Community Roundup: July 13, 2023

Staff Report

Here are some links to help with flood recovery

With so many communities battered by flooding, the Vermont Community Foundation has established the Vermont Flood Response & Recovery Fund to coordinate and distribute support to where it is most needed in the days, weeks and months to come. To help, access the fund on this website.

In addition to the fund at the Community Foundation, here are some additional early giving recommendations.

The American Red Cross of Northern New England is a trusted partner in the early stages of a disaster.

Community action agencies throughout the state are all addressing issues such as temporary housing, food, clothing, case management to help people access state or federal assistance, clean up and much more:

Vermont Fresh Network’s 25th annual dinner at Shelburne Farms

The Vermont Fresh Network’s 25th annual Forum Dinner is Sunday, Aug. 6, at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms.

The dinner celebrates local food on the shores of Lake Champlain with Vermont Fresh Network’s chefs, farmers and specialty food and beverage makers.

The evening begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails in the courtyard filled with local food producers offering food and beverage samples and tastings with live music provided by jazz band The Cordials.

At 6 p.m. the doors to the Coach Barn open for diners to enjoy a menu of small dishes prepared by Vermont Fresh Network chefs from across the state, including Cara Tobin of Honey Road in Burlington, chef Christian Kruse of Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling in Essex, chef Justin Wright of The Tillerman in Bristol and chef Sean Blomgren of  the Lodge at Spruce Peak in Stowe.

The evening will end with an ice cream social on the lawn overlooking the sunset on Lake Champlain with entertainment by Vermont fire performance troupe Cirque de Fuego.

All proceeds from this event provide funding for Vermont Fresh Networks’ work to have a greater impact on the health of the rural economy and the sustainability of Vermont’s restaurants.

Tickets are $150. For tickets and more information, visit Vermont Fresh Network. Diners are asked to pre-purchase their tickets; there are no ticket sales at the door.

Funds available for Vermont organic dairy farmers

Vermont organic dairy farmers are encouraged by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to apply for relief funding.

This grant funding is designed to mitigate the extreme market challenges in 2022, including high feed and input costs for which the state budget allocates $6.9 million.

Eligible dairy farmers who apply will receive a single payment of $5 per hundredweight of organic milk produced in 2022.

All documents must be correct and complete before payment can be issued. This includes receipt of your 2022 production information, a W-9, and a submitted application.

The application period for this relief program closes at noon, Friday, Oct. 20.

More program information can be found on the website.