Grantees

To expland current school readiness by providing every Westminster preschooler with a starter library of exceptional children's books.

We currently have 4 classrooms serving 40 children ages 2 months to 5 years old. We believe that the environment has the power to shape how and what children can learn, and that in the right environment every child can thrive. Having a high-quality sensory table in each classroom has been cost prohibitive. Our ability to support our students through sensory play would be helped by access to several high-quality sensory bins. This grant could help us support students-particularly our ELL students, and those who get services for speech- with materials for sound panels to reduce the echo in our preschool room. We would also invest in rubberized mats giving children access to climbers in the classroom, reducing stress for teachers

Purchase camping equipment for students in WOOP and to provide wildness first aid training to the WOOP advisor. It will also cover costs associated with hiring consultants to introduce specialized skills to WOOP participants.

We are respectfully requesting funding to purchase full-body rain suits for children in the Y’s Early Childhood Program. Outdoor play is central to our philosophy and curriculum—but without proper waterproof gear, it becomes harder for children to fully participate, especially during Vermont’s muddy spring and wet fall. While some families can provide high-quality outerwear, many send children in warm but not waterproof gear. Outfitting children with seasonal gear is expensive, and not all families can provide waterproof clothing—limiting some children’s ability to participate fully in outdoor play. This funding will allow us to purchase 65 rain suits to build a shared inventory across classrooms. These suits will improve our ability to get children outside more often and for longer stretches, in all seasons. They will also ease a common challenge for educators: navigating concerns from families uncomfortable with children getting wet or messy—concerns that can limit outdoor time, which is essential for hands-on learning, exploration, and development. With suits on hand, we can increase time outdoors and in the community, and ensure more children have equitable opportunities to explore, move, and learn. This investment supports our goal of helping all children build resilience, curiosity, and confidence—regardless of the weather.

The Y Early Childhood Program contributes to the overall well-being and future success of our children and, simply put, enhances their quality of life for years to come. We provide high-quality early care and education for 175 infants and children ages 6 weeks-5 years. Our sites are accredited by NAEYC and rated 5 STARS by the State of Vermont. The Y nurtures the family as a whole, while providing extensive supports to at-risk and low-income children to equalize their development with that of their peers. The purchase of iPads for use in the classrooms will benefit our program by offering opportunity for more frequent contact with parents via email/newsletters; curriculum planning; and portfolio documentation.

Youth weekly program for creative arts and safe substance free environment.

NECCA offers classes and camps for youth starting at age 1 1/2 to 17 at our Trapezium and in the community with host organizations. We utilize crash mats - 4' x 8' x 8" thick - for safety but they wear out over time and must be replaced to maintain safe programming. We are in need of replacing them now and they are approximately $899 each plus shipping estimated at $435.