Northeast Kingdom Neighbors Helping Neighbors
In the first year the group initiated a once a month food shelf that continues to be sustained through their advocacy and sweat equity.
The group advocated for recycling at their property. As a result, the property management company initiated a pilot project at three properties: 78 households. That effort resulted in keeping 2.8 tons of garbage out of the landfill in the first fourteen weeks of the project!
Volunteers also participate in green up efforts and community gardens.
Community Support
In 2013, Lyndon State College celebrated the season with a Holiday Spectacular. Admission was by donation of non-perishable food items and donations directly benefited the food shelf. We would like to thank RuralEdge, Lyndon State College, The Twilight Players, and the community members of the NEK for their kind donations. 225lbs of food was donated to help support and sustain their food shelf! This partnership has into 2014 and 2015 as well.
In 2015, with the help from C&C supermarket, Freihofer Bakery Outlet, Passumsptic Savings Bank and generous donations from community members, we were able to provide turkeys, rolls, fresh produce and other food items to families for Thanksgiving. Thank you so much for your donations, you really helped make Thanksgiving special.
Summer of 2012, volunteers assisted a community faith-based group in their effort to keep Saint Johnsbury’s South Congregational Church Friday Meal Site open. Their fund- raising helped to purchase paper products and other necessities that were not available.
Summer 2013 fundraiser event was Fun In The Sun, a block party that took place in June at Bandstand Park in Lyndonville.
​We went to the 2013 Annual NeighborWorks America Community Leadership Institute in Sacramento, California where we learned about building sustainable communities through leadership development. We were rewarded the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, and started a community garden at Mountain View.
Grants Awarded
In 2013, Neighbors Helping Neighbors was awarded a $2,000 grant from New England Grassroots Environment Fund to start a community garden at Mountain View. This garden will help sustain the food shelf and provide healthy meals! Thanks to Dan Haycook from RuralEdge for helping write the grant. We are pleased to have him as part of our team!
In 2015, Neighbors Helping Neighbors was awarded a $3,500 from the NVRH Community Health Fund to continue to sustain the Mountain View Food shelf so we can continue to provide healthy nutritional food items for those who benifit from our service! The grant will also help in expanding the services we offer to the NEK community as we continue to expand and grow.