At Vermont Foodbank, we have a team of people who can help you apply for 3SquaresVT food benefits (known nationally as SNAP). 3SquaresVT provides money to buy food each month and the money comes on an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card. Our 3SquaresVT application assistance team at Vermont Foodbank can answer questions, help you fill out the application over the phone, and support you through the process.
It’s very possible you may qualify for multiple food benefit programs at once, and these programs can all work together to amplify access to the foods you want and need. It is common to qualify for both WIC and 3SquaresVT benefits at the same time—WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a national program that provides food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, counseling and programs for pregnant women, parents and caregivers with children under five.
Heidi, a WIC client who has also received 3SquaresVT benefits, shared:
“With the assistance from the 3SquaresVT team, I was informed of and utilized many resources I was not aware of prior to having my daughter. 3SqauresVT and the WIC program…were a TREMENDOUS help…I HIGHLY suggest to ANYBODY who is struggling financially and with a worry about not being able to provide adequate needs for a newborn, to reach out to see what is out there! As a social worker myself, I do this on a daily to assist in providing necessities for all of my clients. It’s nice to receive help of any kind in return and to be on the receiving end when it was needed!…As a newborn, my daughter had a lot of struggles, born with a mild tongue tie, was colicky for six months, had a cow’s milk allergy, reflux, & saw a chiropractor for a very defined case of torticollis. She would scream and cry for sometimes 12 hours straight—starting at 9pm—9am, would be awake for three days and sleep for one. As with any newborn, it’s HARD. Do not be ashamed to ask for help of any kind! You won’t be disappointed in the compassion you feel from working with these individuals who make a difference simply by them just being there.”
Our 3SquaresVT team at Vermont Foodbank partners with some WIC offices around the state to make sure that once you have applied for WIC, someone from our team can reach out to you to help you apply for 3SquaresVT and other benefit programs (like a discount on your electric and/or gas bill, etc.)! We know that both being pregnant and caring for an infant and young children means juggling a lot, and sometimes it’s helpful to have a trained expert support you through an application for benefits.
How Our Partnership with WIC Works
WIC nutritionists can send referral information directly to our team so we can reach out to you to help you apply for 3SquaresVT and other benefits. This partnership allows us, as service providers, to give holistic service with breadth and depth—helping ensure you can access not just WIC, but 3SquaresVT and other programs.
One example of where this partnership has flourished is with Justin, WIC public health nutritionist in Rutland, Vermont. When Justin learned about our 3SquaresVT assistance services, he started including Vermont Foodbank on a release form, which allows him to send your contact information directly to our team so that we have permission to reach out to you to help you with the 3SquaresVT application—that way you don’t have to worry about calling us!
Here’s what Justin has to say about this partnership:
“Making direct referrals to the Vermont Foodbank team… [so that clients can get] help with 3SquaresVT applications has made my work at WIC much more effective… One of the goals of WIC is to improve food security. The 3SquaresVT team at Vermont Foodbank has been helpful in making sure the folks we work with are able to provide nourishing foods for their families…. It is crucial that individuals have access to nourishing foods especially during growth and development. A key component of WIC is providing quality nutrition to families and children during these critical periods. 3SquaresVT and the Foodbank team play a large role in this as well. It is a terrific partnership that helps improve the lives of our neighbors by simplifying the process to enroll in 3SquaresVT.”
To apply for WIC benefits in Vermont, visit the Vermont Department of Health’s WIC webpage. For help applying for 3SqauresVT benefits, you can contact our team at Vermont Foodbank: call us at (855) 855-6181, text VFBCHAT to 61222, or email 3svt@vtfoodbank.org.
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