CAPA Joins Vermont Everyone Eats Hunger-Fighting Initiative
Bennington College's Center for the Advancement of Public Action (CAPA) has joined a local collaboration, funded by a $50k Vermont Everyone Eats grant, that will support local restaurants and provide nutritious meals to Vermonters.
Vermont Everyone Eats is an innovative program that provides nutritious meals to Vermonters in need of food assistance as well as a stabilizing source of income for Vermont restaurants, farmers, and food producers. The program was inspired by grassroots initiatives from communities across Vermont that came together to advocate for statewide funding.
In July 2020, Vermont lawmakers allocated $5M of CARES Act funding to support this statewide initiative, which is coordinated by Southeastern Vermont Community Action by a grant with the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
Everyone Eats – The Shires will launch November 1 and run through December 4 and serves Bennington County plus Pawlet. Residents affected by COVID-19 can receive meal vouchers to local restaurants throughout the month of November. Meal vouchers can be picked up during regular distribution times at local social service agencies including GBICS and HIS Pantry in Bennington and Manchester Food Cupboard in Manchester. For residents who do not visit a local social service agency, vouchers can be picked up at GBICS, HIS Pantry and Manchester Food Cupboard during regular distribution hours.
Voucher recipients can bring their voucher to any participating restaurant (days and hours vary) and exchange their voucher for a meal. All meals include local ingredients and are nutritionally balanced. Participating restaurants include Bringing You Vermont, The Dutchman’s Tavern, Marigold Kitchen Pizza, Pawlet Station, Sam’s Woodfired Pizza, The Works Cafe, and JJ Hapgood.
Everyone Eats – The Shires is a collaboration between Bennington College, Merck Forest/Northshire Grows, Hunger Council of Bennington County, Naga Bakehouse, Vermont Food Bank and The Collaborative.
Please check out the Everyone Eats – The Shires Facebook page for locations and days/times of voucher distributions, list of participating restaurants, and updates. Specific questions can be directed to everyoneeatstheshires@gmail.com.