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Editor of the Reformer:
The Southeastern Vermont Irene Long Term Recovery Committee, one of nine disaster recovery committees around the state, serves to identify and help those with unmet needs in the wake of last year’s devastating Tropical Storm Irene. We assist anyone in Windham County who needs help, including those who did not register with FEMA.
In the weeks and months following the storm, 1,500 Windham County households were listed by FEMA as damaged. One year later, the SEVT LTRC is still working on over 200 open cases. These households are dealing with newly discovered problems like mold, compromised foundations, and contaminated wells; several are in the process of rebuilding. Some folks still have not returned to their homes, others are waiting for FEMA buyout agreements, and many are experiencing emotional symptoms of trauma and stress.
We would like to acknowledge the incredible generosity of those who have donated money, volunteer hours, tools and materials, and knowledge and skills to help with our efforts. To date, over $282,000 has been donated to the Southeastern Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund and over $103,000 has been distributed to assist individuals. Hundreds of volunteers from within Vermont and out-of-state have pitched in and provided thousands of hours of assistance to those affected.
We’d also like to thank our community neighbors, such as Gail Nunziata, managing
The recovery from Tropical Storm Irene continues, and there are several ways people can help. If you or someone you know have been affected by Irene, contact Disaster Recovery Service at 800-464-9951 or mwolf@sevca.org. For assistance with post-storm emotional challenges, contact Starting over Strong at 855-767-8800 or startingoverstrongvermont.org. To volunteer or to donate money, tools, or building materials, contact 802-257-4011 or unitedwaywindham.org.
Thank you, again, to everyone who has already contributed to help Windham County recover from the storm. Together, we make Vermont strong.
Rev. Sandy Daly,
chair, SEVT LTRC Advisory Board,
Sept. 4
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Editor of the Reformer:
On July 29 over 75 people gathered at World Learning to celebrate "milestones & memories" associated with efforts in the last 25 years to battle the AIDS epidemic in our community. We honored those who have been active in the work of the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont over those years, including many who helped to found the organization. Linda and Graham Gordon, Paul and Dorothy Grout, Joan Hamilton and Sam Sanders were just a few of the many people on hand at the celebration who stepped up in the mid to late 1980s to help people living with HIV/AIDS and who set the tone for the direct services and HIV prevention programs that have evolved since.
Volunteers, present and former staffers and board members, program participants and donors filled the room with their own memories of activities, events and, of course, all the people who helped create a strong and extraordinarily effective response to AIDS in our rural community. Many thanks to World Learning, The Richards Group, Berkley Veller Greenwood Realtors, Polar Beverage, and the Dunham-Mason and Crosby-Gannett Funds of the Vermont Community Foundation for their support of this fun and commemorative event!
The AIDS Project of Southern Vermont also would like to acknowledge the efforts of the proprietors of Frog Meadow Farm who organized and hosted the 5th Annual Garden Party and BBQ fundraiser recently. More than 115 men enjoyed wonderful food, lawn games, door prizes, and a raffle in what has evolved into ‘the gay event of the summer’ in these parts. Event sponsors included Crossroads, Gateway Travel, Gay Outdoors, John Bouffard Associates, Katywil Farm Ecovillage, MJW Adventures, Mountainside Campground, SOHOrganizers, Stephen Lloyd-Architect, West River Family Dental.
The AIDS Project also is grateful to Michael and Phyllis Gigante, who organized and hosted a wine tasting enjoyed by over 70people who together contributed a significant amount of money to support the Men’s Program.
The direct services and HIV prevention efforts of the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont would not be possible without this wonderful outpouring of support at just the right time.
For more information on how to get involved with the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, please check out our website at http://www.aidsprojectsouthernvermont.org/ or call 802-254-4444.
Susan Bell,
executive director,
AIDS Project of Southern Vermont,
Aug. 27
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Editor of the Reformer:
I want to first thank and apologize to our walk in donors for their long wait at our Aug. 30 Blood Drive in Bellows Falls. We had 71 Donors with appointments. This was a first. You are very important to us . I am looking into correcting this for our November Blood Drive.
I want to thank everyone of our blood donors who attended and gave blood. We had a total of 87 donate.
Thank you to our volunteers who make our drives run so smooth, the fire department for putting up our banner in the square, the Masonic Temple for the use of their building and the Polish American Club #1 for sponsoring this drive. With out all of you our drives would not be successful.
Multi Gallon Donors were Christopher Lundberg (4); Deborah Halberg, Beverly Dunbar and Paul Sackevich (2); and Eleanor Landry (1). Laura Cassidy was a first-time donor.
Marlene O’Connor,
blood drive chairman,
Ginny Ferguson,
blood drive co-chair,
Sept. 4
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Editor of the Reformer:
Carl M. Dessaint VFW Ladies Auxiliary #1034 of Brattleboro held its annual "Bingo For Cancer" recently. More than $1,600 was raised for our Cancer Aid & Research Fund.
I would like to thank Commander Richard Campbell, his officers and members for allowing us to hold this Bingo in their wonderful hall and donating the coffee for our attendees. A very special thanks goes to Rita Chabre` who handled the pre-buy packages and Dixie Goodwin for decorating the foyer.
Thank you to President Rosemary Haselton and Darlene Nebelski for being a wonderful welcoming committee to everyone who attended. For working the line, thank you to Rita Chabre, Joanne LaFlam, and Eric Buckley.
A special thank you to Post members Ed Curtiss, Scott Lofting, and Dennis Levasseur and Auxiliary members Cindy Reffi Balduf and Patricia Gilbert for providing invaluable help in calling Bingo and sales of sheets and pins.
The door prizes for the day were donated by Dixie Goodwin, Joanne Laflam, and the Ladies Auxiliary.
Thelma Underwood and her kitchen volunteers composed of Kathy Amidon, Karen Campbell, Peg Curtiss, Erna Detch,Lois Golec, Helen Jalbert, Joanne LaFlam, and Alice Teftt, provided us with very appetizing refreshments. Thank you, ladies.
The following people were unable to be with us that day but supported the cause by sponsoring someone which we greatly appreciate: Shawn Golec, Della Houle, Jill Howe, Sam Haskins, and Gail Stankiewicz.
To everyone that played that day, thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting our fund raising effort for our Cancer Aid & Research fund. Without you and all of the workers we wouldn’t have had the good results that we did.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our next fund raiser which will be the 8th Annual Dinner, Auction, & Dance to benefit Cancer Aid & Research on Saturday October 20th.
Nancy W. Buckley-Howard,
chairwoman, Cancer Aid &
Research Committee,
VFW Ladies Auxiliary #1034, Sept. 5
