For Immediate Release
March 23, 2012
Media Contact:
Judy Stermer
802-505-0699
Barre, VT—Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, awarded John Sayles, chief executive officer of the Vermont Foodbank, with the 2012 Dick Goebel Public Service Award for outstanding commitment to ending hunger in his community and across the country. Sayles accepted the award at the 2012 National Anti- Hunger Policy Conference, a gathering in Washington, D.C. of more than 700 anti-hunger advocates, sponsored by Feeding America and the Food Research Action Center (FRAC).
”John Sayles personifies the spirit of public and community service,” said Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive officer of Feeding America. “John is a creative and forward thinker, a passionate advocate and an inspiring leader. As chair of our Policy, Engagement and Advocacy committee John has helped build and grow advocacy across our network at a pivotal time for federal nutrition assistance programs.”
Sayles has been the CEO of the Vermont Foodbank since March 2009. In this capacity he oversees the distribution of more than 8 million pounds food each year through a network of 280 food shelves, meal sites, senior centers and after-school programs throughout the state. Prior to his association with the Foodbank, he served 10 years in executive positions for the State of Vermont.
John currently chairs the Feeding America Policy Engagement and Advocacy Committee that coordinates food banks across the country to develop national policy positions. He is president of the board of Home Share Now, an organization that provides affordable housing options with positive community and environmental impacts, and on the board of Vermont Interactive Technologies, connecting Vermonters statewide and worldwide through videoconferencing and other advanced communications technologies
The Dick Goebel Public Service Award was created in 2001 in honor of the Reverend Richard (Dick) Goebel for his many years of public service on behalf of hungry Americans. As founder and executive director of the Second Harvest St. Paul Food Bank in St. Paul, Minn. (now Second Harvest Heartland), Dick’s dedicated service left a lasting legacy. Recipients of the Dick Goebel Public Service Award exemplify service to their communities, extensive public policy advocacy, and tireless enthusiasm and creativity in developing solutions to ending hunger both locally and nationally.
About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.
About Vermont Foodbank
Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving communities in all 14 counties of Vermont through a network of more than 280 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, senior centers and after-school programs. In FY2011, the Vermont Foodbank distributed more than 8 million pounds of food to as many as 86,000 Vermonters. The Vermont Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, is nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation. To learn more about hunger in your community and to take action against hunger and poverty in Vermont, visit us on the web atwww.vtfoodbank.org
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I am wondering how come franklin county doesn’t receive as much food to help there hungry as the Burlington area. I am a single mom and when I was at or an intereting thing happened a women at work says she get’s a banana box full of food from the foo shelf and can go in everyday and get milk and fresh produce. And she has no children. I have a disabled child who is on a high calorie diet because of weight lose do to his meds. And we go to the food bank up here in st. Albans and get a paper bag of food for the month. I am not sure why this exists. Yet a looking for answers. thank you fo your time