Community Resource Guide

Zion Episcopal Church is a member of the Interfaith Council of the Northshire (IFC), composed of ten faith-based congregations in the northern part of Bennington County. Clergy and representatives from member houses of worship collaborate on programs and projects designed to educate, enlighten, and provide for unmet community needs.

With mutual respect for the faith traditions of each congregation, the IFC develops community engagement and outreach efforts that include a range of programs and projects, some of which are independent but fall under its 501(c)(3) designation.

 (The following list is provided to us by the Interfaith Council of the Northshire.)

·       The Economic Services office: 1-802-442-8541 or 1-800-775-0527

·       BROC: 1-802-447-7515 or 1-800-717-2762

·       The Senior Help Line: 1-800-642-5119

·       The Vermont Food Bank: 1-800-585-2265

·       The Community Food Cupboard, Manchester, VT: (802)362-0057

Located at 40 Jeff Williams Way (at the Town Hall facing the parking lot)

Wednesday 2:00-4:00

Thursday 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00

The very knowledgeable staff at the organizations listed above can help answer questions and/or may be able to help people get the resources they need. They also know about other resources in the community that can help with basic human needs.

For a list of flooding resources, click here.

So who do I call for information about fuel for heat?

First and foremost, we are telling everyone: don’t wait for your fuel tank to be empty before you call the numbers below. We are urging everyone who is looking for information about Bennington County food and fuel resources to call the Vermont 211 Helpline. Just dial 2-1-1. Vermont 211 is open for business 24 hours everyday. The skilled staff can help find information not only about fuel and food resources but also about a wide range of resources throughout Bennington County and across the state.

In addition to calling 2-1-1, if you know people who are looking for help with heating their home, encourage them to call:

·       The State Fuel Line: 1-800-479-6151

·       BROC: 1-802-447-7515 or 1-800-717-2762

·       The Senior Help Line: 1-800-642-5119

Are there any websites where I can get additional information about food, fuel and other resources?

If you have internet access, log onto:

·       www.vermont211.org – for information about statewide resources

·       https://dcf.vermont.gov/ – for Food Stamp information

·       www.dcf.state.vt.us – for information about Food Stamps, Fuel Assistance, Weatherization

·       www.vtfoodbank.org – for information about food shelves in Bennington County and across the state

·       https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1583 – for information about the Shareheat program

. www.retireguide.com/medicare and/or Senior Discounts & Benefits | Ultimate Retirement Guide (retireguide.com)

- These free resources highlight Medicare coverage, costs, eligibility and enrollment information, along with answers to some frequently asked questions.

Bennington Free Clinic

Phone: 802-447-3700 x1 to make an appointment for Thursday evenings 6-9 p.m. or email freeclinic@gbicsbennington.org
Address: 121 Depot Street, Bennington, VT
Website: http://www.benningtonfreeclinic.org

Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging, 160 Benmont Avenue, Suite 90, Bennington, VT

Phone: 802-442-5436
Website : svcoa.org/

·       Senior Helpline: 1-800-642-5119

·       Case management

·       Assistance with financial management

·       Help finding senior housing

·       Individual must phone to request services for themselves

Vermont Center for Independent Living, 601 Main St., Bennington, VT 447-0574

Phone: 802-447-0574
Website: www.vcil.org/

·       Disability Helpline: 1-800-639-1522

·       Services for people with all kinds of disabilities

·       Peer advocacy counseling

·       Meals on wheels for people with disabilities under age 60

·       Some funding for assistive technology

·       Systems advocacy for programs for people with disabilities

·       Individual must phone to request services for themselves

Bennington Project Independence Adult Day Service, 614 Harwood Hill, Bennington, VT

Phone: 802-442-8136
Website: www.bpiads.org/

·       Day service for elders and adults with disabilities who require daily supervision

·       BPI provides door to door transportation

·       Meals provided on site

·       Nurse / Health care provided on site

·       BPI provides daily activities and social interaction for their clients

·       Some Medicare /Some insurance coverage/ Sliding fee scale

The Tutorial Center, 208 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT and 3511 Richville Road, Manchester Center, VT 05255

Phone: 802-447-0111(Bennington), 802-362-0222 (Manchester)
Website: www.tutoringvermont.org/

·       Literacy services for Bennington County

·       Vermont High School diploma services

·       GED preparation and testing

·       Tutoring services for students needing extra help for academic classes

·       ESL services

·       Assistance with literacy and reading needs for career programs / apprenticeships

·       Sliding scale fees

State of Vermont

Website: www.vermont.gov/portal/government/atoz.php

·       Bennington District Office, Agency of Human Services Field Director, Adam Sancic, 802-447-2745

·       Department of Children and Families (DCF), Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington, VT 802-442-8138

·       Social services for families in need

·       Blind and Visually Impaired, Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington, VT, 802-447-2760

·       DBVI Info Line: (toll-free) 1-866-242-3284

·       Services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired; teaching independent living skills; exploring the use of technical adaptations and devices.

·       Vermont Relay Service – telephone service for people who are deaf

·       TTY to Voice: 1-800-253-0191

·       Voice to TTY: 1-800-253-0195

·       Relay service connects people who use a TTY (telephone device for people who are deaf) to people who do not use a TTY, through an intermediary who translates messages back and forth. This service is toll free; it does require time and patience to access properly.

Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole, 200 Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington, VT

Phone: 802-447-2777
Website: www.doc.state.vt.us/custody-supervision/field

·       Services for people who have been adjudicated or are serving court-ordered sentences in the community or in prisons Includes Reparative Justice Systems

Department of Employment and Training, Bennington Office, 1 Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington, VT

Phone: 802-442-6376
Website: www.labor.vermont.gov/

·       Provides assistance in finding jobs and how to apply for work

·       Connects to statewide Jobs Line: 1-800-414-5748

·       Unemployment Benefits: 1-877214-3330

Project Against Violent Encounters (PAVE), 102 Dewey St, Bennington, VT

Phone: 802-442-2370 (office)
PAVE Hotline: 802-442-2111
Website: www.pavebennington.com/

·       Services for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence

·       Domestic Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment services

·       Assistance with safe homes

·       Assistance with court orders

·       Assistance with safety of children and families

·       Assistance with police investigations and legal matters

Services for families including day care, education and job training

·       Parent support services

·       Case management services

·       Sliding scale or no-fee for services

Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), 215 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT

Phone: 802- 447-1545
Website: https://www.rsvpvt.org/

·       Opportunity for community members to volunteer their services

·       Non-profits request assistance from RSVP and RSVP matches requests with volunteers

·       Requests change frequently and opportunities fluctuate

Green Mountain Express, 215 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT 

Phone: 802-447-0477
Website: http://www.greenmtncn.org/

·       Provides Bennington area and county-wide bus transit services from Pownal to Manchester/connecting to Rutland – call for schedule and service area

Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice (VNA & Hospice), 1128 Monument Ave, Bennington, VT

Phone: 802-442-5502
Website: svhealthcare.org/services/vna-hospice/

·       VNA is part of the Southwest Vermont Health Care, providing Home Health Services to patients in their homes under orders from a physician

·       Services may include nursing, speech and language, physical therapy, medications, personal care, assistance

·       Hospice services include help with care for very ill persons, grief counseling, respite and other services

APPLY FOR FUEL ASSISTANCE IN JULY

https://dcf.vermont.gov/search/node/fuel%20assistance

GO-VT

·       The State of Vermont has launched a new website dedicated to connecting commuters with ways they can save money and reduce their carbon footprint. The website is www.connectingcommuters.org. This site contains links to every public transit provider in Vermont as well as state operated Park & Ride locations. There is a variety of information on the website.

·       GREEN MOUNTAIN CARE…A HEALTHIER STATE OF LIVING is the umbrella name for all of the state’s health care programs including Catamount Health, VHAP, Medicaid, VHAP- Pharmacy, VPharm, etc. To learn more about or to enroll in any of these programs, call 1-800-250-8427 or go to www.GreenMountainCare.org.

·       The Vermont 211 Helpline for information about services in the county and across the state. Just dial 211 or log onto www.vermont211.org.