I miss reading all the comments and good wishes in the donation column. I miss having a local charity that gave 100 percent of the proceeds to its intended beneficiaries.
I miss Pat Smith running the newspaper campaign. I miss how people would write: In lieu of local Christmas cards. I miss how you could write anything you wanted and make it as long as you wanted and it would get printed.
I miss the stories like the custodian at the high school saving up all the money he found on the floor every year to give to the Stocking fund. I missed seeing it build and build and even though the goal went up by thousands every year how it was miraculously met. Every year. For how many years?
I am sorry to see this one wonderful tradition die. I wonder what the people’s extra $90,000 is being used for this year instead of warm winter clothes for local kids who need them.
It's sad
I also miss the comments and nice sense of community it made.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I seem to recall hearing that a group has formed already to take over. Probably won’t have the comments (unless maybe the Commons offers?) but the job will be done.
I believe the United Way has
I believe the United Way has taken it over. Good that the kiddos will still get warm clothes- sad that another wonderful part of the town is gone.
Good
That is good. But the Reformer Xmas stocking was the only charity I ever knew of where ALL of the money went to the kids, and no one took a salary.
I believe that local
I believe that local volunteers are organizing it and the United way is the umbrella agency. They have said that all the clothing and money collected will go only to local families. There hasn’t bee a lot of PR around it, though. I saw a notice for an organizational meeting but that’s it.
Salvatore Reale donated
I remember one year mobster Salvatore Reale donated fifty bucks after fellow reporter Kathy Mc Masters and I outed him living in Stratton.
outed?
omg, you “outed” him? Jeez, it was printed in New York Times and publicly acknowledged he was banned by the Feds from NYC and living in Brattleboro.
firm things up?
I would not be able to do this myself this year, and it’s not fair of me to ask others to do what I can’t, so I’ll merely suggest that if someone has the time, it would be nice to research what’s happened, report back here, and maybe ibrattleboro could coordinate with whomever is doing the new program and provide a listings page where people could make their comments (with the ability to archive each day so it’s easy to look back if I missed a day here and there). And it would be great PR for ibrattleboro, get more people, etc. Sorry Lise and Chris, I probably should email you first to at least give you a heads up I’m going to put you on the spot!!
And I agree that local charities that go completely to the cause are great. I believe the Windham County heat fund does, with the exception of any expenses they have to put on a fundraising event. Richard and Daryl do all the work volunteer.
That's a great idea, Andie. I
That’s a great idea, Andie. I do have to say that it seems like people are already being pessimistic about what the program will be now that a larger organization has taken it over. I understand that local programs that are staffed by volunteers and assist specifically families in one area are wonderful – really the backbone of charitable endeavors. But, when an initiative is run purely by volunteers and it keeps getting bigger and bigger and more successful then eventually those volunteers get burnt out or the economy tanks so people aren’t able to do as much. I certainly haven’t seen much to indicate how the Christmas Stocking program will be run in the future and I don’t know whether or not only local families will be helped or it’s going to branch out. But, however it ends up working- some kids – somewhere – will end up with new, warm winter clothing and that’s really what matters.
Andie- my comments were no way directed at you or at anyone in particular. Doesn’t it make sense to wait and see how it all plays out?
Great idea
If anyone would like to organize this and spearhead it, we’d happily donate space here, and consult. This site is yours, and is what you make it. Senior Meals and Time Trade, for example, do weekly listings and a stocking wouldn’t be that different.
Just needs a couple of people to take it on.
Kids in Coats; comments list published
I was missing the comments published in the Reformer Christmas Stocking as well & then noticed that the Reformer published the United Way’s Kids in Coats donations/comments on 12/11. Apparently, if you choose to donate to Kids in Coats you can have a message published in the Reformer. The article referred to the list as ‘the first round’ so I’m guessing they plan to publish the comments in waves.
Kids in Coats Fund
The United Way of Windham County, your United Way, is proud to announce the launch of its Kids in Coats Fund to support winter gear for kids in Windham County.
Updates and announcements:
· To date, the Fund has received $6,100+ in donations toward our $75K goal
· The Reformer has been publishing the donation form daily and donor list/messages in the weekend edition and we’ll work with them re: ongoing coverage in 2016
· The Commons will include the donor form in its 12/30 edition and we’ll work with them re: ongoing coverage in 2016
· We have distributed 200+ coats/boots in overstock from the Stocking to 10 area schools serving Windham County families + Windham Child Care Association
· We have connected RSVP with Windham Child Care Association to receive donations of knitted items from volunteers moving forward
· The donation form/Fund messaging has been posted to Facebook (UWWindham), Front Porch Forum, on the UWWC website (unitedwaywindham.org) and in our December e-newsletter; press release and donation form has gone out to all local media, plus schools and human service coalitions serving Windham County
Save the Dates:
· Monday, 12/28, from 7:30am – 8am: Listen to Green Mountain Mornings on WKVT to hear Carmen Derby (Executive Director) & Sadie Fischesser (UWWC Chair of Prosperity Team) discuss UWWC’s HOPE initiatives and Kids in Coats Fund
· Tuesday, 1/19, 9am – Kids in Coats Distribution Committee meeting at UWWC office
· Tuesday, 1/19, 10:30am – Kids in Coats Eligibility Committee meeting at UWWC office
Please continue to help us spread the word about the Fund and let us know if you would like to be part of the eligibility or distribution committee.
THANK YOU – enjoy your holidays!
United Way Launches Kids in Coats Fund
United Way of Windham County wants to assure the community that 100% of its Kids in Coats Fund will support winter gear for families. The Reformer continues to print the donor messages and we invite all who wish to support the Fund to do so – thank you!
United Way of Windham County Establishes Kids in Coats Fund
Brattleboro, VT – The United Way of Windham County is proud to announce the launch of its Kids in Coats Fund to support winter gear for Windham County kids. In the spirit of the Reformer Christmas Stocking, and with deep appreciation for its board, donors, and volunteers, UWWC is asking the community to support families in Windham County through this new fund.
UWWC seeks to raise $75,000 to support the purchase of winter gear for Windham County families with children age 0 through grade 6. Eligible families will apply for assistance through established referral sources, such as schools, health and human service organizations, and state offices. All funds raised will directly benefit eligible children with winter gear. Donations can be made by texting “toasty” to 41444, or by mailing a check made out to UWWC to PO Box 617, Brattleboro, VT 05302 with “coats” in the memo line. Donations can also be dropped off at the Brattleboro Reformer office at 62 Black Mountain Road or the United Way office at 1 Holstein Place, both in Brattleboro, Vermont.
“We are developing this new fund with input from families, social service providers, schools, and former Stocking board members and volunteers. Our goal is to provide a much-needed resource to families to ensure that children are warm and well-protected from the cold and snow next winter,” says Carmen Derby, Executive Director of UWWC. “All donations to the fund are welcome and appreciated. We are grateful to the Reformer for its support of this new effort, as well as to our other media partners for their help in spreading the word. Together, we can keep kids warm.”
UWWC has established a committee to explore winter gear distribution options and decide on a model that best serves families. Any community member who is interested in assisting is welcome to join. Please contact Sue Graff, Director of Community Investments, at 802.257.4011 x113 or sue@unitedwaywindham.org for more information. Complete details on the application and distribution process will be shared by next fall.
The United Way of Windham County is creating HOPE in Windham County by investing in health, opportunity, prosperity, and education initiatives. The Kids in Coats Fund is yet another way you can Lend HOPE a Hand. To find out more, visit http://www.unitedwaywindham.org.