Covid 19 local resource guide, Covid-19 updates

Stepping up to feed Rutland County

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many services, qualification parameters and protocols for accessing services provided — including food services. Here is a list of resources for those needing assistance, or not —grocery store hours have also changed to allow for sanitation and restocking as well as senior hours and/or density limitations.

Grocery stores update hours, offerings

Price Chopper in Rutland and West Rutland is open for one hour in the morning from 6 a.m.-7 a.m. specifically for customers 60+ or other vulnerable shoppers. They are open to the general public from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Hannaford in Rutland is open for one hour in the morning from 6 a.m.-7 a.m. specifically for customers 60+ or other vulnerable shoppers. They are open to the general public from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tops Market in Rutland is open for two hours in the morning from 6-8 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday specifically for customers 60+ or other vulnerable shoppers. They are open to the general public daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Aldi’s in Rutland is open for one hour in the morning from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday specifically for cusomters 60+ or other vulnerable shoppers. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also, Aldi will limit the number of people inside its stores to approximately five customers per 1,000 square feet.

Rutland Co-Op is offering curbside pick up when you email your order first.

Vermont Farmers Food Center in Rutland offers online local food market  with curbside pickup from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. It will open May 1.

Walmart is open 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. On Tuesdays they will be allowing anyone 60+ access to the store an hour before opening from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Junction Store and Deli in Brandon is offering curbside pick up and takeout, call ahead.

Hannaford in Brandon is open for one hour in the morning from 7 a.m.-8 a.m. specifically for customers 60+ or or other vulnerable shoppers. They are open to the general public from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Union Street Grocery in Brandon is open from 8 a.m- 7 p.m. and offers curbside pick up if you call first.

Kamuda’s County Market in Pittsford is open for shopping 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. M-F, closing earlier Saturday and Sunday. They also offer curbside pick up and delivery.

Keith’s Country Store in Pittsford is offering curbside pickup.

Pierce’s store in Shrewsbury allows you to order in advance and pick up curbside, and recommends checking Facebook.

Wallingford Locker allows you to call first for curbside pickup.

Forest Dale Grocery and deli is open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon-Sat and 8-7 Sunday. Call and pay over the phone for curbside pickup.

Hubbard’s Country Store in Hancock is open Sun.- Thurs. 10 a.m. -6 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. They encourage customers to call ahead so items are ready for pick up when they arrive.

Woodstock Farmer’s Market is open for curbside pick up only. Pickups may be schedule or Tues.-Sat. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. online.

Shaw’s in Poultney has senior shopping hours on Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 a.m.

East Poultney General Store is opening as normal, from 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. and offers delivery within a reasonable distance.

Killington Market is open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.

(Call or check online for store specific updates.)

Food services for seniors, kids, or those cash-strapped or home-bound

Restaurant takeout

Many restaurants in Rutland County are offering delivery services and/or takeout by curbside pickup. Please call restaurants independently to find out their capabilities. Check out the Downtown Rutland Vermont website for restaurant specific information at downtownrutland.com/news/Covid-19.

3SquaresVT

Has your household lost pay? Have your childcare expenses increased? 3SquaresVT is here for you and your family to help put food on the table! You may be eligible to receive a 3SquaresVT benefit or increase the benefit you already receive. At the current time, individuals who are unemployed, or experienced a partial or total decrease in hourly work do not need to meet a work requirement. To find out more and get help applying dial 2-1-1 or 1-855-855-6181, text VFBSNAP to 855-11 or visit dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/3SquaresVT.

Southwest Council on Aging, Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is providing drive-up pickup meals on Mondays and Thursdays at noon at the Godnick Center, 1 Deer St. in Rutland. Meals on Wheels eligibility has shifted so that anyone 60+, not just homebound seniors, can receive food. The Southwest Council on Aging started a grocery delivery service in Rutland and Bennington County, which relies on volunteers aged 18 and over. Reservation for pick-up must be made by Thursday for Monday pick-up and Monday for a Thursday pick-up. These meals are funded through the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging. Suggested donation of $3.50/meal for 60+ and $6/meal for those 59 or under. Please call 773-1853 and leave a message with your name and phone number to reserve a meal. For more info visit svcoa.org.

Vermont Food Bank, VeggieVanGo

Vermont Food Bank is also offering a meal programs and aid including for Vermonters age 60 and older. Meals can be picked up or delivered. For more information, please call the Helpline at 1-800-642-5119 or visit vtfoodbank.org.

VeggieVanGo provides fresh and healthy foods at schools and hospitals around Vermont. The Vermont Foodbank’s VeggieVanGo offers fresh produce as well as education and outreach to improve food security. SNAP outreach team is also at the ready to assist participants with information about 3SquaresVT. It serves hundreds of families every month.

The VeggieVanGo will be at 92 Park Street (not Northwest Elementary) in Rutland, on the first and third Fridays from 10-11 a.m. (April 17 and 24, but the May 1 distribution has been rescheduled to Tuesday, May 5 from 10-11 a.m.)

It will be at Rutland High School from 9-10 a.m. fourth Thursday of the month (April 23, 30, May 7, 14, etc.)

Visit vtfoodbank.org/share-food/veggievango.

School meals

All school districts in Vermont are making meals available during the current closure. These meals are free for all children 18 and under. While no paperwork is needed to access these meals, however, submitting a meal application can help your school continue to offer nutritious meals in uncertain times. If your household finances have changed, consider filling out a meal application. School districts provide meals to students either by central pick up sites or delivery with school buses. For more information about meals for kids under 18 contact the school district your town is in:

Rutland Town, Poultney, Proctor, Middletown Springs, Wells, West Rutland visit: wp.grcsu.org

Clarendon, Shrewsbury, Tinmouth, Wallingford visit: millriverschools.org/schools

Benson, Castleton, Fair Haven, Orwell visit: slatevalleyunified.org

Rutland City Public Schools visit: rutlandcitypublicschools.org

Barstow, Lothrop, Neshobe, Leicester, Sudbury, Whiting visit: rnesu.org

Killington, Pittsfield visit: wcsu.net

WIC

WIC (a USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for women, infants children) provides healthy foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, and community referrals to eligible Vermonters who are pregnant, caregivers, or a parent with a child under 5. Vermont WIC is open and most services are being done by phone appointment to align with social distancing efforts. WIC has also temporarily expanded their food list to add options for some hard to find items. For more info call 1-800-649-4357  visit healthvermont.gov/family/wic or text VTWIC to 855-11.

Hunger Free Vermont

Hunger Free Vermont is working diligently to ensure all Vermonters have access to the resources they need to stay healthy and nourished during this challenging time. It prepares informational materials, collaborates with state agencies and Vermont’s congressional delegation, and connects with communities across Vermont to mitigate the impacts of coronavirus on the food security of Vermonters, particularly older adults, working Vermonters who may lose hours and paychecks, those without access to paid leave, and families and students who will be disproportionately impacted by school closings.

Hunger Free Vermont publishes important changes to school meal programs, 3SquaresVT, and other nutrition programs at hungerfreevt.org/coronavirus.

Prepackaged groceries in Killington

Killington Resort, the town of Killington and Castleton Lodge at Killington have organized three prepackaged grocery giveways, with possibly more to come. In mid-March Killington Resort hosted their first food giveway, then held another April 21. On April 23, Castleton Lodge at Killington hosted a give-away and the town is planning one on May 5.

Vermont Foodbank and Vermont National Guard to provide meals

The Vermont Foodbank and Vermont National Guard will distribute food to those in need at five different areas of Vermont beginning on Wednesday, April 22. These points of distribution will help ease demand on food shelves around that state that have seen a surge in demand. The National Guard will set up and operate Points of Distribution (PODs) at state airports. Those in need of food can go to these locations on the appointed days and receive a seven-day supply of Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE) for each member of their household.

“The Vermont Foodbank has seen a 30 to 100% increase in the number of people in need of food assistance due to Covid-19. This is straining the capacity of the charitable food system and these points of distribution will help get additional meals to people while taking some pressure off our network of food shelves and meal sites,” Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles said.

Locally the National Guard was at Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport, in, North Clarendon on  April 24.

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