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COVID-19: Community Resources

Information about COVID-19 resources in central Vermont for child care, food, grocery stores, prescriptions, transportation, former foster youth, homeless and dairy farmers.

Information about following resources can be found on this page:

Child Care

Food Services

Support for Specific Populations

Unemployment Resources

Transportation

Coping/Wellness Resources

Food Service Programs

3SquaresVT

You could be eligible to receive a 3SquareVTbenefit or increase the benefit you already receive. To get help applying visit www.vtfoodbank.org/nurture-people/3squaresvt, call 855-855-6181 or text VFBSNAP to 85511. You can also visit https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/3SquaresVT

WIC Info

Any WIC family scheduled for an appointment over the next few weeks will get a phone call from us. If we can get measurements from provider offices, it’s ideal.  If families have a hard time finding formula call WIC/VDH 802-257-2880

https://www.healthvermont.gov/family/wic/wic-phone-appointments

Meal Programs for People 60 and older

You may be able to pick up meals to go or have meals delivered to your home. For more information about meals for older adults, please call the Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119.

Food Shelves

Barre meals and food shelves

Capstone

Capstone is open M,W,F  9-12 and 1-3. People will be directed to the loading docks and can pick up pre bagged food, one per person in the household

Enough Ministries

NOTE: Enough Ministries are moving to their old location on Summer St. Across from Seminary St. They will have meals to go and outdoor eating space. They are also providing food for the Good Sam shelter as the residents there are now allowed to stay for the day. Groups of 8 or more please call ahead.

Current schedule:

  • Breakfast - M, T, W, Th, Sat & 3rd Sunday -  Enough building Garden of FeEDEN, Friday - UU
  • Lunch - M, W, Fr - Salvation Army; Tu, Th, Sunday - Enough building Garden of FeEDEN
  • Dinner - Friday - Enough building Garden of FeEDEN

Woodbury Calais Food Shelf

is well stocked with food for anyone in need. The food shelf is open the 3rd Saturday of every month from 9am - 11am and the following Wednesday from 5 - 6:30 pm. It is located behind the fire station in Woodbury, next to the drive into the Woodbury school. Arrangements can be made to open other times by calling Carol Ray: 472-6292

School Meal Services

Washington Central Unified Union school District: 

Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex and Worcester: https://www.wcsu32.org/Page/1279

Barre Unified Union School District​:

https://www.buusd.org/district/bsu-news/story/~board/district-homepage-news/post/free-meals-for-students

Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools:

https://www.mrpsvt.org/covid19.

Northfield School District

Daily food distributions for all students at designated stops throughout the Northfield community. Here are the bus stops and times, please go to the stop that you live the closest to:

Bus #1

  • Dogwood Glen- 11:15-11:30
  • Falls Trailer Park-11:35- 11:50
  • Falls General Store-11:55-12:10
  • Barrows Road-12:20-12:35
  • Bottom of Mill Hill Road- 12:40-12:50

Bus #2

  • Kenyon’s- 11:15-11:30
  • Winchview Drive- 11:35-11:50
  • Tucker’s Trailer Park-11:55-12:10
  • Bottom of Little Northfield Road- 12:15-12:30

Suburban

  • Intersection of Union Brook and West Hill Road- 11:15-11:30
  • Intersection of Union Brook and Bean Road- 11:35-11:50

We will also hold daily food distribution in the school parking lot Monday - Friday from 11:30 - 12:30.

Orange East Supervisory Union

A key priority for OESU is continuing to feed our students and families. Details on how that is being accomplished are being sent out to families from their schools or the OESU office.  I want to thank our food service staff and our transportation partners for helping make this goal a reality. Please note, that these meals will be free to all children ages 1 to 18 in eligible school communities (Bradford, Newbury, Oxbow, Waits River, and Blue Mountain). Breakfast and lunch will be provided daily in eligible schools.  Thetford will be communicating its food plan to families to meet the needs of all Thetford students. Again, please see local communications for details for your community. If you have questions, please contact assistant superintendent Bruce Williams at the OESU Office at 222-5216 x102 or bruce.williams@oesu.org.

Orange Southwest Supervisory Union

Randolph, Braintree and Brookfield: http://www.ruhs.k12.vt.us/covid-19

Williamstown School District

We will be holding food drop-off points and car side delivery at WMHS for lunch/breakfast daily throughout the Williamstown Community.

Those times/locations are as follows:

  • Pickup at WMHS: 10:30-1:00
  • Railroad Street: 10:45-10:55
  • Moose Club: 11:00-11:15
  • Limehurst Park: 11:20-11:35
  • Robar/Tower Intersection: 11:50-12:10
  • Solar field on top of route 64: 12:30-12:45

Ways to talk to your kids

Two great resources of how to talk to your kids:

Other Resources

Childcare

Essential workers who need help finding childcare should visit: 
https://webportalapp.com/webform/essentialworkers  or call 2-1-1 ext. 6

Working Bridges

Confidential Remote Resource Coordination for:

https://www.gmunitedway.org/blog/working-bridges-employee-contacts-for-remote-resource-coordination/

  • Volunteer Income Tax Prep
  • Income Advance Loans
  • Community Resources

Invest EAP
Website and online guide book: A Resource for Businesses, Employees, and Families: www.investeapcovid19.org

  • Resources and Financial Assistance
  • Stress and Mental Health
  • FAQs for Individuals and Families

Transportation

Effective Immediately, GMT will operate free bus service until April 1, 2020.

There are changes to schedules and routes. Call GMT 223-7287 or check schedules online at https://ridegmt.com

Grocery/Medicine Shopping & Delivery

A group of students at U32 are organizing to help those who cannot leave their house with grocery delivery. If you are looking for assistance while self-isolating please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/1ojyQhYy4mhg3ZWX8 or contact  Mia Smith at msmith20@wcsu32.org.

Many towns are coordinating volunteer efforts to make sure that all community members have what they need to enable them to stay home, whether sick or healthy. This could be grocery shopping, delivery, peer to peer counseling.

** Note: All forms to request assistance from towns can also can be found at: https://vtdigger.org/2020/03/14/guide-how-you-can-help-volunteer-or-donate-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/

SPECIAL SHOPPING HOURS FOR VULNERABLE ADULTS:

Many grocery stores are reserving hours for seniors to shop. Patients should contact their store for specific information.

  • Dollar General is strongly encouraging that the first hour of operations each day be dedicated solely for the shopping needs of senior customers.
  • Hunger Mt Coop in Montpelier will reserve the first hour of business (currently 8-9 am) for high-risk shoppers including seniors and those with underlying health issues.
  • Hannaford Barre (802) 479-3326
  • Price Chopper Barre  (802) 479-9078
  • Shaws Berlin  (802) 223-8599
  • Shaws Waterbury (802) 241-4113
  • Tops Hardwick  (802) 472-6504
  • Tops Northfield  (802) 485-8878

Prescriptions

Call your pharmacy to ask if they will deliver. Or, see above resources for general aid as these likely can connect with a volunteer to assist with picking up and delivering medications.

Unemployment

The Department of Labor website has a great deal of information for employers and employees and is being updated with FAQs as questions are asked and answers are developed. https://labor.vermont.gov/covid19

Unemployment benefits hotline if temporarily unemployed as a result of pandemic 1-877-214-3332 and 3332. ***This is going to require patience as the Labor Dept. builds up capacity.

For the many Vermonters who are self-employed, the Agency of Commerce has some information posted here https://accd.vermont.gov/about-us/disaster-planning/covid-19-guidance-vermont-businesses.

Former Foster Youth

As colleges and universities close their campuses, DCF's Family Services Division and the Youth Development Program (our contracted transition and aftercare program) are working to ensure former foster youth living on campus have access to needed housing, food, health care and emotional support.

If you are a former foster youth in college and living on campus, please reach out to your local Youth Development Program (YDP) Coordinator.

YDP can help you:

  • Access funding to live independently or with an approved, caring adult.
  • Navigate community housing resources and other services.
  • Contact your college to advocate for either staying on campus or identifying other options for housing.

https://vtyouthdevelopmentprogram.org/find-your-local-ydp

Assistance for Dairy Farmers

Dairy Farm Milking Assistance. NOFA Vermont is seeking volunteers who are capable of leading milkings if dairy farmers become sick. Email Bill Cavanaugh, bill@nofavt.org, with your contact information, relevant experience on farms, location and availability. 

Homeless

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Economic Services Division has temporarily implemented a new eligibility category within the motel voucher program called Hyper-Vulnerable. An individual is considered hyper-vulnerable when:

They are over the age of 60 or;

Have an underlying health condition as defined by the CDC, which include:

  • Blood disorders (e.g., sickle cell disease or on blood thinners)
  • Chronic kidney disease as defined by your doctor. Patient has been told to avoid or reduce the dose of medications because kidney disease, or is under treatment for kidney disease, including receiving dialysis
  • Chronic liver disease as defined by your doctor. (e.g., cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis) Patient has been told to avoid or reduce the dose of medications because liver disease or is under treatment for liver disease.
  • Compromised immune system (immunosuppression) (e.g., seeing a doctor for cancer and treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation, received an organ or bone marrow transplant, taking high doses of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressant medications, HIV or AIDS)
  • Current or recent pregnancy in the last two weeks
  • Endocrine disorders (e.g., diabetes mellitus)
  • Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
  • Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
  • Lung disease including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) or other chronic conditions associated with impaired lung function or that require home oxygen
  • Neurological and neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability, moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury].

To assist a client that meets the above criteria, please contact the Benefit Service Center at 1-800-479-6151. They will take your name, number, and information on the client. An eligibility specialist from the client’s district office will return your call and assist with authorizing a motel voucher under the hyper-vulnerable category. Motel vouchers will be provided for as long as deemed necessary under this category.

Ways to talk to your kids

Two great resources of how to talk to your kids:

Other Resources

Self-Care

Social Connection

Your face-to-face interactions may be limited, but psychologists suggest using phone calls, text messages, video chat and social media to access social support networks. If you’re feeling sad or anxious, use these conversations as an opportunity to discuss your experience and associated emotions. Reach out to those you know who are in a similar situation. Facebook groups have already formed to facilitate communication and support among individuals asked to quarantine.

Meditation

Exercise

Sleep

Nutrition