Do You and Your Family Need Food Assistance?

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

In the richest country in the history of the world, nobody should be going hungry — ever. And yet, with food becoming more expensive, there are just too many Vermonters now struggling to feed their families. The fact is, far too many people in Vermont are currently experiencing hunger or food insecurity. That is why I want to share some helpful information about food and nutrition resources. 

We are thankful to have over 200 food shelves, meal sites and organizations providing food assistance throughout Vermont. It has been reported that community food shelves serve as many as 86,000 Vermonters each year, with food coming from both local and national resources, including local Vermont farms and grocery stores. Read on below for information on how to find a food shelf or meal site near you. 

Some organizations even deliver the food directly to eligible Vermonters through Meals on Wheels. Each year throughout March and April, Meals on Wheels programs and communities across the country come together to support seniors through the annual March for Meals. In Vermont, our area agencies on aging have put on their own events and initiatives to involve and uplift our communities, and to connect seniors and people with disabilities to these critical services. 

Last year, 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. 

You can get more information about food assistance by calling Vermont 2-1-1 or visiting www.vermont211.org, www.vermontfoodhelp.com or www.dcf.vermont.gov. Vermont 211 can also provide you with information to help you access food for your children during the summer through Vermont’s Summer Food Service. There are also a variety of resources below — if you or someone you know could use a hand keeping food on the table, please forward this to them.  

Let me take this opportunity to thank all those who volunteer for our local food shelves and the Meals on Wheels program. You are doing wonderful and important work.


Sincerely,

Vermont Foodbank and Food Shelves in Vermont

With rising food costs, budgets are stretched thin. Vermont Foodbank can help to find a food shelf near you, connect with food assistance services and find community resources at over 200 locations throughout the state. To learn more, call the Vermont Foodbank at 1-800-585-2265 or visit their website at https://www.vtfoodbank.org/. You can call 2-1-1 for information about local food shelves in Vermont.

Meal Delivery and Community Meals for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels 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. 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 the Meals on Wheels program locator to find the closest meals on wheels program to you at https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/find-meals.

Community Meals: Communal meals are served throughout the week at many senior centers and meal sites. Not only do these sites provide nutrition, they also 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 your local Area Agency on Aging. 

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. It is one of the most important and effective federal nutrition programs combating hunger. Families and individuals receive EBT cards, which look and are used like a debit card, to help purchase food each month at over 600 retailers and more than 40 farmers markets across the state. Nearly 70,000 people in Vermont are signed up for 3SquaresVT, but many more may be eligible and not receiving these important benefits.

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