BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending nearly $1.5 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse the costs of providing emergency meals for residents in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $1,473,362 Public Assistance grant will go to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development for providing meal preparation and delivery service to high-risk populations under the the state’s emergency feeding program “Vermont Everyone Eats” between January and February 2022.
During that time the agency entered into an agreement with Southeastern Vermont Community Action, Inc. (SEVCA), which established and coordinated with state-wide subcontractors (Hubs) that oversaw restaurant engagement, production, and distribution of 117,869 meals to Vermonters experiencing food insecurity.
The program launched in August 2020 with $5 million from the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund and has continued with additional funding through FEMA.
“FEMA is pleased to support Vermont’s innovative approach to assisting its most vulnerable populations,” said FEMA Region I Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “By involving the private sector in the preparation and distribution of meals, both those faced with food insecurity and those who work at restaurants are helped.”
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is available at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit. To learn more about the COVID-19 response in Vermont, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4532.