WESTMINSTER — Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE), the unique COVID-19 recovery program that provides Vermonters impacted by Covid with prepared meals made by area restaurants using locally grown and produced ingredients, will continue through July 1.
The program had previously been set to end on March 31, but will now continue due to FEMA's 100 percent cost share being extended for existing COVID-19 relief programs.
Since August 2020, VEE has provided over 2.25 million meals statewide, entirely paid for with nearly $30 million of Federal CARES Act and FEMA funding. Regional hubs purchase and distribute meals from local restaurants, and a statewide mobile app provides meal access to eaters directly from restaurants.
While the health impact of the latest surge has recently receded, the long tail of the economic crisis continues to challenge restaurants, farmers, food producers, and individuals. VEE both feeds people and strengthens the state economy at the same time.
More than 260 Vermont restaurants have participated. The local purchasing requirement spreads the economic benefit as widely as possible, and has resulted in more than 37 percent of VEE meal ingredients being sourced from nearly 300 Vermont farms and food producers, which organizers consider to be a major success.
Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA), as VEE administrator, convenes a regional hub community of practice and a statewide task force of multi-sector leadership to guide the program. Locally governed hubs determine needs and resources in their region and connect directly with restaurants and eaters.
Task force participants bring extensive experience with food insecurity programs, government agencies, economic development entities, and restaurant engagement. The effectiveness of the program's cross-sector, whole-systems approach may lead to long-term changes in federally funded food access programs.
For more information on the program or how to receive a meal, visit the Vermont Everyone Eats website at vteveryoneeats.org.