Pallet of Pasta, Playground Upgrades and More Made Possible by VEC Community Fund Awards
Johnson, VT – A local food shelf will be able to buy a full pallet of food for distribution and a local elementary school is getting new playground equipment, thanks to recent grants from the Vermont Electric Co-op’s Community Fund.
The Sheldon Methodist Church Food Shelf received $1,000 to purchase a pallet of food – mostly likely to be pasta – to distribute to families in need later this year.
The Waterville Elementary School was also awarded a grant of $1,000, and is using the funds to replace and improve equipment in a small and aging playground, pictured above.
The coordinator of the food shelf, John Gorton, said the need for food continues to increase and it’s challenging for the food shelf to get what they need.
“We very much appreciate the Co-op’s willingness to help out,” he said.
The grant to Waterville Elementary is helping the school to replace certain parts of the playground “a bit at a time to make it safe and engaging for the whole community,” said Jan Epstein, the school principal.
“Being able to start purchasing some new playground equipment will mean that any aging pieces could get an upgrade, ensuring everything is safe and inviting for our students and the community to use,” Epstein said, noting that the school is starting by getting some new swings.
About the Community Fund
Since it made its first donation in 2015, the VEC Community Fund has made over 220 separate grants to non-profit organizations in the VEC region totaling $170,000. The fund is supported by about 2,500 co-op members who voluntarily round up their electric bills to the nearest dollar, donate their member capital, or make one-time donations. The funds are entirely separate from money collected by VEC for electricity sales.
Other award recipients from the latest round of grants were:
- Alburgh Public Library
- The Bryan Gallery in Jeffersonville
- Circus Smirkus
- First Step Recovery House
- Northeast Organic Farming Association Vermont
- Rural Arts Collaborative
- Sheffield Food Pantry
- The Governor's Institutes of Vermont (GIV)
- The Hinesburg Record
- Tuesday Night Live Johnson
- Vermont Parks Forever
- Village Beautification Project
- Wood for Good Ltd