[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6347560,"mediaKeyId","2245270-00358e81be054d1c69d72d25d0528747","parentId",2245270,"title","Advocates ask committee to expand 3 Squares Vermont options, fund farmers-market incentives and Meals on Wheels","audioSeconds",125,"startMs",369000,"endMs",494000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245270-00358e81be054d1c69d72d25d0528747&start=369&end=494","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245270-00358e81be054d1c69d72d25d0528747/thumbnail_369000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6347560/Vermont/Advocates-ask-committee-to-expand-3-Squares-Vermont-options-fund-farmers-market-incentives-and-Meals-on-Wheels","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6347560-344a751901c7d112d4dc50d8df25a672/orig.mp4?Expires=1775225483&Signature=FTfJNDimumqQzWaAZCmQW9EPw3HGSs5eGCFqG6I4x-fSP7nvS~DICBNwX6kKCxKfOk1cQks97tby6Q49273sEqXqdJg0DF1yybbei5HOKNgc3HxP--uAVrCjrmCgpIWcRQarFR3f87Li19ImcmkgCoqg4qUS6oBiIMpW4qXrlnVuxqiR~f6dLqL5hUDxpsXu9HxuUMUY471PoY7TmAAJ8wvKFlhXONKl6~ZbJ~M6CBypZidjolhqUaNTEE0YQTxquhYKxUjuGG669er9MAGQRZUCT6gGte3kZfw1sL9~heFT-sSBXgco~jK4U411pu19sPNNeuDH5CdsSeLZX5FFUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-06T19:29:56Z","article","Hunger Free Vermont and partner organizations urged the Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee to expand how the state’s SNAP program (branded 3 Squares Vermont) can be used and to increase state funding for several nutrition programs.

Ivy Enoch, SNAP policy and training lead at Hunger Free Vermont, asked lawmakers to pass legislation authorizing Vermont to opt into the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program and to appropriate $75,000 for restaurant startup costs and $100,000 for a Department for Children and Families staff position to administer the program. “Please pass legislation to instruct the state to opt into the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program and appropriate $75,000 to cover restaurant startup costs and $100,000 for a staff position within DCF to administer the program,” Enoch said.

Enoch also requested $500,000 in base funding to sustain two incentive programs run by NOFA Vermont — named in testimony as CropPASH and FarmShare — and support for the Vermont Food Bank’s $5,000,000 FY26 request. Finally, she asked for $2,000,000 in base general funding for home-delivered meals for older and disabled Vermonters, run by the Vermont Area Agencies on Aging (Meals on Wheels programs).

Enoch explained that the Restaurant Meals option is a federally authorized state option intended for select SNAP participants — older adults, people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness — who face barriers to buying, storing or preparing food. When asked by a committee member identified as Representative Caitlin whether restaurant meals would be more expensive, Enoch replied that federal program rules require restaurants participating in the Restaurant Meals Program to offer a concession menu that highlights affordable meal options for SNAP participants.

No bill language was presented during the testimony and the committee took no formal action at the meeting. Advocates asked lawmakers to consider the measures as part of a broader strategy to strengthen food security in Vermont by expanding benefit options, supporting farmer-incentive programs and increasing home-delivered meal capacity.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Government Operations-2025-02-06-2:30PM","oneSentenceSummary","Hunger Free Vermont and partners asked the Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee to let select SNAP participants use benefits at restaurants, and to fund NOFA Vermont incentive programs and additional Meals on Wheels base funding.","taxTitle","Government Operations & Military Affairs, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",30955,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6347565,"Vermont Food Bank asks committee for $5 million to expand emergency readiness after Montpelier pantry flood",1100,65000,1165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245270-00358e81be054d1c69d72d25d0528747&start=65&end=1165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245270-00358e81be054d1c69d72d25d0528747/thumbnail_65000.jpg","/articles/6347565/Vermont/Vermont-Food-Bank-asks-committee-for-5-million-to-expand-emergency-readiness-after-Montpelier-pantry-flood","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6347565-efae34c3c46d2fe53be404c575ac3ee0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775225483&Signature=m08l4VddPuIJE30RGHf8IjS4EIFIPzGHC-86Pho3Pe3v-FoUPrX3NL4diXIXajpjweIy7zmTeYCqC6ZqI812CsJcz4oxFaTx0jzOacTkAkk6ly2PSfOQv~l5dJ8zsUWqff8Pp5w-bPe26sGCQPK0vIexD2C-4M5baW0HlTw6gcDCCQNiPwvCGGSjUp7fFKcdw4iMgoZp41Q8VYD6ZUzrg0GzLfCswzQKKhbZpQP3bfIrIljxDOD4j8qHswhdchIBpcInX5COxLFohRyv3tGexs0rZZ97m22oksDM8EzD9tcAV5MHw4lh2jdG72xzQcLTkwq7mkWTSzUKj-984LnlQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont Food Bank asked the Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee at a recent meeting to approve $5,000,000 in FY26 funding to strengthen the state’s emergency food response and buy food for distribution across Vermont.

Eva Shechtman, a low-income self-employed Montpelier resident and a board member of Just Basics Inc., the organization that runs the Montpelier Food Pantry, described how the pantry’s basement location at Trinity Methodist Church was flooded in July 2023 and how volunteers and partners had to create temporary distribution points. “I’m here to support Vermont Food Bank’s 5,000,000 dollar request in the fiscal year 26 budget and specifically 1,750,000.00 in base funding for responsive readiness to ensure the Vermont Food Bank and partners are prepared when disaster strike Vermont communities as well as $3,250,000 to purchase and distribute food and support the network of community based meal sites and food shelves like the Montpelier food pantry,” Shechtman said.

The testimony detailed the pantry’s emergency operations after the flood: volunteers used community coolers and tents, partnered with Community Harvest of Central Vermont for cold storage about five miles outside town, briefly moved indoors to a classroom at the Center for Arts and Learning, and later relocated to the City Center Building on East State Street. Shechtman said the Montpelier pantry has served about 1,200 people each month for the past three years.

John Sales, chief executive officer of the Vermont Food Bank, told the committee the request would fund two linked needs: immediate food purchase and distribution to meet everyday shortfalls, and a standing reserve for “responsive readiness” so the bank can push supplies quickly to communities after disasters. “Embedded in our request … is 1,750,000.00 for what we’re calling responsive readiness,” Sales said. He described scenarios in which a grocery store is flooded or roads are washed out, leaving local food shelves emptied and residents cut off from regular food access.

Sales said the food bank served an average of 72,000 people per month statewide in 2024 and that the organization is purchasing increasing quantities of food to meet demand, including 2,700,000 pounds of produce from Canada last year. He warned that potential tariffs could add between $170,000 and $200,000 to procurement costs. Sales also cited last year’s legislation, Act 143 (S.310), which added food-security language to statewide emergency planning and said the requested funds would deepen the food bank’s partnership with emergency management.

Committee members asked no formal questions during the testimony; no vote or committee action was recorded at the meeting. The Vermont Food Bank reiterated that its FY26 request includes $1,750,000 in base funding for responsive readiness and $3,250,000 for food purchase and distribution, for a total $5,000,000 ask.

The witnesses and advocates asked the committee to consider the request as part of broader emergency planning work to ensure food shelves, meal sites and local partners are able to respond rapidly after floods, storms and other disruptions.","The Vermont Food Bank told the Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee it needs $5 million in FY26 — including $1.75 million in base funding for a “responsive readiness” reserve — to help food shelves and meal sites recover from floods and other disasters and to purchase and distribute food statewide.","actionData","errors"]

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Advocates ask committee to expand 3 Squares Vermont options, fund farmers-market incentives and Meals on Wheels

Vermont Food Bank asks committee for $5 million to expand emergency readiness after Montpelier pantry flood