Green Mountain United Way is pleased to announce that Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) has joined Green Mountain United Way’s Working Bridges™ program and will be bringing supports to its employees.

Working Bridges, a program of Green Mountain United Way, is designed to foster the shared understanding that barriers such as childcare, food insecurity and acute need for emergency financial assistance get in the way of continuous employment and can derail good employees. Working Bridges brings Resource Coordinator Michelle Clark on-site weekly at NVRH to provide assistance to employees in order to navigate local resources. As a trained K.E.E.P. Financial Coach, Clark is also available to coach employees who are navigating complicated financial situations. In addition to Resource Coordination, Working Bridges™ provides Income Advance Loans to employees, Mobile Volunteer Tax Preparation Program, and on-site classes based on employee needs.

“It is another resource that we can give our employees to help them smoothly navigate the rough patches in their lives. It also helps to build their capacity to self-manage in the future and that’s one of the things I really value about the Working Bridges program,” offered Shawn Tester, CEO of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury. “Additionally, it is a resource that shows employees that you value them as a part of our organization, and it makes them want to stay and contribute meaningfully to our business. We have already seen this program work here in the Northeast Kingdom and we are excited to bring this to the employees of NVRH,” continued Tester.

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital joins Central Vermont Medical Center, Weidmann Electrical Technology, Northern Counties Health Care, Northeast Kingdom Human Services, Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, and ABC-LOL Childcare as the 7^th Working Bridges program site served by Green Mountain United Way in their five-county region and the 5^th site in the Northeast Kingdom.

“This program brings support for employees who are integral to caring for our community in the Northeast Kingdom. We are honored to partner with NVRH to serve the needs of employees so they are able to better serve and care for individuals and families health care needs. This hospital is so well known throughout our community for the support and care they provide – we are fortunate to be able to ensure that their employees continue to be able to offer the high quality of care they are known for and are supported by our Resource Coordinator in their own lives,” said Tawnya Kristen, Executive Director of Green Mountain United Way.

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Green Mountain United Way would like to congratulate a new cohort of recently certified K.E.E.P. Financial Coaches. These individuals passed the Introduction to Financial Coaching Course with Green Mountain United Way at Capstone Community Action in December and are now working toward integrating financial coaching practices into the work they do at their nonprofit organizations.

K.E.E.P. Financial Coaching is a program of Green Mountain United Way where nonprofit, client-facing staff are training in the emerging practice of Financial Coaching. This work helps clients learn to set and achieve their financial goals. Through the program, both coaches and their nonprofit organizations receive ongoing support from United Way, peer-to-peer support from nearly 80 financial coaches throughout Vermont, and ongoing education opportunities provided by experienced community partners, in addition to the initial financial literacy and coaching training they took to become certified.

Congratulations to these new K.E.E.P. Financial Coaches and the agencies, organizations, and clients they serve:

• Michelle Clark                     Green Mountain United Way
• Nicole DiDomenico            Norwich University, Global Community Initiatives, Rotary
• Pattie Dupuis                       Downstreet Housing & Community Development
• Faith Foley                            Burlington Housing Authority
• Laura Furber                        Hunger Mountain Coop
• Morgan Gray                       Vermont State Housing Authority
• Lindsey  Hedges                  Steps to End Domestic Violence
• Sarah Kenney                       Umbrella
• Tamera Pariseau                 State of Vermont – DCF/Economic Services
• Telma Patterson                 Vermont State Housing Authority
• Liz Walsh                              The Drawing Board, EM Walsh Bookkeeping
• Mary Wilson                        Vermont State Housing Authority

 “We are really excited about the breadth of experience our financial coaches bring to this program and to one another. They work across the sectors serving Vermonters and bring an incredible amount of professional knowledge to one another through this program. The one thread that brings them together is that the Vermonters they serve struggle with financial insecurity. By empowering these professionals as financial coaches, those they serve will benefit from this shared knowledge and the resources they now have access to,” offered Tawnya Kristen, Executive Director of Green Mountain United Way

“Becoming a Financial Coach has given me the tools I need to help people see that big dreams start with a little savings,” offered Ramsey Papp, Family Development Specialist at Capstone Community Action and K.E.E.P. Financial Coach.

For more information about K.E.E.P. Financial Coaches, go to gmunitedway.org/our-work/income/keep or call Green Mountain United Way at 802-613-3989.

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Just one year ago in December, Green Mountain United Way, The Phoenix, Green Mountain CrossFit, and Shannon Brennan partnered to bring the mission of The Phoenix to Vermonters in Central Vermont. Just one year later this partnership has opened access to this free sober active community at five locations throughout Northern Vermont and we are working to support the opening of the first Northeast Kingdom site in winter 2020!

The Phoenix-Vermont seeks to bring a free sober active community to individuals who have suffered from a substance use disorder and to those who choose to live sober. Using a peer support model, they help members heal and rebuild their lives while also striving to eliminate the stigma around recovery.

Highlights for the first year include the success of many members who make it to class each week and bring friends and family to support and join them. In addition, Phoenix-Vermont member Megan C, an original Phoenix VT member who has been showing up since the very first day, is now a certified CrossFit Level 1 CrossFit coach1 Megan currently coaches Phoenix Central classes on alternating Saturdays at Green Mountain CrossFit. Amazing!

Congratulations to our partners and the incredible people in recovery who inspire us each and every week with your hard work, determination, and grit. Keep up the great work!

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Central Vermont and Northeast Kingdom Businesses Help Foster Kids through Green Mountain United Way Tatum’s Totes Holiday Drive

Montpelier, Vermont – January 10, 2020

This past December, employees at businesses and individual community members throughout Green Mountain United Way’s service region in Central Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom came together to support the foster children and foster families served Department for Children and Families in the by the Barre, Newport, and St. Johnsbury districts by donating gifts.

In November and December, gifts for over 225 children and families were collected from participating businesses, individuals, and community groups including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, the First Congregational Church of Berlin, Denis, Ricker, & Brown Insurance, Edward Jones offices, Williamstown Blue Devils girls basketball team, Noyle Johnson Insurance, Rise Vermont, Union Mutual Insurance of Vermont, the Vermont Land Trust and VSECU.

Each participant “sponsored” a foster child or foster family and purchased a gift or two, like a book or toy for the child. These gifts were collected and organized by the Green Mountain United Way staff and volunteers.

“Each year during the holiday drive we have a front-row seat to watch the generosity of our community unfold. We are so fortunate to be able to help ensure that our community supports the children in foster care who most need to know that the entire community loves them and wants the best for them. This is just one small way that Green Mountain United Way and Tatum’s Totes can do that,” said Tawnya Kristen, Green Mountain United Way’s Executive Director.

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Green Mountain United Way is pleased to announce that Julia K. Davis as joined the organization as Community Impact Program Manager. She will manage Green Mountain United Way’s programmatic work including Working Bridges, K.E.E.P. Financial Coaching, as well as Tatum’s Totes.

A graduate of Kent State, Julia has been living in Vermont for 5 years working first in farming before moving to the Human Services Sector in various roles at Onion River Crossroads in Montpelier. Her work there focused on case management and direct service for girls in residential treatment. Through that experience, Julia’s passion for serving her community has developed and she sees her new role at Green Mountain United Ways as a way to deepen that commitment to service.  

“We are thrilled that Julia has joined us. Her experience working with young women in the foster care system has already helped to inform the work we do at United Way with Tatum’s Totes, and in implementing the various elements of the Working Bridges Program,” said United Way’s Executive Director Tawnya Kristen. “Her perspective and enthusiasm for service work are what we need to help move our programs forward to serve more Vermonters in our region.”

“Working with the children of Vermont families who are struggling moved me to take a step further in my work and look at the broader stories behind the families being separated, including better understanding the supports that might be missing in our communities. Vermont is a beautiful but difficult state to live in. I’m excited to be part of United Way and particularly the Working Bridges Program. What this program offers is incredible – access to available resources, individualized support for low-income families, financial coaching tools; accessibility is a big piece of the puzzle. I’m excited to grow and continue serving the community with this organization,” offered Davis, who lives in Plainfield.

In addition to her work at Green Mountain United Way, Julia is the lead singer and guitarist for the band Yestrogen and is passionate about climate justice.

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In Vermont, transportation is a lifeline. A car is often the only option people have to get to the grocery store, to the doctor’s office, and to work. Buying a car can be a stressful and complex process filled with research, negotiations, and decisions. Adding to the complex process of buying a used car, English is Jean’s second language. Jean was thrilled to have found a late-model used car – his credit was good, he was able to get a loan, and the payments seemed affordable. So, Jean signed the papers, climbed in his car, and was on his way!

Until the engine blew up a few short months later.

Jean thought the dealership would fix his car. So he paid to have the car towed back to where he had bought it just a few months earlier. What Jean didn’t realize was that his car was sold “As-Is” and there was no warranty. The $2000+ repair would be Jean’s responsibility, and now his car was stuck at the dealership. Jean was devastated. Because of his shifts, public transportation was not an option. 

Without a car, Jean struggled to get to work on time, and sometimes it was hard to get to work at all.

Jean’s supervisor talked to him. As a good, reliable employee, his supervisor wanted Jean to be at work doing his job, but Jean needed to get there on time. If Jean continued to be late, he would get points against him which could result in him losing his job. But Jean was running out of option. 

Until Jean’s supervisor referred him to the Working Bridges Resource Coordinator, who is on-site at Jean’s workplace, to see if she could help him get to work on time and navigate his complicated car situation…

Jean met with the Working Bridges Resource Coordinator after his shift was over and they talked about his options. Jean had access to the Income Advance Loan program through Working Bridges. The loan could help him pay for part of the repair. But that loan alone was not enough. Jean figured that he could, “stop paying the car loan now that the car was not working – then he could put that amount into his savings each month to pay for the repair.”

Fortunately, the Resource Coordinator was there to help Jean understand his choices – and their potential outcomes. She explained that by signing that loan paperwork he had agreed to pay the full amount of the loan – whether the car was working, or not. If he didn’t continue his car loan payments, he risked losing the car! 

Jean and the Resource Coordinator worked together to coordinate temporary rides with co-workers so he could get to work on time and keep his job. 

Then they tackled his budget to figure out how he could save the money he needed to pay for his car repair. The Resource Coordinator is also a trained Financial Coach and helped Jean outline a savings plan and spending plan. She also discovered that Jean had a tax return coming back – that money could be put into his savings to put toward his car repair! 

Today, they are still working together to make sure Jean stays on track. With his hard work building savings, continued employment, and a few rides from his co-workers, Jean hopes to have his car repaired and ready to drive in the New Year! But until then, Jean continues to need your help. As a supporter of Green Mountain United Way, you’re making sure that Jean keeps his stable employment and does not fall into poverty because of something as simple as a loss in reliable transportation. 

Because sometimes a solution is as simple as having a reliable way to get to work on time.

Join us – together, we are the UNITED WAY. You are the neighbors caring for neighbors. You are the reason working Vermonters have somewhere to turn when they struggle – because UNITED, you are making a difference. We thank you and recognize that without you, this important support would not be available to people when they need it most! 
Help Jean with a #GivingTuesday gift to Green Mountain United Way!

Already given through your workplace campaign or directly to United Way? Thank you!

Ready to learn more? Read about our Working Bridges program, the United Way Volunteer Connection, or other great work happening in Central and Northeastern Vermont!

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The Barre Cub Scouts recently held an item drive for Tatum’s Totes to support backpacks for kids transitioning into emergency foster care. That drive turned into an incredible opportunity for the scouts to help put together backpacks for kids their ages, imagining what a child might help to comfort a child who is going to a new home.

In the end, they put together 75 backpacks filled with items for children, and built with a lot of love. They presented a backpack to United Way Board President Linda Winter at halftime on the football field at Spaulding on Friday, September 20th.

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This week our partners at The State of Vermont and Northfield Savings Bank kicked off campaign season with events for their employees.

The State of Vermont held their event at the State House and started with breakfast then speeches in the House Chambers from Campaign Chair Melissa Mazza-Paquette, Secretary of Administration Suzanne Young, Green Mountain United Way’s Carrie Stahler, and Governor Phil Scott. An award ceremony for State Employees followed.

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Northfield Savings Bank encouraged their team with a Superhero Theme led by their own HR Superheroes. The weeklong campaign culminated with a Superhero Celebratory Lunch for all who participated!

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Click below for September – October 2019 Resource of the Month

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