Places to Play, and Food to Eat: VEC’s Community Fund Grants Support a Range of Efforts

An Alburgh playground and several food pantries are among the non-profit efforts that are getting support from the latest round of grants from the Vermont Electric Co-op’s Community Fund.

The Alburgh Family Clubhouse offers care and early education for 62 children, including infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. A $1,000 grant will go toward finishing off a new playground, including the installation of two new sandboxes at the site.  (Photo above shows Children attending the Alburgh Family Clubhouse play along the shores of Lake Champlain.) 

“We really appreciate the support,” said Gina Lewis, president of the Alburgh Family Clubhouse. “Providing age-appropriate playground equipment will help encourage interactive play and support developmental skills.”

Over on the other side of VEC territory in Sheffield, the local food pantry also received a $1,000 grant to support the purchase of a refrigeration unit and other equipment to store perishable food.

“Many thanks to VEC,” said John T. Gayton, secretary/treasurer of the Sheffield Food Pantry. “The funds will go a long way in helping our community members.”

Since it made its first donation in 2015, the VEC Community Fund has awarded over 300 separate grants of up to $1,000 each to non-profit organizations in the VEC region totaling over $200,000. 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.

Besides the Alburgh Family Clubhouse and the Sheffield Food Pantry, the fund recently awarded grants to the following organizations:

• Amy's Armoire, to support temporary rental space for donated furniture for foster and adoptive children
• Champlain Islands Developing Essential Services (CIDER) for meals for those in need.
• Hard'Ack to support the recreational facility that serves the St. Albans area
• Hinesburg Community School toward the purchase of a 3D printer
• Johnson Haunted Forest to support their Halloween event
• The Kelly Brush Foundation for adaptive mountain bike efforts for people with disabilities
• NEK Human Services to support an indoor garden program for people with developmental challenges
• The Northeast Organic Farming Association to allow free or lower-cost admission for their annual conference
• RAMP-Town of Westmore to match a Vtrans grant to make Route 5A through Westmore safer
• Sheldon United Methodist Church Food Pantry to purchase food staples to prepare “holiday boxes” for food shelf clients
• Sk8Park and Bike Track to support the installation of a new skate park feature in the Johnson skate park
• The Vermont Farm Show to support their new Agricultural Exhibition this spring

About Vermont Electric Cooperative

Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC), established in 1938, is a non-profit, member-owned electric distribution utility that provides safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric service to approximately 33,000 members in 75 communities in northern Vermont. Operating with an annualized 100 percent carbon-free power supply, VEC is nationally recognized for innovative and advanced use of technology. VEC is the largest locally-owned electric distribution utility in Vermont. www.vermontelectric.coop