Feeding Chittenden is committed to providing food assistance and resources to the nearly 12,000 people we serve annually and those affected by the COVID-19 crisis. We have made changes to meal and grocery distribution in order to reduce contact and ensure implementation of infection control and prevention procedures. Feeding Chittenden’s goal is to maintain the health and safety of recipients, volunteers, partners, and staff.
GET HELP
COVID-19 is taking a drastic toll on our community, especially those living paycheck to paycheck. Some households don’t have the financial stability to stock up on groceries to prepare for quarantine, family members have been laid off, and food budgets are suffering.
Community members can pick up prepared meals and bagged groceries at 228 North Winooski Avenue in Burlington. The Homebound Grocery Delivery Program will deliver groceries and meals to older adults and people with disabilities.
UPDATE:
We are distributing groceries Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. This allows our staff and volunteers to sanitize our building, collect food, and prepare more boxes to meet the increased need.
We will serve take-out breakfast from 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Monday – Friday
GIVE HELP
Feeding Chittenden will remain open and scale up distribution efforts in order to provide food immediately to those who need it, but we need your help.
Since March 16th, we have distributed an average of 200 boxes of groceries per day. At this rate, we anticipate running out of shelf-stable food by the end of the month. Due to this crisis, we are trying to raise $150,000 to help with the next 2-3 months’ worth of emergency support needs.
We are purchasing grocery and reusable bags, packaging supplies, plastic utensils and cups, and carryout containers for prepared meal pick-ups in lieu of our breakfast program, as well as homebound deliveries for older adults and people with disabilities.
We are projecting extra costs in food and supply purchases, fuel for extra deliveries, and overtime for warehouse work, as well as additional expenses like cleaning supplies, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, and soap.
DONATE FUNDS: Make a monetary gift securely online.
DONATE FOOD: Download a food drive tool kit.
COVID-19 CRISIS – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Below, we have provided answers to questions regarding COVID-19.
1. Is Feeding Chittenden still open and continuing its daily operations?
Yes, Feeding Chittenden is still open and continuing to serve community members. Below are our hours of operation:
Monday – Friday Hours for Community Members Seeking Food Assistance:
- Prepared meal pick up – 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
- Grocery pick up – Monday, Wednesday, & Friday – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
2. Is Feeding Chittenden still accepting volunteers?
In order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Feeding Chittenden is currently only allowing 4 volunteers on-site. For more information, please visit our volunteer page.
3. What is Feeding Chittenden doing to reduce contact and/or the spread COVID-19?
Feeding Chittenden is committed to the safety of our staff, volunteers, partners, and recipients. We are closely monitoring announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that we are following their recommended guidelines.
Feeding Chittenden is also taking the following proactive steps to help reduce contact and/or the spread of COVID-19:
- Enforcing hand-washing with soap for 20 seconds rinsing with hot water.
- Providing gloves to all volunteers
- Making hand sanitizers available throughout the building
- Advising staff and volunteers to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth
- Advising all recipients, staff, volunteers, network partners, and donors to stay home if they display signs of illness and to seek medical attention as recommended by the CDC
For more information on COVID-19, please visit the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and the Vermont Department of Health website.