At the beginning of the pandemic, local leaders in Springfield and Chester stepped up to organize new and familiar resources to feed their communities.
Trish Paradis, executive director of The Springfield Family Center (SCF), an institution that has been serving the community for almost 50 years, adapted services to support the increased nutrition need due to COVID-19. At the same time, Christopher Meyer, a Chester native, and Jason Tostrup, owner of The Free Range, began serving restaurant meals and meal kits for community members through their new non-profit, Chester Helping Hands (CHH).
“We were collaborating, sharing resources and supporting each other,” said Paradis. “When we heard about the potential for Everyone Eats! funding, we decided we could partner as a hub and better serve our region.”
SFC and CHH were awarded CARES Act funding to serve as the regional hub for Everyone Eats! (EE!), a restaurant stimulus and community food program, which has distributed over 17,000 meals since the summer.
EE! is not only feeding the community, it is also benefiting local restaurants. As the regional hub, The Springfield Family Center and Chester Helping Hands collaborate with 11 restaurants to distribute food at 10 different distribution sites in Springfield, Chester, Ludlow, Rockingham, Bellows Falls, Cavendish, and Londonderry.
This unique community food program creates opportunities for hard-working organizations, chefs, and individuals to do meaningful work in their own communities.
“We are really grateful to be a part of this program,” shared Nick Matush, head chef and co-owner of The Copper Fox in Springfield. “In these next few weeks, with tourism especially low, Everyone Eats! will really help keep us afloat. It puts money in our pockets when we’re typically closed and that has been a big help for us.”
What’s On the Menu?
Everyone Eats! is not only meant to support local restaurants but also local farmers. 10% of the food served must be purchased locally, which has connected local farms with local chefs. At the Copper Fox, Everyone Eats! meals are a way to utilize the local ingredients they already purchase.
“The Everyone Eats! menu changes depending on what we have but because our restaurant has a local focus, we are typically above the 10% requirement. We’ve made some vegetarian options like quinoa veggie bowls and rice and beans plus we’ve made beef stew, shepherds pie, BBQ chicken, and more. Any time we serve beef it is from our locally raised, grass-fed cows. We’re proud to be serving our community high-quality food through this program.”
Everyone Eats! Springfield will continue feeding the community, putting local chefs to work, buying from local farmers, and strengthening local networks until the end of December.
Everyone Eats! meals can be picked up at The Springfield Family Center Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday between 11:30 am to 12:30 pm and in the Springfield Plaza on November 18 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.
Chester Helping Hands distributes meals, first come, first served on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm in front of Southern Pie Cafe on the Green in Chester. Registration required for delivery.
Want to support the continued efforts of these local organizations?
Follow The Springfield Family Center and Chester Helping Hands to learn about opportunities to donate and volunteer.
Looking for a locally made meal? Check out www.vteveryoneats.org for more information on finding a distribution site near you.