Vermont Center for Independent Living

11/19/2025

Stop 3SquaresVT/SNAP Scammers! There are scammers calling and messaging some people, telling them that their EBT Cards are "locked" and asking them to call a number to verify eligibility. THIS IS A SCAM.

Please be aware that scammers are calling people and obtaining private information.
The state's 3SquaresVT/SNAP agency (ESD, or Economic Services) will never text or call people with this message. The contact number for ESD is 1-800-479-6151.

If someone has been a victim of this scam, please have them call ESD:
General line: 1-800-479-6151
Relay calls: 7-1-1
Interpretation line: 1-855-247-3092
If folks want to talk to a service provider, they can call 2-1-1 and ask for their local Community Action Agency. Older adults can call The Helpline: 1-800-642-5119.

Thanks for helping us share this important message,
Ivy & the HFVT Team

Ivy Enoch (she/her) | Director of Policy & Advocacy
Hunger Free Vermont | 38 Eastwood Drive | Suite # 100 | South Burlington, VT | 05403
802.441.5411 | DIRECT PHONE/TEXT LINE
802.865.0255 | HFVT MAIN LINE
Learn about 3SquaresVT:

3SquaresVT is a program that helps you buy food.

11/13/2025

The National Life and FEAST Thanksgiving Dinner will be offered once again this year. The dinner can be picked up curbside at MSAC on Wednesday, November 26 from 12:30 - 1:30 pm.

You must pre-register for the meal by Friday, November 15th by emailing Kim Myers at kimyers@montpelier-vt.org or calling 802-262-6288.

11/13/2025

Over the last few weeks, Hunger Free Vermont has been working hard to make sure state leaders are doing everything they can to meet people's basic needs and provide 3SquaresVT benefits, regardless of the uncertainty and chaos at the federal level.

State leaders are set to meet again on November 13th, to discuss whether to issue 3SquaresVT benefits for the second half of November. In the lead-up to that meeting, we’re gathering stories from people affected by the delay in SNAP benefits to help put real faces and experiences behind the decisions our leaders are making.

You are a powerful advocate in helping decision makers understand the very real difference 3SquaresVT makes in our lives, and the harm we face without it.

You can share your story by visiting our Hunger Action Center. (https://www.hungerfreevt.org/action-center?emci=ec1955f2-71be-f011-8194-00224823ff9b&emdi=3ae2b58b-45bf-f011-8194-00224823ff9b&ceid=13218798)

Thank you for your support, and for speaking out. It makes a difference.

Hunger Action Center We all play a role in ending hunger. Hunger Free Vermont advocates for policies at the local, state, and federal level that ensure everyone living in Vermont can meet their needs and has access to enough food and the right foods for them and their families. Ending hunger require...

11/07/2025

Throughout Vermont, 68% of towns use one or more floor votes for local elections on Town Meeting Day.

This means that unless you are able to attend in person for hours at a time, that you will be denied your right to vote for your town officials, budgets, and other items.

Absentee ballots, curbside voting, and remote voting are not allowed in these towns (even though you might receive a ballot in the mail that lets you vote on some items).

Voting is both a civil right and a state constitutional right.

Have you been denied your right to vote?

VCIL wants to connect with you! Please send us a message here, or email kate@vcil.org.

11/05/2025

A federal judge has spurned President Donald Trump’s move to get rid of American Sign Language interpreters for certain White House briefings.

11/03/2025

VERMONT FOOD SHELVES - https://www.vtfoodbank.org/access-food/find-a-food-shelf/

MORE WAYS TO ACCESS FOOD INCLUDING VERMONT COMMUNITY MEALS – (THIS DOC IS IN THE MOW SHARE DRIVE UNDER CHEAT SHEETS)

MORE WAYS TO ACCESS FOOD:

3SquaresVT – Boost your grocery budget to shop at your local grocery store, convenience store, farmers market, or online. For application assistance call 1-855-855-6181, or text VFBSNAP to 855-11.

WIC - Healthy food and support for you if you are pregnant or a parent or caregiver for a child under the age of 5. Call 2-1-1 or text VTWIC to 855-11.

CSFP – The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is a federal nutrition program which offers free monthly boxes of staple foods to income-eligible adults over the age of 60.

Find a food shelf – The Vermont Foodbank partners with 215 food shelves, meal sites, senior centers, homeless shelters and out of school programs across the state. Call 211 to find a site near you.

If you are age 60 or older, call the helpline 1-802-477-1364 to reach your local Area Agency on Aging for personal assistance with 3SquaresVT, getting meals delivered to you at home, and more.

Call 2-1-1 or visit the USDA Meal Finder to find their nearest location for meals for children 18 and under.

NOFA-VT's Community Food Access page offers multiple ways Vermonters can access local food on a budget.

Veggie Van Go – The Vermont Foodbank’s VeggieVanGo events promote health for Vermonters. VeggieVanGo events not only provide an opportunity for participants to bring home fresh produce, they also create a gathering place that offers support and conversations about healthy food. Our truck arrives with large bins of thousands of pounds of fresh food and, with the help of our amazing volunteers we provide produce to hundreds of families and individuals in need each month. Through this program we expect to distribute 2 million pounds of fresh food to our neighbors facing hunger this year. Along with healthy, fresh food, VeggieVanGo provides education and outreach to improve food security. In partnership with our VT Fresh program we offer cooking demos, and taste tests of the vegetables available, paired with recipes and cooking tips. Our SNAP outreach team is also at the ready to assist participants with information about 3SquaresVT and provide application assistance.

Veggie Van Go is available through:


Battenkill Valley Ctr.
Central Vermont Medical Ctr.
Gifford Medical Center
Grace Cottage Hospital
Mount Ascutney Hospital
North Country Hospital
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital
Northstar Health
Rutland Regional Med Center
Rutland Northwest Elementary
Rutland Northeast School District
Spaulding High School
Springfield Hospital
Twin Valley High School
Washington Village School
Windham SE Supervisory Union
Winooski School
Woodstock High School



Ø Community suppers (meals) –


FIRST CHURCH IN BARRE, UNIVERSALIST
COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
19 Church Street Barre, VT 05641
Washington County
802-479-0114

OUR PLACE DROP-IN CENTER
COMMUNITY MEALS
4 Island Street Bellows Falls, VT 05101
Windham County
802-463-2217

CENTRE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
193 Main Street Brattleboro, VT 05301
Windham County
802-254-4730 Church Office

ST. BRIGID'S KITCHEN
COMMUNITY MEALS
802-558-6072 Information & Services Carolyn Sullivan Pieciak, Saint Brigid's Kitchen

COTS
COTS DAYSTATION
95 North Avenue Burlington, VT 05401
Chittenden County
802-862-5418

CVOEO
HOT MEAL PROGRAM
228 North Winooski Avenue Burlington, VT 05401
Chittenden County
802-658-7939 Food Pantry

OLD NORTH END COMMUNITY DINNER
COMMUNITY DINNER
20 Allen Street Old North End Community Center, Burlington, VT 05401
Chittenden County
802-863-3860

PATHWAYS VERMONT
279 North Winooski Avenue Burlington, VT 05401
Chittenden County
888-492-8218 ext. 312 Information & Services Team Lead
833-888-2557 Pathways Vermont Support Line
833-VT-TALKS (Voice and Text)

SALVATION ARMY, THE – BURLINGTON
FRIENDLY KITCHEN
64 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401
Chittenden County
802-864-6991

NEIGHBORS IN ACTION
COMMUNITY SUPPERS
3339 Main Street Cabot, VT 05647
Washington County
802-563-3322

FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER
COMMUNITY MEALS AND MEALS-TO-GO
124 School Street East Fairfield, VT 05448
Franklin County
802-827-3130 Reservations
802-527-2181 Amy for Transportation

GRAFTON CARES
WEDNESDAY LUNCHES
GRAFTON CHURCH CHAPEL
4 Main Street Grafton, VT 05146
Windham County

HARDWICK COMMUNITY DINNER
HARDWICK COMMUNITY DINNER
216 South Main Street United Church of Hardwick, Hardwick, VT 05843
Caledonia County
802-472-6800

MARLBORO CARES
SENIOR MEAL
Marlboro, VT 05344
Windham County
802-258-3030 Message/Answering Service

CHARTER HOUSE COALITION
COMMUNITY LUNCH
SUNDAY LUNCH
SATURDAY BRUNCH
27 North Pleasant Street Charter House Middlebury, VT 05753
Addison County
802-989-8621

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF MIDDLEBURY
COMMUNITY SUPPERS
2 Main Street Middlebury, VT 05753
Addison County
802-388-7613 Dottie Neuberger

BETHANY CHURCH, UCC
115 Main Street Montpelier, VT 05601
Washington County
802-223-2424

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
64 State Street Montpelier, VT 05602
Washington County
802-223-3631 Church Office

THE FULL LADLE KITCHEN
TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
137 Main Street Montpelier, VT 05601
Washington County
802-229-9158 Church Office

UNITARIAN CHURCH OF MONTPELIER
130 Main Street Montpelier, VT 05602
Washington County
802-223-7861

STONE SOUP KITCHEN
UNITED COMMUNITY CHURCH
85 Upper Main Street Morrisville, VT 05661
Lamoille County
802-888-2225 Church Office

UNITED CHURCH OF NEWPORT
63 Third Street Newport, VT 05855
Orleans County
207-837-2053 COVID Response Lunches
802-334-6033 Church Office

JOURNEY FELLOWSHIP
7868 US Route 2 Plainfield, VT 05667
Washington County
802-371-9996 Information & Services
802-426-2052 Information & Services

POULTNEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
108 Main Street Poultney, VT 05764
Rutland County
802-287-5710 Message/Answering Service
518-642-2120 Bruce Parker, Volunteer

PUTNEY COMMUNITY CARES
54 Kimball Hill Putney, VT 05346
Windham County
802-387-5593

RUTLAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
60 Strongs Avenue Rutland, VT 05701
Rutland County
802-773-2460

MARTHA'S KITCHEN
139 Lake Street Saint Albans, VT 05478
Franklin County
802-524-9749 Kitchen

UNITED COMMUNITY CHURCH, UCC
1325 Main Street Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819
Caledonia County
802-748-2603

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SOUTH HERO
24 South Street South Hero, VT 05486
Grand Isle County
802-372-4962

SPRINGFIELD FAMILY CENTER, THE
COMMUNITY LUNCHES
365 Summer Street Springfield, VT 05156
Windsor County
802-885-3646

WAITSFIELD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
WAITSFIELD COMMUNITY SUPPER
4355 Main Street Waitsfield, VT 05673
Washington County
802-496-3065 Waitsfield UCC

LISTEN COMMUNITY SERVICES
LISTEN CLOTHING THRIFT STORE - WHITE RIVER JUNCTION
42 Maple Street Bourne Center White River Junction, VT 05001
Windsor County
802-698-8764 Between 3:00pm and 6:00pm
603-448-4553 To Volunteer

UPPER VALLEY HAVEN
713 Hartford Avenue White River Junction, VT 05001
Windsor County
802-295-6500

RACHEL'S KITCHEN
165 Main Street Rachel S Harlow United Methodist Church Windsor, VT 05089
Windsor County
802-591-7010 Call or text Pastor Dionne

Vermont Foodbank partners with over 200 food shelves, meal sites, and organizations providing food assistance throughout the state. These organizations work closely with us to provide food to nourishing neighbors facing hunger. Please use our Find a Food Shelf tool below to find local listings and l...

11/03/2025

So much of disability pride is unlearning what non-disabled society has put on us.

This week the student interns in our Civil Writes program picked a story and considered how characters experienced disability as part of their identity.

Flora selected the movie Wonder, and wrote this about Auggie:

“He struggles with self-acceptance and the desire to fit in. A large aspect of his experience of disability is what others project onto him. His peers and even adults in his life underestimate him and assume his limitations due to their own bias.”

Wise words!

Thank you to Vermont Pathways to Partnerships for making this program possible.

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from VCIL! 🎃

Left photo: Linda Schwaner, Anna Tosi, and Ian MacLeod, dressed up in costumes at our Montpelier office.

Right photo: Sarah Launderville, Linda Schwaner, and Joyce Werntgen (former HAP Coordinator and Executive Assistant) having lunch together in our conference room and catching up.

10/30/2025

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lg2ogKYxVq4

With the federal government shutdown dragging on, Gov. Phil Scott and legislative leaders on Wednesday approved a $6.3 million plan to backfill food benefits for 15 days if federal funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program run dry on Nov. 1. Vermont is one of the few states opting to cover the cost of SNAP benefits — at least temporarily — if America’s largest anti-hunger program halts benefits next month. Most are instead directing extra money to food shelves. Roughly one in 10 Vermonters rely on the federal food assistance program, known in the state as 3SquaresVT.
Officials anticipate that SNAP recipients could have trouble accessing the state-funded benefits for up to a week as officials work out technological kinks with electronic benefits transfer, or EBT, cards. But a full two-week benefit will ultimately be made available. On average, for a single person, that will add up to about $118.
The Vermont Emergency Board, a five-member panel made of Scott and four legislative leaders, on Wednesday also greenlit $250,000 for the Vermont Foodbank to help meet increased demand. The Emergency Board can approve spending packages when the full Legislature is not in session
The Emergency Board plans to meet again on Nov. 13 to decide what to do about the food benefits program if the shutdown still hasn’t ended. The state does have somewhat substantial reserves from which to draw from: Lawmakers previously set aside more than $100 million to help the state weather federal shortfalls, and about $50 million of that is available to the Emergency Board.
It’s unclear whether Vermont will ever be reimbursed for the money it is doling out to keep food assistance flowing. Both Scott and lawmakers said Wednesday they were operating under the assumption that it wouldn’t.
The state joined a multi-state lawsuit on Tuesday accusing the Trump administration of illegally suspending SNAP benefits. The suit says Congress set aside contingency funds for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to keep the program afloat in precisely these sorts of circumstances.
Vermont also plans to release money to pay for fuel assistance as it awaits federal funds from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program — although that money is also in limbo due to the shutdown. Scott and lawmakers both say they’re much more confident they’ll be refunded for that money once Congress passes an appropriations bill.

VCIL will update our website with the programs on where you can find resources and food. We will continue to advocate for your needs and make sure we find resources for you. We care !

With the federal government shutdown dragging on, Gov. Phil Scott and legislative leaders on Wednesday approved a $6.3 million plan to backfill food benefits...