One in six Vermont kids going hungry

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(Host) A new national report has some sobering news about Vermont’s children … one in every six is on the brink of going hungry.

Feeding America is a national hunger relief charity.

It analyzed data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and wrote a report about how children in every state are faring.

Jon Sayles of the Vermont Foodbank says more than 20,000 Vermonters younger than 18 are consistently unable to get adequate food.

(Sayles) "It’s a little disheartening to see almost 16 percent of all children under 18 ion Vermont be at risk of hunger, and particularly those under the age of 5, which is a very, very sensitive time in human development, and it’s really crucial that young, young kids get the food that they need."

(Host) Sayles says the study was done before the current recession set in, so the situation is probably worse now.

But he says Vermont has a system of food shelves and soup kitchens throughout the state that helps families get by.

Those agencies have been able to collect enough money and food during the recession to meet most of the demand.

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