(802) 442-2559 | Worship every Sunday @ 10 a.m.
(802) 442-2559 | Worship every Sunday @ 10 a.m.
Here is a comprehensive list, organized by town, of food resources available free of charge to those in need.
Harvest House Soup Kitchen
M-F 8:00 am – 1:00 pm, Saturday Closed, Sunday 8:00 – 10:00 am
101 River St, Bennington, VT 05201
Meals on Wheels
Open for Lunch Monday– Friday 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Take out meals are available
124 Pleasant St, Bennington, VT 05201
Second Congregational Church
Free take-out dinner Sundays 4:30 – 5:30 pm
115 Hillside St, Bennington, VT 05201
Bennington Community Café
Hot beverages, food, and essentials, Pay-What-You-Choose: Sat. 1:30 – 3:00 pm
200 Pleasant St, Bennington, VT 05201
In the lobby of Second Congregational Church, there is a small bookshelf with some non-perishable items free to those who are in need of something to tide them over.
VeggieVanGo is a Vermont Foodbank program that provides free fresh produce to anyone who does not have consistent access to fresh produce. No registration is required and there are no age or income requirements to participate in VeggieVanGo.
This Veggie VanGo is a WALK-UP only! Park and walk. Bring your own bag, box or hand trolley! Please do not arrive before the event starts or line up vehicles on the street as we will be required to turn you away.
VeggieVanGo is held year-round in allweather except during extreme cold or weather advisories. Whenever possible, the Vermont Foodbank will determine emergency cancellations 24 hours in advance. If an event is cancelled, the Vermont Foodbank will do their best to reschedule, but that is not always possible because of warehouse scheduling.
If you are questioning whether or not a VeggieVanGo event will be taking place, please use one of these communication mechanisms:
Social Media: GBCS’ Facebook page is a good resource regarding cancelled or rescheduled events.
Call: 1.800.585.2265, ext. 5019 for a regularly updated recording regarding VeggieVanGo events.
Email: [email protected] to receive an auto-reply which will be updated if an event has been cancelled or rescheduled.
Website: The Vermont Foodbank‘s website will feature a dropdown red banner only if an event has been cancelled. https://www.vtfoodbank.org/
Remember, VeggieVanGo events can be rescheduled for holidays as well as weather events. Always remember to check the VeggieVanGo schedule and use any of the options above to confirm.
WIC is the USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. WIC provides food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, counseling and programs for pregnant Vermonters, parents and caregivers with children under 5.
Vermont Foodbank partners with over 300 food shelves, meal sites, community organizations, schools, and hospitals across the state to bring food to neighbors in local communities.
Below, you’ll find information about programs and resources that can help you access food, including 3Squares Vermont; the BackPack Program, which helps provide kids at participating schools with food for weekends and school breaks; and the Commodity Supplemental Food program, which provides qualified seniors over 60 with food.
GBCS partners with Mighty Food Farm and the Vermont Food Bank to provide a food pantry (the Kitchen Cupboard) for those in need. They also partner with VeggieVanGo, a program through the VT Food Bank that provides fresh produce to those without access.
The Emergency Needs Fund provides assistance to low-income families experiencing a financial crisis. Unfortunately, unexpected events like layoffs and injuries can affect anyone. These incidents make it difficult to make ends meet because they come with unforeseen expenses. Thus the fund helps families pay for shelter, utilities and other basic needs.
To learn more about these programs and to find help go to:
Bennington Rutland Opportunity Council (BROC) provides resources for food and nutrition, housing/fuel/utiility assistance, weatherization, and income tax assistance. Go to their website below to learn more about 3Squares Vermont, Child and Adult Food Care program, Farm to Family, Food Pantries, Housing and Fuel assistance, weatherization and more.
Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless (BCCH) provides safe shelter, food and support services for homeless families and individuals in Bennington County. We provide two year-round shelters for those in our community experiencing homelessness– a family shelter and an adult only shelter. We also provide Outreach Case Management services for those experiencing homelessness not in our shelters. Our shelters provide more than just a bed, offering financial literacy, budgeting, and credit repair programming; housing navigation support and resources; and employment readiness training and resources. At BCCH, we believe it is essential to provide our guests with the tools necessary to obtain and maintain sustainable, permanent housing that will aid in the battle to end homelessness.
966 Main Street Shelter*
Donation: 8am-4pm
Day guest services: Monday – Sunday 8am-4pm
Shelter Operations: 24/7, 365 days
966 Main St., Bennington VT 05201
*No guests under the age of 18 are allowed at this location.
Phone: (802)442-2424
Norton House Shelter*
Hours: Monday – Friday 8am-4pm
300 Pleasant St., Bennington VT 05201
*No drop-in services available at this location.
Phone: (802)681-8062
Community Outreach*
Hours: Monday – Friday 8am-4pm
300 Pleasant St., Bennington VT 05201
*No drop-in services available at this location.
Phone: (802)442-0843
For individuals experiencing homelessness with no other safe housing option, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 200 Pleasant Street will open its doors under conditions of extreme cold weather. The shelter can accommodate up to 35 guests (Including families and unaccompanied homeless youth) and is available on a first- come, first-served basis.
People can come to the Shelter starting at 6:30 p.m. Guests MUST arrive prior to 9:30 pm. Arrivals after 9:30 p.m. are not allowed except when accompanied by emergency personnel, such as police or rescue squad. The shelter closes at 7 a.m. for the day.
Upon entry, a brief intake will be conducted by shelter staff, including check-in and safety procedures. During this time, staff are also able to offer soft referrals to partnering agencies and programs, helping guests connect with available community resources and support services.
The Emergency Cold Weather Shelter provides:
● Safe, staffed overnight accommodations
● Warmth, cots, and access to restroom facilities
● Inclusive access for individuals, families, and unaccompanied youth
● Supportive service referrals through local partners
All unsheltered individuals, families and youth experiencing homelessness in Bennington County are welcome. No referral is required.
No special transportation is scheduled for this shelter activation; guests are advised to take public transportation if needed or to arrange travel with family or friends to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 200 Pleasant Street in Bennington.
For more information on shelter operations or assistance accessing the shelter, community members may reach out to Roxanne Carelli, Executive Director of Operational Development and Shelter Services, at (838) 218-6975 or [email protected]
The Extreme Cold Weather Shelter Program is sponsored by the State of Vermont, and administered by Vermont Interfaith Action, as well as Green Mountain Justice and Bread and Roses [Consulting, LLC].
SASH is a nationally recognized, team-based program of care coordination shown to improve population health, save Medicare dollars and help people stay (or become) healthy so they can remain living at home. Operating from 200 affordable-housing communities throughout Vermont, SASH partners with more than 70 organizations to provide comprehensive support to 5,000 older Vermonters and people with disabilities. Programs and services are provided free of charge where participants live. SASH is part of Vermont’s initiative to reform health care by investing in wellness and attending to the social determinants of health, including housing.
SASH was created in 2009 by the nonprofit housing organization Cathedral Square. The program has been available free statewide since 2011. Since SASH has been in place, we have seen an increase in controlled hypertension, increased advanced directives in place, reduced falls, and reduced emergency room usage, to name a few. SASH provides creative solutions to preventative health in our aging population.
Learn more at https://sashvt.org/
Vermont 211 can provide clients with much more than a phone number or the service hours of an agency. Our Community Resource Specialists follow an information and referral process that includes:
Establishing rapport
Gathering information through active listening
Determining the caller’s previous efforts
Problem solving in partnership with the caller
Matching resources with needs
Identifying potential barriers
Making appropriate referrals to services
Offering follow-up if appropriate
Family Supportive Housing (FSH) reduces the incidence and duration of child and family homelessness in Vermont. We support homeless families with minor children that need to transition to, and sustain, stable housing through targeted case management, service coordination, and coordinated access to affordable housing. FSH provides intensive, customized case management services to families who present a higher degree of complexity and service need.
The Bennington Housing Authority (BHA) was established as a public agency in 1970 by the Board of Aldermen to provide affordable housing opportunities in the Town of Bennington for low income seniors, persons with disabilities and families.
BHA owns and manages 195 apartments in four affordable housing developments with project-based Section 8 vouchers to assure affordability, regardless of income. We also administer 260 tenant-based Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, which enable low income households to afford appropriate housing of their choice.
In collaboration with community partners, BHA supports and promotes the availability of programs and services to enable its residents and Section 8 program participants to maintain successful residency, improve the quality of their lives and pursue self-sufficiency.
Visit the website below for information and help on food, child care financial assistance, child support, crisis fuel assistance, energy, weatherization and other needs.
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