After a pause for the new year, the Everyone Eats program in Rutland County will resume on Monday, January 25th.
A table of distribution sites for immediate publication is below. Everyone Eats aims to coordinate the distribution of 3,600 meals per week moving forward. The Vermont Farmers Food Center seeks the community’s assistance in publicizing these distributions so that meals reach families who need them most. More information can be found by following our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram) and on our website.
| Town | Name | Address | Day(s) | Time(s) | Type: | Distribution Partner | Contact |
| Rutland | Vermont Farmers Food Center | 251 West Street, Rutland | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday | 4 pm – 6 pm | Drive-thru, first-come first-served | Vermont Farmers Food Center | |
| Chittenden | Barstow Memorial School | 223 Chittenden Rd, Chittenden | Wednesday | 4 pm – 5 pm | Drive-thru, first-come first-served | Chittenden Office of Emergency Management | |
| Chittenden | North Chittenden Grange Hall | 3 Lower Middle Rd.Chittenden | Thursday | 4 pm – 5 pm | Drive-thru, first-come first-served | Chittenden Office of Emergency Management | |
| Poultney | St. Raphael’s Catholic Church parking lot | 21 E. Main Street, Poultney | Wednesday | 5 pm – 6 pm | Drive-thru, first-come first-served | Poultney Rotary | |
| Proctor | Proctor Library | 4 Main St, Proctor | Monday | 5:15 PM | Drive-thru, first-come first-served | Contact Brookelyn Kimball: [email protected], 8024592832 | |
| Danby | Smokey House Center | 426 Danby Mountain Rd, Danby | Wednesday | 3:30 pm – 5 pm | Pickup at Center, Coordinate with provider by Friday before. | Smokey House Center | Contact Jamie Lombardo, [email protected], 802-772-5919 by Friday before to reserve meals. |
| Brandon** | Brandon American Legion | Brandon Department of Recreation | |||||
| Fair Haven | Fair Haven Grade School | 115 N Main St, Fair Haven, VT | Wednesday | 3 pm – 5 pm | Drive through pickup behind school. Coordinate by Friday before. | Fair Haven Grade School | Contact Harry DiPrinzio to reserve meals by friday before: [email protected] / 917 770 2277 |
| Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury Community Church | Wednesday | 5 pm – | Coordinate with distribution partners by Friday before. | Shrewsbury Community Church | Call Sue Ransom-Kelly 802- 492-3738 or Roxanne Ramah 802-492-3675 to request meals |
**Deatils still being finalized. Check social media and Vermontfamersfoodcenter.org to confirm.
An initial allocation from the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) will fund three weeks of programming. Partners across the state including the Scott Administration and Legislature are working together to identify additional funding opportunities. Partners agree on the goal of funding the program through the state of emergency.
During the first five months of the program’s operation, from September to December, the program distributed over 53,000 meals in Rutland County, injecting over $530,000 into our local economy. Distribution of these meals was made possible by countless community partners who staffed distribution sites and delivered meals directly to families in need, often on a volunteer basis.
Feedback about the program has been exceptionally positive as families who are struggling say the meals provided are a great benefit to them. Some feedback provided anonymously by meal recipients:
“I don’t have enough food to last all week. The meals are a great help! Thank you!”
“I deliver meals to the elderly who are struggling to make ends meet. Thank you to all who make this program possible.”
“Help. Food. We need the help. Thank you so much for the food, it is a big help for all of us. Thank you. “
“Getting less than 10hrs a week at work. That is why I am here :(“
“Fantastic meals and workers and greeters appreciated. Thank you.”
“Due to pandemic, haven’t had a paycheck since march. Because self-employees, fall into ‘black hole’ for state benefits.”
“Helps with feeding my family and parents”
The program works with over 15 restaurants throughout Rutland county to provide meals. The Vermont Farmers Food Center and Everyone Eats seeks to establish connections between restaurants and local food producers and will be working to do so throughout the next phase of the program.
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Everyone Eats aims to support families in need of food, independent restaurants and caterers and local farmers. Participating meal providers are required to source local ingredients and provide nutritious, balanced meals. The Everyone Eats program is administered at the state level by Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA), which coordinates hubs in each of Vermont’s 14 counties. The Vermont Farmers Food Center coordinates the Everyone Eats program in Rutland County.
For more information about Vermont Everyone Eats at the state level, visit www.vteveryoneeats.org.