231 20231 569 569 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 2750 2750 2750 1044158 22981 569 26212 26212 84835 51749 17816 15270 551734 367979 70453 113302 12468 7721 2237 2510 96130 59320 17962 18848 50569 31205 9449 9915 59 59 7000 7000 24512 17993 6519 1230 1230 32264 10679 7078 14507 2309 513 1541 255 103285 67613 14579 21093 16053 15807 -341 587 5837 2231 2826 780 2248 1484 382 382 4856 2905 1090 861 PROGRAM EXPENSES 43121 43089 32 MISCELLANEOUS 3621 3611 10 1068343 707730 155774 204839 191545 269690 63589 69159 249299 168981 7866 85358 82945 4661 2413 516960 510243 29556 37024 40000 50000 69556 87024 X 201379 170177 246025 253042 447404 423219 516960 510243 -24185 X false true X true false X 1085779 1009548 914462 1197843 1020608 5228240 1085779 1009548 914462 1197843 1020608 5228240 290030 4938210 3170 1103 87 380 569 5309 62048 62048 5295597 67091 0.93250 0.94720 X PART II, LINE 10 62,048 false true false false false false true 392 false false 392 false SCHEDULE C, PART II-B, LINE 1 IN 2018, THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGED IN LIMITED ALLOWABLE LOBBYING ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDED SUPPORTING THE PASSAGE OF A BILL TO BRING GREATER TRANSPARENCY TO STATE-LEVEL DECISION-MAKING. 1784 1784 51699 1581 51496 1784 52223 2674 2359 839 51699 false false 53572 51166 2406 31786 31779 7 2413 X 1044158 1044158 1044158 1068343 1068343 1068343 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 WINDHAM NORTHEAST SUPERVISORY UNION 25 CHERRY STREET BELLOWS FALLS VT 05101 030223665 5126 SUMMER MEALS PROJECT 1 SCHEDULE I, PAGE 1, PART I, LINE 2 PROCEDURES FOR MONITORING GRANT FUNDS: FOR ANY REGRANTING FUNDS, RECIPIENTS MUST SUBMIT AN ITEMIZED INVOICE TO HFVT SHOWING THE EXPENSES INCURRED, AND HUNGER FREE VERMONT REIMBURSES THE FUNDS. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 2 IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2018, WE BEGAN WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE A MULTI-YEAR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS CAMPAIGN. WE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM A BUSINESS AND A LONG-TIME INDIVIDUAL DONOR TO DEVELOP A CAMPAIGN PLAN FOR MAKING UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS AVAILABLE FOR EVERY VERMONT SCHOOL. THE FUNDS PAID FOR STAFF TIME, A CONTRACTED GRAPHIC DESIGNER, AND FOR A CONTRACT WITH ACTION CIRCLES TO CONSULT WITH US TO DEVELOP CAMPAIGN MESSAGING AND A CAMPAIGN PLAN. OUR WORK WITH ACTION CIRCLES CONTINUES INTO 2019. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES: 3SQUARESVT: 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. HFVT WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM, REMOVE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, AND TRAIN SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO DO APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE ALL THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. IN 2018, HUNGER FREE VERMONT STAFF PROVIDED 15 TRAININGS TO 325 SERVICE PROVIDERS ACROSS VERMONT WITH ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO HELP VERMONTERS APPLY FOR 3SQUARESVT. IN 2001 THERE WERE ONLY 38,558 PARTICIPANTS. LAST YEAR, AN AVERAGE OF 70,000 VERMONTERS PARTICIPATED EACH MONTH, AND OUR STATE IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR REACHING MANY OF THOSE ELIGIBLE. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B CHILD NUTRITION INITIATIVES: SCHOOL AGE: HUNGER FREE VERMONT ASSISTS 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 FOOD INSECURITY AND HUNGER BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MUST SPEND TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN DURING THE WEEK. DURING SCHOOL YEAR 2018-19, HUNGER FREE VERMONT PROVIDED CUSTOMIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 55 UNIQUE VERMONT SUPERVISORY UNIONS, SCHOOLS, OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS, 76 SCHOOLS IN VERMONT OFFERED UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS IN 2018, AND VERMONT RANKED 2 IN THE NATION IN REACHING LOW-INCOME STUDENTS THROUGH THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM. 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. IN 2018 HUNGER FREE VERMONT CONDUCTED FREE TRAININGS ON NUTRITION TO DIRECTORS AND WORKERS REPRESENTING AT LEAST 37 CHILDCARE CENTERS FROM AROUND THE STATE, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 200 YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4C ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION: COMMUNITY EDUCATION: HUNGER FREE VERMONT RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT HUNGER AND EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL LEADERS TO ADDRESS HUNGER THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THROUGH THE HUNGER COUNCILS OF VERMONT. THE 10 HUNGER COUNCILS INVOLVE ABOUT 1,000 LOCAL LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO LEARNING ABOUT HUNGER AND IMPROVING COMMUNITY AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY. THE HUNGER COUNCILS COORDINATE EFFORTS AND BUILD STRONG NUTRITION SAFETY NETS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL AND STATEWIDE. THE HUNGER COUNCILS ALSO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEED AND ARE A FORUM FOR HIGHLIGHTING AND ADDRESSING EMERGING CHALLENGES IN COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING HUNGER: BY EDUCATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE LOCAL CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF HUNGER AND PROVIDING TOOLS TO IMPROVE NUTRITION AND REDUCE HUNGER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND. 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. ADVOCACY: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS VERMONT'S PRINCIPAL ANTI-HUNGER AUTHORITY AND LEADING FOOD SECURITY POLICY ADVOCATE. HUNGER FREE VERMONT WAS THE PRIMARY FORCE BEHIND ACT 22, WHICH GREATLY INCREASED ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM IN 2003. IN 2008, WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED TO EXPAND 3SQUARESVT, AND IN 2014, THANKS TO LEGISLATION SUPPORTED BY HUNGER FREE VERMONT, VERMONT BECAME THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO ALL LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. MORE RECENTLY, HUNGER FREE VERMONT'S ADVOCACY HAS LED TO VERMONT BECOMING THE FIRST STATE TO INVEST IN UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, AND A MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE VERMONT FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM - QUADRUPLING FUNDING AND MAKING THE PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS. IN 2018, HUNGER FREE VERMONT SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR STATE LEGISLATION THAT MANDATES GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ANY TIME THERE ARE FEDERAL CHANGES TO THE SNAP PROGRAM. THEY ALSO LEAD THE VERMONT FARM BILL NUTRITION COALITION IN ADVOCATING FOR THE 2018 FARM BILL THAT PROTECTED AND STRENGTHENED FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP. VERMONT CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO ALL FEDERALLY FUNDED FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF VERMONTERS. NUTRITION AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH: THE LEARNING KITCHEN: HUNGER FREE VERMONT'S LEARNING KITCHEN CLASSES EMPOWER LOW-INCOME VERMONTERS TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES THROUGH NUTRITION EDUCATION, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND IMPROVING COOKING SKILLS. THE LEARNING KITCHEN STARTED IN 1999 WITH JUST 5 SERIES AND 47 PARTICIPANTS. TO DATE THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF SERIES SERVING OVER 8,000 VERMONTERS. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4D PARTNERSHIP FOR A HUNGER-FREE GRAND ISLE COUNTY: HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS THE LEAD ORGANIZATION COORDINATING A COLLECTIVE IMPACT PARTNERSHIP WITH 10 OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND NORTHWEST VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT CREATIVE PROJECTS TO REDUCE HUNGER AMONG VARIOUS POPULATIONS (CHILDREN, SENIORS, ETC.) IN GRAND ISLE COUNTY. GRAND ISLE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST ISOLATED IN VERMONT, LACKING EVEN ONE FULL-SERVICE GROCERY STORE, AND EXPERIENCES HIGHER LEVELS OF FOOD INSECURITY THAN VERMONT'S STATEWIDE AVERAGE. FIVE DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS WERE LAUNCHED IN 2017, INCLUDING: PROVIDING FREE TRANSPORTATION AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET; MAILING NUTRITION RESOURCE MATERIALS TO ALL FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN GRAND ISLE SCHOOLS; WORKING WITH MEDICAL PROVIDERS IN GRAND ISLE COUNTY TO SCREEN THEIR PATIENTS FOR HUNGER; DEVELOPING A RESOURCE GUIDE TO HELP TRUSTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS STEER PEOPLE IN NEED TO NUTRITION ASSISTANCE; AND DELIVERING PRODUCE TO MEALS ON WHEELS RECIPIENTS TO INCREASE THEIR CONSUMPTION OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 4 THE BOARD ADOPTED A NEW JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, BOARD CHAIR, AND MONITORING OFFICER 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. THE COMPENSATION IS INCREASED USING THE SAME DECOMPRESSION CALCULATION USED FOR ALL STAFF. BECAUSE A NEW ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND THEN A NEW PERMANENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WERE HIRED IN 2018, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY WAS SET USING THE SAME DECOMPRESSION CALCULATION USED FOR ALL STAFF, BASED UPON THE BASE RATE FOR THE POSITION AND TENURE IN THE ORGANIZATION. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.