Between the COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impacts on BIPOC communities, public visibility to senseless police killings, and the brutal treatment of American citizens expressing their free speech, 2020 was a perfect recipe for the United States—and Vermont—to reawaken to the deeply embedded systemic racism that exists in our country. This renewed attention to the circumstances that BIPOC individuals face every day presents an opportunity to put Vermont in a better place post-pandemic that is welcoming and inclusive to everyone.
Read more about "The VT COVID-19 Response Fund Recovery Initiatives: A Q+A on Welcoming, Equitable, Anti-Racist Communities"Share Our Post:
The Vermont Community Foundation Announces First Grant Recipients from VT COVID-19 Response Fund
The Vermont Community Foundation distributed the first round of grants, totaling $380,000, from its Vermont COVID-19 Response Fund during the week of March 23rd. The grants ranged from $5,000 to $30,000 and were made specifically to entities addressing homelessness, working on the frontlines with vulnerable populations, and providing basic needs, such as meals and food access to homebound seniors.
A portion of the grants went to community-based organizations like community-action agencies and coordinated-entry lead agencies that have critical programs for individuals and families experiencing poverty, including food shelves, housing, and more.
- BROC – Community Action in Southwestern Vermont
- Capstone Community Action
- Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
- Charter House
- Groundworks Collaborative
- Homeless Prevention Centers
- Northeast Kingdom Community Action
- Southeastern Vermont Community Action
- Springfield Supported Housing Program
- Upper Valley Haven
In addition, we focused on organizations who are contracting with the Area Agencies on Aging and providing distributed meals to home and housebound seniors.
- Bellows Falls Area Senior Center
- Black River Area Senior Center
- Brattleboro Senior Meals
- Bugbee Senior Center – White River Council on Aging
- Burke Senior Meals Program
- Chelsea Senior Center
- C.I.D.E.R.
- City Hotel Meal Site – Barre Housing Services, Inc.
- Danville Senior Action Center
- Greater Randolph Senior Center
- Greensboro Nursing Home
- Groton Lunches with Friends
- Lyndon Area Senior Meal Program/Darling Inn Senior Meal Site
- Mad River Valley Senior Citizens
- Meals on Wheels of Bennington County – Bennington County Meals program
- Meals on Wheels of Greater Springfield
- Meals on Wheels Lamoille County
- Montpelier Home Delivery/Montpelier Senior Activity Center
- Northfield Senior Center
- Orange East Senior Center
- Oxbow Senior Independence Program
- Quin-Town Senior Centers
- South Royalton Senior Center
- St. Johnsbury Nutritional Center
- Thompson Senior Center
- Twin Valley Senior Center
- Waterbury Area Senior Center
- Young at Heart Senior Center – Poultney area
