A walk-up, farmers market-style produce event offered by the Vermont Foodbank in partnership with GBCS every4th Wednesday from 10-11:30a.m. at the Bennington Fire House back parking lot 130 River Street, Bennington.
VeggieVanGo is a Vermont Foodbank program that provides free fresh produce to anyone who does not have consisent access to fresh produce! No registration is required and there are no age or income requirements to participate in VeggieVanGo.
This Veggie VanGo is a WALK-UP only! Park and walk. Bring your own bag, box, or hand trolley!
Please do not arrive before the event starts or line up vehicles on the street as we will be required to turn you away. This is a pilot program through June 2024 and is subject to change.
VeggieVanGo is held year-round in all-weather except for extreme cold or weather advisories. Whenever possible, the Vermont Foodbank will determine emergency cancellations 24-hours in advance. If an event is cancelled, the Vermont Foodbank will do their best to reschedule, but that is not always possible because of warehouse scheduling.
If you are questioning whether or not a VeggieVanGo event will be taking place, please use one of these communication mechanisms:
Social Media: GBCS’ Facebook page is a good resource about cancelled or rescheduled events.
Call:1.800.585.2265, ext. 5019 for a regularly updated recording regarding VeggieVanGo events.
Email:veggievango@vtfoodbank.org to receive an auto reply which will be updated if an event has been cancelled or rescheduled.
Website: The Vermont Foodbank‘s website will feature a drop down red banner only if an event has been cancelled.
Remember, VeggieVanGo events can be rescheduled for holidays as well as weather events. Always remember to check the VeggieVanGo schedule and use any of the options above to confirm.
Empty Bowls 2023
Empty Bowls is back!
At Empty Bowls, members of the community come together to share a simple meal of soup and bread, donated by local restaurants and organizations, in solidarity with local people who are experiencing food insecurity.
Please join us for this in-person event at Mount Anthony Union Middle School on Sunday, November 5, from 5-7pm. 100% of proceeds benefit the Kitchen Cupboard at GBCS, which helped feed 1,500 Bennington area residents last year! Each ticket holder will receive a gift bowl generously donated by a local artisan.
You, our generous community, have consistently exceeded our expectations in giving and we are tremendously grateful. We are asking for your support – again – to help us meet our campaign goal!
Tickets
Pre-sale tickets are available now through November 4 at $10/adult (16+); $5/youth (7-15); children 6 & under are free. Please reserve your ticket(s) by clicking the link below and then the “get tickets” button:
Day of event tickets will be sold at the door for $15/adult (16+); $5 youth (7-15); children 6 & under free.
Donate A Ticket to a Neighbor in Need
This year, we are offering an option to purchase a ticket for local people who are experiencing food insecurity. If you would like to donate a ticket to a neighbor in need, please do so by following the link below and click on the ticket button.
Mike, Barbara, Joan & Naomi enjoying their soup at Empty Bowls 2018
Sponsorship
Interested in being a sponsor of the Empty Bowls event? Choose a sponsorship level using the box below. We are offering 4 sponsorship levels. Every sponsorship received by October 15, 2023 will be acknowledged publicly before and during the event. Additionally, all sponsorships will receive 2 complimentary tickets to the Empty Bowls event.
Platinum Sponsorship – $1000 or above
Gold Sponsorship – $500 or above
Silver Sponsorship – $250 or above
Bronze Sponsorship – $100 or above
Can’t Attend? You can still participate!
If you have questions or want to participate in the planning of Empty Bowls, please contact us at 802-447-3700.
We are excited to return to an in-person event this year, but if you are unable to attend, we would appreciate any financial donation you could give.
Donations can be made online, using the form to the right, or by check. Please make checks out to GBCS, include “Empty Bowls” in the memo line, and mail them to:
GBCS, Inc. PO Box 702 Bennington, VT 05201
Thank you for your generous support!
Why Empty Bowls
The empty bowl is a wonderful metaphorical image. In Thailand, for example, Buddhist monks and nuns have a single possession: their bowls. Each morning, they knock on doors and receive a bit of food from each house. In this way, the empty bowl represents human interdependence, the truth that we only survive by giving and receiving.
Bennington Empty Bowls’ goals are to:
Increase awareness about the presence of hunger in our community
Bring the community together in a creative process
Bennington, Vermont makes the empty bowl metaphor a reality by hosting its annual Empty Bowls Soup Supper. We invite the local community to gather and share delicious soup that is donated by local restuarants and chefs. At our most recent in-person gathering in 2019, this event involved more than 1000 people!
Wondering what to do with all those amazing summer veggies? How about combining them all into one tasty soup? Our minestrone soup recipe is loaded with fresh produce! In fact, it’s so full of fresh veggies it can serve 6 people. Additionally, it’s adaptable. Don’t have kale? Then you can swap for spinach or swiss […]
The Dr. G. Richard Dundas Free Clinic (formerly the Bennington Free Clinic) offers free medical care. For this reason, we only serve uninsured or underinsured adults living in the Bennington County area. Because we are a clinic, we do not perform dental or emergency care. Instead, we offer primary medical care, care coordination, and referrals to our patients. By providing free health care to those that cannot afford it, we aim to improve the well-being of our community.
Health Care at the Dr. G. Richard Dundas Free Clinic
The Free Clinic serves uninsured adults, 16 and over, who cannot otherwise afford health care. You may be eligible for care if you:
Do not have health insurance, or
Have catastrophic-only health insurance that does not pay for preventative/primary care; and
You may be eligible for other health care programs as well. If so, we can help you enroll. Of course, we will continue to provide health care as you switch to other providers.
Sue Andrews, former GBCS Executive Director, and Dr. Richard Dundas, founding Medical Director, celebrate the 2009 opening of the Free Clinic. Photo credit: George Bouret for the Hill Country Observer
Our services include:
Acute and chronic disease management
Physical exams
Wellness education
Referrals to reproductive health services
Referrals to local, state, and federal resources
Specialist referrals when medically necessary
Help getting prescriptions
Help enrolling in state insurance programs
Tobacco Cessation services
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
Visit the Dr. G. Richard Dundas Free Clinic
The clinic is open weekly on Thursday evenings from 6-9 PM. Additionally, morning hours are held on the third Monday of each month. We offer specific reproductive health care appointments on the 4th Monday of each month – time varies based on the provider. In the event of a medical emergency, please call 911.
Making an Appointment
Space is limited, so please make an appointment. You can make an appointment by calling us at (802) 447-3700. Alternatively, you may make an appointment by emailing info@gbicsbennington.org. If you can’t attend your scheduled appointment however, please call us to cancel or reschedule. We do not provide emergency care.In the event of a medical emergency please call 911.
All are Welcome
Our waiting rooms are sometimes called the “United Nations of Bennington.” That’s because we make a point to welcome all people. In fact, we’ve created policies to encourage diversity. For example, we reach out to local farms that employ people who are undocumented. So no matter your race, color, national origin, age, ability, sex, gender identity, religion, political beliefs, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, or source of income, we welcome you.
Providers
The Free Clinic offers high-quality health care at no charge because of our volunteers. In fact, even our doctors and nurses volunteer their time at the clinic. Many of our providers come from the local community. As such, most are affiliated with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.
The Free Clinic’s Partners
A wide range of local and regional partners support the clinic. For example, faith communities, charitable and social service organizations, and state agencies are among our supporters. Additionally, SVMC, local leaders, businesses, private donors, and employers also support our efforts.
The Free Clinic partners with the NAFC’s Volunteers in Medicine and the Vermont Free & Referral Clinics. The NAFC is a national nonprofit building a network of free primary health care clinics. Like GBCS, NAFC recognizes the strengths of those in need and respects their dignity. Similarly, Vermont Free & Referral Clinics is a state-wide association of free clinics. As 1 of 9 VFRC free clinics, we receive partial funding through the Vermont State budget process. Notably, for every dollar we receive from the State as a VFRC clinic, we’re able to provide eight more dollars worth of medical services for our patients. Altogether, GBCS and our partners are committed to creating a culture of caring in our communities.
As of November 12, the Vermont Department of Health suggests limiting social gatheringss to 10 people or fewer, keeping six feet between you and others, and wearing a mask when you’re with others. Moreover, any non-essential travel to or from Vermont now requires quarantine. So what does all this mean for your COVID holiday season? […]
For Vermonters who struggle with food insecurity, fruits and vegetables are some of the first things that go when the budget gets tight. Let’s face it, consumers get a bigger caloric bang for their buck when they purchase foods that are high in fats and calories. Because fruits and veggies are expensive, they often fall […]
One year ago, back before COVID, we celebrated Bennington Empty Bowls. In the run-up to the 2019 Bennington Empty Bowls Soup Supper, members of the Steering Committee put their heads together to prepare for the event. In fact, there were hundreds of people working behind the scenes to address local food insecurity. What a difference […]
Emergency Needs FundEmergency assistance for families and individuals experiencing crisis to help pay for shelter, utilities, and other basic needs
You FirstPersonalized support to pay for breast, cervical and heart screenings, diagnostic tests, and heart healthy lifestyle programs
Kitchen CupboardProviding free food to families and individuals in need
Tuesdays 3:30 - 6:30PM
Thursdays 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Saturdays 10:00AM - 12:00PM
The Emergency Needs Fund provides assistance to low-income families experiencing a financial crisis. Unfortunately, unexpected events like layoffs and injuries can affect anyone. These incidents make it difficult to make ends meet because they come with unforeseen expenses. Thus the Fund helps families pay for shelter, utilities and other basic needs.
The Emergency Needs Fund was started by local clergy many decades ago because of the 1974 oil embargo. At the time, local clergy realized families were choosing between heating their homes and feeding their families. Thus, they created the Greater Bennington Interfaith Food and Fuel Fund. The clergy used the fund to ensure people had enough food and keep their families warm. Afterward, the Interfaith Council continued to run the fund on a grass-roots basis for several decades. Now a program of GBCS, the program has been renamed the Emergency Needs Fund. Our staff work with applicants to meet their needs. To do this, we partner with community and state resources like BROC and the Vermont Department of Health.
Using the Emergency Needs Fund
Low-income residents of the Southshire experiencing financial crisis are eligible to receive financial assistance. The Fund helps with costs like rent, mortgage payments and shelter. Similarly, funds can be used for utility payments or other household necessities. Southshire towns include:
Bennington
North Bennington
Glastenbury
Pownal
Readsboro
Searsburg
Shaftsbury
Stamford
Woodford
If you already work with a case manager from another organization, please consult them before requesting funds. To request assistance from the Emergency Needs Fund, contact the Fund Manager. Alternatively, you can also get an application at GBCS’ office on Depot Street.
When you have completed your application, please email it to enf@gbicsbennington.org. Additionally, you may return it to GBCS’ office directly.
Fund Partners
The Emergency Needs Fund exists with support from the Greater Bennington Interfaith Council, its member faith communities, and the generous donations of many local businesses and community members.
You First, a program through the Vermont Department of Health, is federally funded by two grants from the CDC. Our goal is to provide access to breast and cervical cancer early detection, as well as heart health screen and heart disease prevention. The You First Navigator helps guide members from screening to diagnosis to treatment. The Your First Lifestyle Program Coordinator and Health Coach helps members achieve their fitness and nutrition goals for better heart health.
The You First Bennington program provides eligible individuals in Bennington County personalized support to pay for breast, cervical and heart screenings, diagnostic tests and heart healthy lifestyle programs. As part of You First Vermont, we are able to offer incentives to members like local gym memberships and summer CSA vouchers.
How You First Works
To start with, contact our Health Champion to discuss enrollment. Eligible individuals will fill out the You First application. Once you enroll in You First Bennington, you will receive your You First membership card and packet. A You First team member will call you to welcome you and answer any questions you may have. After that, you’re all set to schedule your screening appointments with your healthcare providers. Once your provider receives your results, they will submit them to You First. If a You First member is advised to seek further testing to establish a diagnosis for breast or cervical issues, You First pays the copays and/or deductible for the additional testing. Members will re-enroll each year and get screened again.
Wanda is here to help! She can assist individuals through the application, enrollment and re-enrollment process.
You First Services
Breast Cancer Screenings
Starting at age 50 (unless recommended sooner)
Breast exam every year
Mammogram every other year (or as often as recommended)
Additional testing as needed
Cervical Cancer Screenings
Pap test every 3 years (or as often as recommended)
HPV test
Additional testing as needed
Heart Health Screenings
Members aged 30-64
Blood Pressure
Height & Weight
Cholesterol testing
Blood sugar testing
Lifestyle Programs
Health Coaching
Weight Watchers
TOPS (Taking Pounds Off Sensibly)
Self-Monitored Blood Pressure Program
Local fitness centers
Transportation to You First appointments
Interpretation services for You First appointments
Eligibility
Who is eligible:
Residence: Must live in Vermont
Age: Must be over 21 years old; our heart health program is available for members ages 30-64
Insurance Status: Can be uninsured, have Medicaid or have private health insurance (including Vermont Health Connect); Coverage for members with Medicare Part B is different. Call program for details.
Screening Need: You have (or have had) breasts or a cervix, or need preventative breast or cervical cancer screenings.
Transgender, non-binary and intersex Vermonters are eligible to receive services through You First. Call 1-800-508-2222 or visit the You First website to learn more.
Income: 250% of the federal poverty level, based on number in household.
