Social Service Organizations and Links in the Bennington area and State of Vermont
Bennington Interfaith Council: The Emergency Food and Fuel Fund
Information for food and fuel resources from
Charlie Gingo, Agency of Human Services Field Director for Bennington County
So who do I call for information about fuel or food? 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
If you know people who are looking for food shelf locations and assistance, encourage them to call:
- 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 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.
Are there any websites where i can get additional information about food, fuel and other resources?
If you have internet access, log onto:
Council on Aging, Southwestern Vermont, 169 North St., Bennington , VT 442-5436
- 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, 532 Main St., Bennington, VT 447-0574
- 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, 124 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT 442-8136
- 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 447-0111
- 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
- Bennington District Office, Agency of Human Services Field Director, Charlie Gingo, 447-2745
- Department of Children and Families (DCF), Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington, VT 442-8138
- Social services for families in need
- Blind and Visually Impaired, Veterans Memorial Drive, Bennington, VT, 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 447-2777
- 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 442-6376
- 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), 201 Union St., Bennington, VT 442-2370 (office) PAVE Hotline: 442-2111
- 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 447-1545
- 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
American Red Cross, Green Mountain Chapter, 215 Pleasant St., Bennington, VT, 442-9458
- Provides emergency and disaster services
- Provides Bennington area and county-wide bus transit services from Pownal to Manchester/ connecting to Rutland – call for schedule and service area
- Assistance after fires and natural disasters
- Sponsors monthly blood drives
Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice (VNA & Hospice), 160 BenMont Ave., Bennington, VT 442-5502
- 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 with home care, and other services
- Hospice services include help with care for very ill persons, grief counseling, respite and other services
Housing & Mortgages for People with Disabilities
APPLY FOR FUEL ASSISTANCE IN JULY:
- Even though summer has just begun, the State Fuel Office is gearing up for a busy year. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) accepts applications for fuel assistance from July through February. If Vermonters meet the resource and income guidelines, the Fuel Assistance Program helps to pay a portion of their winter heating bill.
- If a person or family applied for Fuel Assistance last winter, they are already on the mailing list to receive an application packet for this winter. Applications will be mailed the week of July 7.
- If a person or family did not apply last year, they can get their names added to the July mailing list by calling 1-800-479-6151.
- The only way to find out if you are eligible is to apply for the program.
- On or about July 7, the Fuel Application packet will be posted on the web at http://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/fuel_assistance.
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.