Meals on Wheels: Nutritious Meals, Dedicated Volunteers, Valuable Connections for Seniors

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

In the richest country in the history of the world, every senior should be able to live with dignity and security. No one should have to choose between paying for basic necessities like medicine, food, or housing. And yet, in America today, 23% of our seniors are living in poverty. Twelve million seniors are dealing with food insecurity and are worried about not having enough food to eat.

One way to combat this crisis is by expanding and investing in programs to ensure that older adults have the support they need with high-quality home and community-based services. And that’s what Meals on Wheels does. It is an essential service for seniors living alone that provides a nutritious meal and a visit from a friendly volunteer who can check in on seniors who may otherwise not have visitors that day, or even that week. The program is successful in large part because of the extraordinary volunteers who deliver meals and serve Vermont seniors regardless of their income.

Recently, the Bernie Buzz visited Meals on Wheels in Bennington to learn more about their 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.

Meals on Wheels doesn’t only provide good nutrition. It provides connection. Volunteers are knocking on doors, and checking in with older Vermonters. This social interaction can mean an enormous amount to somebody who is living alone and who doesn’t communicate much with the world.

In addition to Meals on Wheels, there are a number of other food assistance programs available across Vermont. You can get more information on food assistance by calling Vermont 2-1-1 or visiting www.vermont211.org, www.vermontfoodhelp.com, or www.dcf.vermont.gov. There are also a variety of resources below – if you or someone you know may need food assistance or assistance for older Vermonters, please forward this to them.

Let me take this opportunity to thank all those who volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program. You’re doing wonderful and important work.  

Sincerely,

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.

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 https://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.
  
  

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.
  
  

Resources for Vermont Seniors

Vermont Senior Helpline: This is operated and staffed by the Area Agencies on Aging. The Helpline can assist you with finding caregiver support, nursing facilities, legal services, community meal programs, and more. You can reach them by calling 1-800-642-5119.

Area Agencies on Aging: Five Area Agencies on Aging cover the entire state of Vermont and have information on how to connect to Medicare, information and referrals on healthy aging, caregiver support, public benefits programs, nutrition programs, COVID information, and more. Find the Area Agency on Aging that serves your town at https://www.vermont4a.org/.

Vermont 211: Vermont 211 provides free access to essential information on any number of issues as well as referrals. Call 2-1-1 or visit https://vermont211.org to learn more.

Vermont Food Help: Vermont Food Help provides information on food and nutrition resources in Vermont. Visit their website or call to learn about food programs, eligibility, or the application process. For more information, visit https://vermontfoodhelp.com/.