Dear Readers,
During this time of gratitude, all of us at VTDigger want to say thank you. Thank you for reading, for sharing your tips and perspectives with us and for supporting a newsroom that works every day to help Vermonters understand the world around them. Your trust is the reason we can keep doing this work.
Thanksgiving also reminds us how many neighbors may be experiencing the holiday very differently. Food insecurity has continued to rise in Vermont since 2020. The Vermont Foodbank now distributes 25 percent more food each year than it did before the pandemic. Federal funding changes have already impacted nutrition programs and food assistance access for refugees and asylum seekers. With the recent government shutdown, many food pantries faced a renewed surge in need. Looking ahead, up to 14,000 Vermonters could lose food benefits in 2026 when new federal laws take effect.
Our recent reporting underscores how quickly policy changes ripple into daily life and how urgently many Vermonters need clear information and strong community support.
This is why we partner with the Vermont Foodbank each Thanksgiving. Our job is to explain the systems that shape life in Vermont and to ensure those most affected are heard. The Foodbank’s job is to make sure our neighbors have enough to eat. Together, we can raise awareness and support Vermonters.
If you are able, there is still time to help send 3 meals to a Vermonter in need through our Thanksgiving Drive. Your gift also strengthens the reporting that sheds light on wealth, poverty and economic inequality at a time when many people are navigating real uncertainty.
Most of all, thank you for being part of this community. Whether you give, read, send a tip or share our stories, you help make independent local news possible in Vermont.
We hope your day brings connection, comfort and a moment of rest.
With gratitude,
The VTDigger team
The donation of meals to the Vermont Foodbank is generously underwritten by The Richards Group so 100% of your gift to VTDiggers supports our newsroom.
