No One Should Be Going Hungry

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

With food becoming more expensive, there are just too many Vermonters now struggling to feed their families. In the richest country on Earth, nobody should be going hungry. That is why, in Washington, I am working hard to increase funding for nutritional programs. I also want to take this opportunity to make sure that every Vermonter knows about the food programs that are currently available across our state.

One of these essential programs is Meals on Wheels. Made up in large part by volunteers, Meals on Wheels is a wonderful service that builds community and provides nutritious, home-delivered meals to older Vermonters (regardless of income) who have trouble getting around or preparing their own food. Recently, the Bernie Buzz got to ride along during deliveries and learn more about the operation. I hope you will take a moment to watch the video below. To learn more about Meals on Wheels, or to become a volunteer, call 1-800-642-5119 or visit www.vermont4a.org.

In addition to Meals on Wheels, there are many other food assistance options available across Vermont. Below you will find information on some of these resources. You can get more information on food assistance – including about local food shelves and farmers markets – by calling Vermont 2-1-1 or visiting https://vermont211.org/ , https://vermontfoodhelp.com or https://dcf.vermont.gov.

Let’s work together to make sure that no one in Vermont goes hungry. 

Best,

Meals for Kids

When school lets out for the summer, the Summer Food Service Program makes sure food is available for kids 18 and under. As we get closer to the summer break, call 2-1-1 to find out if there is a summer meal program near you. Click this link here to find the list of open meal sites per county. This list will be updated throughout the summer.

• Child Care Eligibility: If your child is in child care, they may be able to get meals and snacks. Ask your provider if they participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, or if they offer meals and snacks through a different program. Visit here for more information: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp
  
  

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/3SquaresVT)

3SquaresVT is Vermont’s name for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides eligible Vermonters with money every month to buy groceries. Families and individuals receive EBT cards, which are used like debit cards to help purchase food each month at over 600 retailers and more than 40 farmers markets across the state. Over 70,000 people in Vermont are signed up for 3SquaresVT, but many more are eligible and not receiving these important benefits.

To learn more and to apply, visit www.vermontfoodhelp.com. If you need help with your application, call 2-1-1 or text "VFBSNAP" to 855-11. If you are 60 or older, you can call the Helpline at 1-800-642-5119 for personalized assistance. You can also visit the state website at https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits or call 1-800-479-6151.

Who is eligible to receive 3SquaresVT benefits?

• Those with a household income equal to or less than 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL) are eligible to receive 3SquaresVT.
• Households with someone over the age of 60 and/or a person with a disability, but have an income over 185% of FPL, may still qualify.
• Households that have children and receive the Vermont Earned Income Tax Credit are eligible.
• If you are eligible, the monthly benefit you receive will be dependent on your household size, income, and expenses. To learn more, visit https://vermontfoodhelp.com/faqs.

Use 3SquaresVT at your farmers market

• During the summer months, Vermonters can use 3SquaresVT benefits at farmers markets. To help make fresh, local fruits and vegetables more affordable, $10 in 3SquaresVT buys $20 in fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and garden seedlings, and another $20 in any SNAP-eligible food item. $10 in 3SquaresVT = $50 in total purchasing power thanks to “Crop Cash.” To learn more, visit: https://www.nofavt.org/services-resources/consumers/community-food-access/crop-cash.
• To find an up-to-date list of participating farmers markets, visit: https://nofavt.org/cropcash/participatingmarkets.
• Farm to Family coupons: Qualifying households may receive $30 in coupons that can be used to buy locally-grown, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and fresh-cut herbs at participating farmers markets and farm stands. To learn more, visit: https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/f2f.
  
  

Nutrition Options for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

3SquaresVT in a SNAP: There is a 4-page form that eligible older adults and people with disabilities without earned income can complete to receive 3SquaresVT and Fuel Assistance benefits for three years with no additional paperwork. To learn more, call the Helpline at 1-800-642-5119 or visit here: https://vermontfoodhelp.com/3squaresvt-in-a-snap.

Food Shelves: If you or someone you know could use a hand keeping food on the table, you can call 2-1-1 for information about local food shelves in Vermont. To learn more, call the Vermont Foodbank at 1-800-585-2265. For more information on food shelves and other nutrition assistance programs near you, you can also go to: https://www.vtfoodbank.org/coronavirus-services-for-individuals.

Meals on Wheels (Home Delivered Meals): The Meals on Wheels program is a critically important meal delivery program that helps thousands of older Vermonters and younger people with disabilities stay healthy and in their homes. To find information about meal delivery programs for older Vermonters or younger people with disabilities like Meals on Wheels, contact the Helpline at 1-800-642-5119, or visit: https://www.vermont4a.org/meals-nutrition.

Community Meals: Communal meals are served throughout the week at many senior centers and meal sites. Not only do these sites provide nutrition, they provide important opportunities to socialize, take classes, and engage in exercise programs. To find information about senior community meals, contact the Helpline at 1-800-642-5119, or visit: https://www.vermont4a.org/meals-nutrition.

Commodities Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is a federal nutrition program that offers free monthly boxes of food filled with canned fruits and vegetables, juice, cereal, pasta, cheese, shelf-stable milk, and canned meats to older Vermonters who are eligible. To find out more, call 1-800-214-4648.

Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)

The WIC program provides healthy food, nutrition education, and health services to over seven million women, infants, and children every year, including 12,000 Vermonters. If you are a parent or guardian of a child under five, or if you are pregnant, WIC may be able to help you put food on the table.

To apply, go to https://www.healthvermont.gov/children-youth-families/wic/apply or text “VTWIC” to 855-11. Completing the application is the first step to enroll in WIC. Your eligibility is determined during an appointment with WIC nutrition staff. For more information, call 1-800-464-4343.

Who is eligible for WIC benefits?

• Pregnant people, new parents, infants, and children up to age five with a household income that meets the guidelines can enroll in WIC. To read the guidelines, visit: https://www.healthvermont.gov/family/wic/wic-eligibility
• Vermonters who receive Medicaid, Dr. Dynasaur, 3SquaresVT/SNAP, or Reach-Up are automatically income-eligible and can apply.
• Foster parents and grandparents can apply for children in their care.
  
  

Summer Meals Program

Many children rely on the free, nutritious meals provided through their schools during the academic year. When students no longer have access to school meals, hunger can skyrocket, affecting tens of thousands of Vermont children. Thanks to the Summer Meals Program, free meals are still provided during the summer months to children 18 and under at locations throughout Vermont. To find locations of meal program sites near you, text "FOOD" to 304-304 or call 2-1-1. You can also find meal locations using the Hunger Free Vermont site finder here, a list which will be updated throughout the summer: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f4ARoKX2P8UozUtwZt3DpBWNONAbYStXC-ojp34_zN8/edit#gid=1679050088

The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program is a supplemental food purchasing program to help families with school aged children. P-EBT was created through COVID-19 relief legislation in the spring of 2020 and has been extended through the 2023 summer. Families with school-age children will get P-EBT benefits in August.

The program provides households with an EBT card with money equal to the free school breakfast and lunch reimbursement rates. The benefit can be used to buy eligible foods anywhere 3SquaresVT (or EBT) is accepted.

For more information about the P-EBT program call 1-800-479-6151, option 7.