Live United, United Way

Published October 13, 2018 in the Bennington Banner

United Way Saturday, October 13, 2018 | unitedwaysvtbennington.org 2

United Way has a unique role in Bennington County. United Ways of Vermont – Bennington recruits people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. United Way unites people to work together; a convener and community builder.

United Ways of Vermont – Bennington brings you and resources together to address needs that arise from birth to death. Your United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Bennington County. Supporting United Ways of Vermont – Bennington County will strengthen this fight for a better life for all in our local communities.

Here are some highlights you may not know about our progress in key areas: • Community investments within the last 2 years totaling over $20,000 were made to more than a dozen local initiatives and program support addressing health, education and financial stability. From addiction (Unlocking Recovery, Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless) to healthy meals (Meals for Teens, Center for Restorative Justice) to educating the educators (Child Advocacy Center) to supporting academic and life success for children living in poverty (Seedlings Program) • PB&J Slam a county-wide (and beyond) drive for jars of Peanut Butter and Jelly then distributed over 700 jars to five area food pantries. Hundreds of people from more than 54 businesses and groups participated.

• Day of Caring, receiving support from every sector of the community is one of the largest volunteer events in the county! Over the years hundreds of volunteers sporting colorful shirts spent time cleaning up parks, landscaping at area non-

STRONGER TOGETHER

BECAUSE WE

LIVE UNITED

WHERE THE MONEY GOES...

Hello

Meet Jamie.

Jamie is a child who wants to succeed. All he needs is an opportunity.

Let’s Go! United Way brings communities together to lift up millions of “Jamies.”

We focus on EDUCATION, INCOME and HEALTH – the building blocks for a good quality life.

A GOOD EARLY EDUCATION PUTS JAMIE ON THE RIGHT PATH JAMIE’S PARENTS FIND JOBS AND MOVE TOWARDS FINANCIAL STABILITY

HEALTHY FOODS HELP JAMIE FOCUS IN THE CLASSROOM

JAMIE’S PARENTS SAVE MORE OF THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY

JAMIE MISSES LESS SCHOOL BECAUSE OF QUALITY HEALTH CARE

JAMIE EARNS HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

JAMIE’S DIPLOMA OPENS DOORS TO OPPORTUNITIES

JAMIE HELPS BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY

.........

The next Jamie begins his journey...

We All Win! W Wi !

W profits, painting, preparing for book drives and more!

The collective power of United Way is people giving of their time and resources for the well-being of our local community—to help improve lives now and create a strong future for generations to come. Thank you!

Proud United Way Member Agency Not only does United Way support our work through community support, but we support them too through our workplace campaign.

1.800.244.0568 | VERMONTVISITINGNURSES.ORG

The “UW Catamount Community Fund” is budgeted by United Way each year and is to be used for the funding of critical collaborations and initiatives in an effective and efficient manner. Funding allocated will advance the mission and work of UWsVT – Bennington County and emphasis will be placed on collaboration and innovation. UW Catamount Community Funds are open to new funding proposals that meet established Community Impact goals and are expected to be one-time requests.

The Community Impact Committee consists of community volunteers who meet to consider funding proposals and decide on UWsVT – Bennington County’s involvement in Community Impact systems change initiatives, community convening, advocacy & issue education. The Community Impact Committee consider criteria as set forth in the Catamount Community Fund Policy & Procedure, including but not limited to: ► Tie with United Way’s mission to build a stronger Bennington County by mobilizing our community to improve people’s lives ► Organization is located in Vermont and currently tax exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501 (c) 3. ► Organization is governed by an active volunteer Board of Directors.

►Ability/likelihood of leveraging other non-campaign funds to support the effort ►Tie to UWsVT – Bennington County’s priority areas - Health, Education, Financial Stability - and target outcomes Full Policy & Procedure are available online at www.unitedwaysvtbennington.org or may be requested from UWsVT. Catamount Community Fund requests must be made in writing to United Ways of Vermont – Bennington County and are subject to review by staff and the Community Impact Committee.

Recently funded spotlight: Seedlings Program and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Bennington County Collaboration Big Brothers/ Big Sisters and the Seedlings Program provide consistent, high quality programming to children. The goals of both organizations are to increase self-confidence, self-efficacy, and the habits associated with academic and life success through consistent, positive, one-on-one interactions with adults. This August, Lorianna Weathers traveled from Moultrie, Georgia to Bennington to be one of five Americorps VISTA in the town of Bennington. She is working to support the Seedlings Program and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Bennington County.

• Emergency Services • Mental Health and Substance Abuse • Psychiatric Services • Youth and Family Services

Building a stronger community by empowering individuals and families to live healthy and meaningful lives.

802-442-5491 100 Ledge Hill Drive, PO Box 588, Bennington, VT 05201 5312 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT 05255 www.ucsvt.org

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• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bennington County • Community Rehabilitation and Treatment Service • Developmental Services • Early Head Start and Head Start

United Way | Saturday, October 13, 2018

UNITED WAY’S CATAMOUNT COMMUNITY FUND SUPPORTS LOCAL COLLABORATIONS AND INITIATIVES

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United Way Saturday, October 13, 2018 | unitedwaysvtbennington.org 4

PROGRAMS OF UNITED WAYS OF VT Vermont 2-1-1, Help Me Grow VT, CARE

Every hour of every day, Vermonters need help finding help. You don’t need to search through printed phone books or resource directories any longer! No more wrong numbers or wasted time trying to find the right resource. Dialing 2-11 any time, day or night, seven days a week, gets you access to a free and confidential community referral service that connects callers with resources that provide food, shelter, rent assistance, clothing, child care options and other types of community assistance.

Vermont 2-1-1 is a program of United Ways of Vermont. The mission of Vermont 2-1-1 is to maintain a database of services and resources for every region in the state and to direct people to the right services or resources to help meet their need or answer their question. When you dial 2-1-1, you speak with a person who listens to you describe your challenge and helps you connect to the services that can ultimately resolve the problem. The Vermont 2-1-1 database has information on more than 12,000 different programs and services across the state and is updated at least annually so the information is accurate when referrals are made.

357 Marlboro Rd. Brattleboro, VT 254-0254

Rt. 30 Newfane, VT 365-4168

Your friends, coworkers and neighbors are already using 2-1-1 to find help. In the first nine months 2016, over 1,100 Bennington County businesses, residents, law enforcement, clergy, school personnel, non-profits, lawyers and more contacted 2-1-1.

Why were people calling from Bennington County calling 2-1-1? They were looking for: • Housing/shelter resources • Water Quality Assurance • General Relief programs • Utility assistance • Financial Assistance to meet unexpected emergencies • Specialized Information and Referral agencies • Legal Services • Food resources Vermont 2-1-1 has also demonstrated its value during times of crisis. 2-1-1 staff work closely with Vermont Emergency Management and Vermont Dept. of Health officials, local emergency responders, voluntary organizations throughout Vermont and plays a critical role in bringing information to the people most affected by the events and relaying the needs of callers back to the government officials and the first responders. Ice storms, fires, snow storms, hurricanes, flooding, flu season – 2-1-1 is the number to call to get up to date information while leaving first responders free to directly address the emergency.

Vermont 2-1-1 is built on the principles of outstanding cus-

2083 Depot St. Manchester Center, VT 362-3083

www.duttonberryfarm.com “Like” Dutton Berry Farm on

Help Me Grow Vermont (HMG VT) is a statewide system for improving access to existing resources and services for prenatal parents and families with young children through age 8. HMG VT links children and their families to appropriate community based services and supports, answers caregivers’ questions about their children’s development and behavior and facilitates collaboration between health professionals, early care and education professionals, human services providers, and families in order to better identify and address of the needs of children in Vermont. For more information on Help Me Grow Vermont contact a child development specialist by dialing 2-1-1 ext. 6 Monday-Friday from 9:00am-6:00pm or visit us at www.helpmegrowvt.org or facebook.com/helpmegrowvt.

We founded the first recycling center in Vermont in 1977 to help protect our local environment. Community and environment are still at the core of everything we do.

Committed to serving Bennington County since 1975

unitedwaysvtbennington.org

4561 Sunderland Hl Rd, Arlington, VT 05250 802-375-7345 • www.casella.com

The CARE Program (Citizen Assistance Registration for Emergencies), administered

by United Ways of Vermont, Vermont 2-1-1, and Vermont E9-1-1, is designed to identify Vermont residents who would require special assistance in an emergency. For seniors and people with physical or mental disabilities, emergencies can become life-threatening if they are prolonged and assistance in evacuation, etc. is not forthcoming in a timely manner. CARE information is accessible to Vermont’s 9-1-1 call specialists.

United Way | Saturday, October 13, 2018

tomer service. In this age of the “information highway”, access to information is easy. But sifting through all that information to find the right service to meet your need is harder. The call center specialists at Vermont 2-1-1 are there any time, day or night to help you navigate through the information and potential resources. Our 2-1-1 system in Vermont is at the fingertips of every resident and every phone. 2-1-1 is cost-effective, high quality, personal, flexible and community-based.

Vermont 2-1-1 hosts the telephone access point for Help Me Grow Vermont initiative, a system that connects at-risk children (birth to age eight) and their families with services and care coordination. For this Vermont Department of Health statewide resource, our centralized system and knowledgeable and compassionate Child Development Specialists make finding established maternal and child health resources in our state easier for individuals, helping professionals, and government employees.

2-1-1 is not an emergency number like 9-1-1, nor is it directory assistance like 4-1-1.

2-1-1 is your first step toward solving everyday problems or when you are facing difficult times. It’s a free service. It’s confidential. It’s 24/7. Try it today!

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United Way Saturday, October 13, 2018 |

WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS The best way we know how to support you is to support your employees, customers, and communities by keeping them healthy, educated, and financially secure.

This is the work of your local United Way. This work can only happen when we commit to each doing what we can for the greater good: United We Win. Increase your company’s impact in the community with United Ways of Vermont—Bennington County. We work with you to tailor your corporate philanthropic goals and build a strategy to engage your employees:

Workplace Campaign

Workplace campaigns provide the opportunity for smaller, individual gifts to come together and have an increased impact. The campaign is supported and customized by United Way staff to align with your organization’s mission and values. Employees are united toward a common goal—boosting teamwork and morale while connecting to the community. A workplace campaign educates employees about the most pressing issues in our community and encourages conversation about the experiences of the people who live and work in Bennington County.

Payroll deduction pledging provides an opportunity for employees to securely, easily, and efficiently contribute smaller amounts throughout the year.

LIVING UNITED BECAUSE OF

YOU

Business 365 Circle

By joining the Business 365 Circle, you express your solidarity with your customers, employees, and community members in creating a better place to live, work, and do business. A pledge of $1 per day for a stronger United Way to serve Bennington County.

Corporate Gift

unitedwaysvtbennington.org

A gift of any amount to United Ways of Vermont—Bennington County will be invested in your community. It will be used to leverage additional funds, convene organizations and efforts for collective work, support vol-

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Volunteerism & Advocacy Corporate volunteerism engages your business with the community in a powerful and impactful way.

United Way provides opportunities for employees to get more deeply involved in the work we do: coming together to share their voice on issues that matter to them to help direct our community impact work.

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.

United Way | Saturday, October 13, 2018

unteer recruitment and management for local agencies, and increase awareness of current issues facing our neighbors.

A corporate gift to United Way is giving back to the community to help your customers, employees, friends live and thrive here.

Your donation stays local & makes a positive impact in Bennington County Thank you for supporting your local United Way! Name: ______________________________________________ Email: ______________________________________ Street Address: ______________________________________________ Ph: (______) ______ - _______________ City, State, Zip: ___________________________________________________________________________________ â–Ą New donor â–Ą Remain anonymous â–Ą Do not thank â–Ą Loyal UW supporter for ______ years â–Ą $25

â–Ą $50

â–Ą $100

â–Ą $250

â–Ą $500*

â–Ą $1,000*

â–Ą $365*

â–Ą _______ other

Checks payable to United Ways of VT—Bennington County & mail to PO Box 472, Bennington, VT 05201 or give securely online at www.unitedwaysvtbennington.org/donate. *Leadership level -More information on our website.

All donations are tax deductible within current limits of the law. No gifts or services were received in exchange for this gift.

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Saturday, October 13, 2018 |

United Way

Now Now Now Open!

Open!

Open!

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our newest branch at 11 Baker Farm Road, Manchester (off Barnumville Rd) is open for business monday - friday from 9am - 5pm. stop in and become a member today!

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Your Community...Your Credit Union 1.888.252.8932 | www.hfcuvt.com