Meals for Kids

There was no summer vacation for the Food Services Department at the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union (BRSU). “This is what we do,” said Stephanie Gates, Director of the Department. “We feed healthy, nutritious meals to kids. Not only during the school year, but in the summer too.”

The BRSU Summer Meal Kit Program was launched in 2024 as a four week service delivering some 12,000 free meals to kids. In 2025, the federally funded program expanded to six weeks and delivered nearly 25,000 breakfasts and lunches to children under the age of 18. The service opened the week of June 30th and ran through the week of August 4th.  

A centralized distribution system was set up each week at the Manchester Elementary Middle School (MEMS). Meal kits of seven breakfasts and seven lunches were assembled and then delivered to children on a set schedule for pick-ups at five schools: Tuesday’s at Arlington High School, Wednesday’s at MEMS and Flood Brook, and Thursdays at Currier Memorial and the Mettawee Community School. Any child under the age of 18 was eligible to receive a meal kit each week. 

No less spectacular for its absolute necessity, Vanna, arrived this year. Vanna is a Toyota Sienna Hybrid vehicle primarily funded by a $25,000 grant from Hannaford Supermarkets. After spending the summer spreading meal kits to children, Vanna will become an important addition to the BRSU Food Service Department during the school year. 

“As we centralize our kitchens, we need wheels to move food to schools each day,” said Gates. “Vanna makes it possible to deliver our service more efficiently throughout the year.”

And Vanna will be busy again next summer. Based on growing need, the BRSU looks forward to providing the Meal Kits in the summer of 2026. “The work is so rewarding on so many fronts,” said BRSU Food Service staff member Danielle Dufresne. “The kids love seeing us and appreciate the food. The smiles and thank you’s make it so worthwhile.”


(Photo above: BRSU Food Service staffers (left to right) Katie Crawford, Danielle Dufresne, and Stephanie Gates celebrate the Summer Meal Kit Program and the arrival of “Vanna” the Food Van.)