80-Year-Old Retiree Fights Child Hunger in Affluent Vermont

A retired principal saw children going hungry—and refused to look away. Now, her grassroots mission feeds thousands, one weekend meal at a time. Volunteers dig into their own wallets as food prices soar, but the need only grows.

, and Administrator

2026 April 8 . 11:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a poster with a map of the United States, highlighting the percentage of farmers'... — The image shows a poster with a map of the United States, highlighting the percentage of farmers' markets that report accepting SNAP benefits by county in 2013.

80-Year-Old Retiree Fights Child Hunger in Affluent Vermont

In southern Vermont, hunger affects many children despite the area's affluence. Retired principal Barb Hyde, now in her 80s, set up a local branch of Food4Kids to tackle the issue. The programme provides weekend meals for students who might otherwise go without. Hyde launched the initiative in 2017 after noticing children struggling with food insecurity. Volunteers now pack bags of food at Dover School for pupils in Dover, Wardsboro and Wilmington. Each bag costs over £5 to fill—up from £3 when the programme began.

Seasonal workers in the region often face financial instability, leaving families short of food. To keep the programme running, volunteers sometimes dip into their own pockets. Rising food prices and limited funds have stretched resources thin.

Years ago, Hyde persuaded Mount Snow ski resort to donate £12,000 to support the cause. The group now distributes thousands of free meals annually. Hyde remains hopeful that the effort will improve the lives of hungry children in the community. Food4Kids continues to rely on local donations and volunteer efforts to feed children in need. The rising cost of food has made each meal more expensive, but the programme persists. Schools in three towns still receive weekend food bags thanks to the group's work.