Grantees

To purchase needed equipment for program operation and management.

Lamoille Restorative Center is a 43 year old nonprofit that touches the lives of about 1,000 people each year; many of these individuals are children and youth. LRC works in three primary arenas: supporting school success, empowering employment-related goals, and intervening when youth and adults are involved in the legal system. LRC has significant needs related to technology to better meet the needs of lower income program participants who struggle with transportation and other barriers to in-person participation. COVID highlighted the disparities Lamoille's more remote and isolated residents experience regarding access to needed services. LRC can effectively complement in-person services with technology to support participants' goals.

Purchase gross motor and sensory/fine motor equipment for the children's center.

Nature Works provides outdoor experiential programming to at-risk youth from disadvantaged families, in a farm and forest setting. Youth are drawn from RCPCC’s Learning Together alternative high school and from a local high school grades 6-9 (where they are recruited in partnership with school counselors). Project goals combine credit toward diploma, work experience for employment and mitigation of impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Participants get hands-on experience with horses and other livestock, forest ecology education, and nature-based therapeutic activities.Typically half a day’s activity will take place in the woods, away from infrastructure, so shelter and water are critical. We will purchase picnic tables, hydration stations, collapsible pavilion tents and tarps for our program.

As one of the few remaining places with free access to information and resources, rural libraries have evolved beyond lending books to becoming true community centers. With close proximity to our town’s recreation fields, tennis courts and nature trail, the Moretown library will extend our commitment to the community outside of our walls by providing a collection of outdoor games, sports equipment and nature exploration kits available for anyone to borrow. This will especially help marginalized families spend time in a community space creating social connections with friends and neighbors. Being outside together also enhances the overall well being of children and caregivers, promoting healthy choices and positive family bonding.

A portable scanner will be purchased to manage library circulation on the Bookmobile truck. The circulation laptop would then have two purposes for the growing demands of the Bookmobile program.

Purchase three light tables for the Center.

Lil' Sunshine(LSCC) is a start up child care center. A Grant from First Children's Finance provided funding for most of our basic operational equipment. Health and Safety is a top priority at LSCC, and our equipment requests will enhance this goal. A high quality crib will provide safe and comfortable sleep for an additional child. The gates will keep children within caregivers sight at all times. The outdoor play pen and stroller will allow infants to safely spend time outside in the fresh air. The toddler furniture for the dramatic play area will provide a safe place to store props and easy access will promote independence. Caregivers will model and encourage proper clean-up. All children at LSCC will benefit from this Grant.