BENNINGTON, Vt. — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge the community and front line clinical teams and employees at Southwestern Vermont Healthcare (SVHC), the SVHC Foundation has heard many requests from members of the public regarding how they can help. 

 

In response to this outpouring of concern, the SVHC Foundation has redeployed the Meal Train as a way citizens can show their support. Interested supporters can visit https://mealtrain.com/v1w8yz to purchase a meal for as few as two staff members or as many as 30.

 

"This program was such a success when we launched it in the spring of 2020, and it had a tremendous impact on the morale of our staff," said Leslie Keefe, vice president for Corporate Development. "Today, our physicians, providers, nurses, and employees are working harder than ever and often under extreme conditions, so we wanted to once again make this program available as a way for the community to show their gratitude."

 

Numerous restaurants in the SVHC service area are participating. Visitors to the Meal Train website volunteer to purchase a meal for a particular department electronically and call the restaurant to order the food to be delivered.

 

The program is being marketed in part through a partnership with the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce. All restaurants will make no-contact deliveries to the hospital and the COVID Resource Center in Bennington, and the regional campuses throughout the SVHC service area. A designated staff member will come outside to receive the delivery, so no restaurant personnel need enter the buildings. Donors of meals are not permitted to deliver meals to the recipient locations themselves. Instructions on the Meal Train site offer a list of participating restaurants but donors can choose restaurants that are not listed, especially for the regional campuses.

 

"Our healthcare professionals will be uplifted to witness how much the community appreciates them," Keefe said. "This program will have a tangible and meaningful impact while also supporting our local restaurants. On behalf of the SVHC family, we are deeply grateful for the support."