WIC expands fruit, vegetable benefits
MONTPELIER - The WIC (Women, Infants and Children) food program has expanded the fruit and vegetable benefit through September to include $35 per month per participant.
WIC offers nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other community resources.
If you are pregnant or a family with a child under 5, you may be eligible for WIC and the increased fruit and vegetable benefit this summer.
If you have Medicaid/Dr. Dynasaur or 3SquaresVT, you are automatically income-eligible for WIC.
All WIC appointments take place by phone during the pandemic. To find out more about WIC, to apply, or to refer someone you know who may be eligible, visit healthvermont.gov/wic or call 800-649-4357.
Manitou hosts healing walk
WILLIAMSVILLE - The Manitou Project will hold a Healing Walk on Friday, Aug. 13, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
The walk will be led by Mike Mayer and will include poems or other readings, as well as chances to share about the experience.
The Manitou Project seeks to foster community with Nature on its 235-acre land preserve in Williamsville, at 300 Sunset Lake Rd. Meet at the parking lot at 4 p.m.
Healing Walks will be held every second and fourth Friday of each month until October.
For information, contact Mayer at 802-258-8598.
Vernon plans community picnic at Governor Hunt House
VERNON - The Friends of Vernon Center will host a community picnic and celebration, with music and food, at the Governor Hunt House on Sunday, Aug. 15 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. (Rain date will be Sunday, Aug. 22.)
This event will be held outside, on the lawn, and will feature music from the Falltown String Band, a Bernardston, Mass.–based band that will play roots rock, folk, country, bluegrass, and blues. Bring chairs or picnic blankets for the show.
The picnic will also serve as an introduction to the Governor Hunt House, which is being redeveloped by the Friends into a community center for the town. Soon it will be available for gatherings and celebrations of all kinds - parties, weddings, group meetings, business events, lectures, performances, exhibits, and sales. The Aug. 15 event will offer tours of the facility.
On the lawn, the sculptures of Vernon's Tom Pereira will include his Vernon Moose, R2-D2, and many more.
Bring your own lunch, or order a box lunch ahead of time from the Cold Brook Store or Italian sandwiches from Bloomin' Italian, both Vernon businesses. All orders must be placed and prepaid with the vendor. Drinks and desserts will be sold on site.
For more information, visit bit.ly/622-vernonpicnic.
Chromebooks, and other services at the RFPL
BELLOWS FALLS - Rockingham Free Public Library patrons can now check out one of four Chromebooks - laptops that run Google's Chrome operating system and web browser - for home use.
Don't have internet access at home? Borrow one of the library's hotspots, which provide internet wirelessly for up to 10 devices.
The RFPL also offers cardholders passes to museums, parks, and institutions throughout the state and in nearby communities.
The annual book sale on the top floor - full of high-quality books, precisely categorized - is ongoing.
Also, the library has a collection of audiobooks to take on summer road trips, plus easily downloadable audiobooks and e-books.
Drop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Mondays through Wednesdays, or from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.
Face masks are required to protect the unvaccinated. Curbside service is still available.
For more information, visit rockinghamlibrary.org, email [email protected], or call 802-463-4270.
Food program helps stretch budgets for elderly Vermonters
BARRE - If you're aged 60 or older, live in Vermont, and meet income guidelines, you can get a free box of food every month.
The federal Community Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) offers free monthly boxes of food filled with canned fruits and vegetables, juice, cereal, pasta, cheese, shelf-stable milk, and canned meats.
To qualify, your monthly household income must fall at or below $1,396 (one person), $1,888 (two people), or $2,379 (three or more people).
Learn more and fill out a simple online application at vtfoodbank.org/share-food/csfp, or call 800-214-4648 for more details.
Humane Society offers pet microchipping
BRATTLEBORO - Cats and dogs are adept at running away from home, especially when they're not wearing ID collars. Microchips with identification stays with your pets no matter what kind of trouble they get into.
The Windham County Humane Society (WCHS) will offer a $25 pet microchipping clinic on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Because microchips require a specialized scanner, which the average person does not have, the WCHS also recommends personalized ID tags for dogs and breakaway collars with identification for cats.
All canine participants in this clinic will get a personalized ID tag, and all felines will get two reflective, break-away collars.
To make an appointment, or for more information, visit windhamcountyhumane.org or call 802-254-2232.