BRATTLEBORO-Three school districts will begin their summer meals programs, distributing free, weekly meal kits to families with children.
Susan Grabowski, food program coordinator of the Windham Southeast School District, runs the program for that region and has a message for parents: "We know summer can be a challenging time. These meal kits are one way we're trying to make things a little easier. There's no paperwork, no proof of need - just free, nutritious food for any child 18 and under."
Grabowski says this is a significant change from the daily prepackaged meals offered in previous years.
"The weekly kits are more convenient for families who cannot make daily trips, and they also allow us to provide weekend meals, which we couldn't do before," she says.
Last summer, the WSESD program distributed over 10,000 individual meals. Grabowski anticipates that the program this summer will exceed that number in just the first week, as more than 500 people have signed up to receive the first round of meal kits.
The need is great
According to Grabowski, 48% of the WSESU schoolchildren qualify for free or reduced-price lunch under the National School Lunch Program income eligibility guidelines, an indicator of poverty in the community.
"I think people are always surprised when they hear that," she said. "A lot of people don't see [the poverty], but it's in Brattleboro, mostly."
She says low wages and high food costs contribute to the level of poverty among families.
"With child care so expensive, it's often easier for one parent to stay home with a child," she says, adding that "it's really hard for families to make it work on one income these days."
"It's not unusual to leave the grocery store with a bag of food that costs $100," she said. "And if you've got two or three kids at home, you really have to try to make that work, and that's really hard."
Making it easier for rural communities
Grabowski explains the evolution of the summer meals program from daily to weekly distribution.
Before the pandemic, USDA rules didn't allow programs to offer non-congregate options, such as meal kits. Because Vermont is a rural state, the traditional model of congregate summer meals - where children are required to eat on site - has never worked well for many families.
Grabowski says that changed during the pandemic, when temporary waivers allowed schools to provide meals to-go or in bulk. Participation rose significantly, especially in rural communities.
In 2023, Vermont was one of a few states selected to pilot noncongregate summer meal service in rural areas. Based on the success of the pilot, the USDA made this flexibility permanent, starting in 2024, for rural communities.
"It's a significant policy shift - one that allows us to reach more children with fewer barriers, especially families without reliable transportation or predictable schedules," Grabowski said.
Trump administration cuts program
Core funding for the summer meals program has also been provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which reimburses the school district for each eligible meal served.
The reimbursement rate for school food programs is set annually and helps cover the cost of food, labor, and other associated expenses.
These budgets have historically made it difficult for school districts to purchase food from local farms, and nonprofits like Food Connects have blossomed to create local supply chains.
Last year, the project also received grant funding from the Local Food for Schools and Child Care program (LFSCC), a cooperative agreement between Vermont's Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) and the USDA, which allowed WSESU to purchase locally produced food through food hubs like Food Connects within the budgetary confines of the federal program.
LFSCC had anticipated receiving $1,222,076 in 2025 for statewide efforts; however, the USDA terminated the cooperative agreement on March 7, 2025, stating, "This agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities."
According to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture's website, of the $1,222,076 of LFSCC funding, $994,226 was designated for Vermont's school districts to purchase local food.
The child care portion of funds was anticipated to provide $277,850 to early-child-care centers across the state to purchase local food. VAAFM had estimated that this program would provide local, nutritious food sourced from approximately 100 local farms to approximately 4,000 children in early childhood settings and 83,000 children in K-12 school settings .
'I just want people to be fed'
Grabowski oversees training for program administrators, monitors compliance with USDA rules and regulations, calculates the number of meals served at all district sites each month, manages eligibility, and procures equipment, such as milk machines.
On June 26, anticipating high demand for the program, she'll also be directing traffic.
"I guess I've got my fingers everywhere," she said.
And she has a big heart.
"I just want people to be fed," she said. "I want to offer this program so that people who are out there who are living with food insecurity can get some relief. And getting a bag of food for their child every week is hopefully going to answer some of that need this summer."
Where and when do you get the food?
The following details about the region's summer meal programs come via Food Connects. The organization credits WNESU School Nutrition Manager Melissa Bacon, WRED Food Service Manager Jake Gallogly, and WSESU Food Nutrition Director Harley Sterling, who "have been hard at work putting together healthy, fresh meals for kids in Windham County."
• Windham Southeast Supervisory Union (Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, and Vernon): Meal kits include a combination of bulk and ready-to-eat items equivalent to seven days worth of breakfast and lunch for one child.
Items in the meal kits include fresh local produce and bread, artisan cheeses, bananas, breakfast cereals, and more.
These meals are available to any household with children up to 18 years old. Children may receive one breakfast and one lunch per day and cannot receive meals from multiple summer food service program sites.
Meal kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Questions or accommodation requests can be directed to [email protected].
Signing up is not required, but doing so is "extremely helpful for planning purposes," organizers write. "Please help us ensure we prepare enough kits by signing up ASAP." Each week's sign-up will be posted on Fridays on the district website.
Pick up takes place behind Brattleboro Union High School every Thursday, starting June 26, from noon to 3 p.m. (Please access Sunny Acres Road from South Main Street to avoid backing up traffic on Fairground Road.)
• Windham Northeast Supervisory Union (Athens, Grafton, Rockingham, and Westminster): Meal kits, supported by Windham Northeast Supervisory Union's Farm to School Café, include bulk and ready-to-eat items equal to seven days of breakfast and lunch for one child. These meals are available to any household with children up to age 18 who live within these towns.
Pickup at Bellows Falls Union High School (406 High School Rd., Westminster) every Wednesday, starting June 25, from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Visit the Farm to School Café website for more information and to sign up for meals.
• West River Education District (Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend, and Windham): Meal Kits contain seven days of breakfast and lunch, and are available to anyone under the age of 18, regardless of enrollment.
Pick-up at Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School (2042 VT-30, Townshend) or Jamaica Village School (347 Depot St., Jamaica) every Thursday from noon to 3 p.m., from July 3 through Aug. 14.
A parent/guardian or child must be present.
Email Gallogly at [email protected] with questions or concerns.
This News item by Ellen Pratt was written for The Commons.