The Craftsbury Neighbor to Neighbor Mutual Aide form is in place to support residents in finding help and resources during challenging times and to enlist community volunteers. If you need assistance or can offer some, this form is for you.
Craftsbury Neighbor to Neighbor
The Craftsbury Neighbor to Neighbor Initiative (CN2N) was formed in early March of 2020 by a group of citizens concerned about the wellbeing of the town during the pandemic. In mid March CN2N was approved by the Select Board as an official town task force with the mission of aiding and supporting the community during times of distress.
CN2N’s current priorities include:
● Getting information out to all Craftsbury residents regarding COVID 19
● Supporting the vulnerable by checking-in and delivering food and supplies
● Providing information about available resources
● Identifying gaps in services and findings ways to address them
● Making food available to anyone who needs it
● Providing emotional support for all
CN2N includes town, school, church, health and fire department officials, farms, businesses, nonprofits and many others. Kris Coville and Susie Houston co-chair the group. They meet remotely the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM. All are welcome to get involved. Contact Susie Houston, Kris Coville, or Michelle Warren if you would like to be added to the CN2N meeting invite list.
CN2N supports an array of activities. These include:
● Organizing volunteers to provide support services. Visit the town website to learn more and sign up to volunteer.
● Providing free cloth masks for all Craftsbury residents
● Posting up to date information on Front Porch Forum, the Craftsbury Neighbor to Neighbor Facebook Page, and the Craftsbury COVID 19 Resource Page available via the town website.
● Supporting the free Monday Night Soup Suppers. The dinners started in the spring with volunteer labor and donated food. In September the program was supported by the state’s innovative Everyone Eats program. It covered the costs of restaurants to prepare the meals, using a large percentage of locally grown ingredients. The meals were distributed by volunteers and over 200 people are served each week. As of the first of the year, the Everyone Eats program ended and Craftsbury Neighbor to Neighbor volunteers plan to take up the cooking again as we wait to see if Vermont Everyone Eats will be funded for another round.
● Staffing/managing the Craftsbury-Albany weekly pop-up food pantry which began in collaboration with The Craftsbury/Albany Food for Neighbors group. The food distribution began in the spring with volunteer labor, donated food and cash donations from the Albany/Craftsbury Food Fund. Nearly 90 families are provided an array of veggies, dairy products, dry and canned goods and meat each Thursday from noon till 3:00 PM at the Church on the Common. In the fall the decision was made for both Craftsbury and Albany efforts to become affiliated with the Hardwick Area Food Pantry as satellite sites and ultimately a part of the Vermont Food Bank system. This partnership brings much needed resources including a paid manager, while allowing the Craftsbury pantry to retain its unique characteristics including providing as much locally produced food as possible. The pop-up pantry has been graciously hosted by the Church on the Common, but is in search of a permanent location. Please contact Kris Coville if you have a space to share for this important effort.
CN2N is truly a community effort. It’s driven by volunteers combined with generous donations from area businesses, non-profits and individuals, including but not limited to: both Craftsbury stores, the Rousell family Tailor Shop, Petes Greens, Thompson’s Farm Stand, Sterling College, the Church on the Common, the East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and the numerous Craftsbury/Albany Food Fund donors and other individual donors to N2N. Grants have been received from the New England GrassRoots Environmental Fund, the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the Church Mutual Cares Foundation, and the state of Vermont Everyone Eats Program.
