Free Summer Meal Kit Information

July 11, 2024 Food Connects

Students across our region can access free meal kits throughout the summer. WNESU School Nutrition Manager Harley Sterling and WRED Food Service Manager Jake Gallogly have been hard at work putting together healthy, fresh meals for kids in Windham county and as far east as Keene Middle School, NH.

Find a pick-up location near you below:

Windham Southeast Supervisory Union (WSESU) meal kits feature 5 frozen and heat lunches and shelf stable breakfasts and are available to any household with children under 18 who live in the district. Find WSESU meal kits every Wednesday at the following locations:

Brattleboro Area Middle School, 10:30-11:30 am.
Brooks Public Library 12:00-1:00 pm.
Putney Pool 12:00-1:00 pm.
For more info, email summermeals@wsesdvt.org
Use this form to find more information and to sign up for meals.

Keene Middle School meal kits include 7 days’ worth of breakfast and lunch items, available to children 18 and younger from any town.

Pick-up location: Keene Middle School
Every Friday from 1:00 - 3:00 pm until August 23rd.
Supported by Keene Middle School, Windham Northeast Supervisory Union's Farm to School Cafe & New Hampshire Food Bank.
Sign up online with this google form.

Windham Northeast Supervisory Union Meal kits include bulk and ready-to-eat items equal to 7 days of breakfast and lunch for one child. These meals are available to any household with children under 18 who live within the boundaries of WNESU.

Pick-up location: Bellows Falls Union High School every Wednesday from 1:00 - 3:30 pm.
Supported by Windham Northeast Supervisory Union's Farm to School Cafe
Visit the Farm to School Cafe website for more information and to sign up for meals.

West River School District Meal Kits contain 7 days' worth of breakfast & lunch, and are available to anyone under the age of 18 regardless of enrollment.

Pick-up Locations: Leland & Gray or Jamaica Elementary School : every Thursday from 3:00 - 6:00 pm, starting July 11th through August 15th. Supported by West River Education District.
Parent/Guardian or child must be present.
Questions or concerns email Jake at jgallogly@windhamcentral.org

Summer EBT, Summer Meals, and new Outreach Materials from Hunger Free Vermont

Summer EBT:

This summer, Vermont announced a new program called Summer EBT. Summer EBT helps families get groceries during the summer break when school meals aren't available. For families who qualify, they will get $120 per eligible child as a one-time benefit to use at 600+ grocery stores and 30+ farmers markets.

Check out the state's Summer EBT website and view a recording of a brief, informal Summer EBT info session with the state here.

Questions? Email Tim Morgan (tmorgan@hungerfreevt.org) and Ivy Enoch (ienoch@hungerfreevt.org).

Summer Meals for All (ages 0-18):

Thanks to Universal School Meals and other program changes, there are many new sites all over Vermont giving out meals this year! Sites operate differently depending on their area: some sites serve breakfast and lunch, others may give away several days worth of meals at once, and some might even deliver meals.

Here is a hyperlink to the *2024* Summer Meal Site spreadsheet (which is currently accessible on Hunger Free VT's homepage), this is a cumulative list of all the Summer Meal Sites in the state with their operating days/times. It is updated as sites open/close and includes the site(s) location/days/hours of operation, and important site notes & details. Some sites have a parent pick-up option so please check site(s) details to find out if this is an option for you in your area

For future reference, you can find this site list each summer on Hunger Free VT's website under the tab Resources> Child Nutrition Hub > Summer Meals. If you're new to the program, here is a presentation that tells you all about Summer Meals.

A *new* project we've been working on alongside the Vermont Language Justice Project are translated videos with information about Summer Meals across the state. You can find these videos in the link(s) provided below or on the Vermont Language Justice Project's YoutTube page *Digital* Translated Summer Meals Outreach Videos on YouTube

· Languages provided:

Food Resources for All *Summer 2024 edition*

Lastly, if you’d like to share, use this Food Resources for All '24 Summer Edition, flyer which contains up to date info on current food programs and community food resources for all and any who need them across the state, because no one should have to worry about having enough food.