WESTMINSTER — Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA), Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE), and the many partners and participants who make this program possible all celebrated a milestone recently when the program's two millionth meal was served.
The COVID-19 response program provides meal assistance to Vermonters while supporting local restaurants, farmers, and food producers. The program will continue until April 1, thanks to a recent contract extension with the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, with SEVCA serving as the program administrator.
The program is operated by 11 community hubs throughout the state, including a statewide mobile phone app.
According to a news release, since July 2020, more than 260 Vermont restaurants have prepared two million meals for Vermonters affected by the COVID-19 crisis, using ingredients purchased from more than 300 Vermont farmers and food producers.
According to program administrators, those two million meals have generated $20 million in supplemental revenue for local restaurants, $2 million paid to local farmers and food producers, and “thousands of new relationships formed between farmers, restaurant workers, grassroots and community leaders, volunteers, meal participants, and lawmakers.”
“Every day I receive messages from people around Vermont who have benefited from Vermont Everyone Eats,” said Statewide Coordinator Jean Hamilton. “The benefits they describe include help they've received in feeding their families, supplemental income that has helped keep their businesses afloat, and feelings of pride and a lift to their spirits as they watch so many Vermonters come together to help one another.”
More information about Vermont Everyone Eats and its achievements is available at vteveryoneeats.org/2-million-meals. For more information about SEVCA, visit sevca.org.