Grantees

Finding Our Stride (FOS) is a FREE, donor-funded, high quality, enriched after-school running program in the states of VT and NH for elementary and middle school aged children. Since 2011, FOS has boosted fitness, self-esteem, and resilience in more than 4,000 runners while connecting them to peers, mentors, and their communities. We are now in 20 VT schools, have created a social-emotional learning curriculum with the Positivity Project, and support children by providing them with impactful relationships with trusted mentors and increased awareness of their own character strengths. VT children can thrive when they know they are strong, competent, and supported.

The St. Albans Free Library is a beloved institution here in the heart of St. Albans City. I am requesting grant funding through the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation for a once monthly Friday evening event at the St. Albans Free Library for high school students. In an effort to provide teens an outlet for some good safe fun that’s also free, we’d love to offer our beautiful library space for a program called First Fridays. The goal of the program will be to offer a safe space where teens can come and be fed, socialize, participate in one of the evening’s events, or just hang out. We plan to have food, drink, movies, and games at each program, (we have a movie room) and one special performer/event that will differ from month to month.

The Fletcher Memorial Youth Library in Ludlow, VT. provides programing and services for children ages 0-18 and their caregivers. Due to restrictions caused by Covid-19, our library is not open to the public. In hopes of being able to offer a unique way to play and learn while visiting the library grounds, we are purchasing the materials to create an outdoor sensory path and additional tools to support outdoor programming.

Floating Classrooms provides standards-based STEM education to 3rd-6th grade students. Students come to CSC from nineteen schools throughout Chittenden County twice per year (fall and spring), with CSC education staff visiting each school up to three times throughout the winter months. Education is focused on lake stewardship and the impact of natural and man-made forces on the environment. The requested equipment will clearly illustrate concepts of topography, watersheds, runoff, erosion, and precipitation in grade-appropriate ways, allowing students to better understand the material. We hope to help students understand that they can already make choices to benefit the lake, and encourage interest in marine sciences.

Food for Thought began in 2008 with the goal of providing supplemental lunch and summer reading materials for children in Grand Isle County at risk for hunger. Our mission is simple. We provide fresh, nutritious (often local), food to the most vulnerable families in our communities when school lunch is unavailable. Families from Grand Isle County sign up through the Congregational Church of South Hero (CCSH). No financial disclosure is required. Once a week, a group of community volunteers puts together boxes which families retrieve either at the CCSH or at a collection site in Alburgh. This program has been run through donation for 15 years, and we plan to serve more families and to continue to source more food locally.

Support the expansion and development of an established food and food "system" program to include increased meal offerings, an educational component and community engagement and collaboration.

Expand their existing meals program to include take home food on weekend/holidays and exploe the possibility of serving supper.

Youth ages 6-18 from low income families will build self-esteem and increase social competencies by learning to make positive choices, learn about nutrition and increase physical activity during an eight week day camp.