$200,000 Awarded to Vermont Non-Profits by Electric Co-op Fund

Along the shores of Lake Champlain, children attending the Alburgh Family Clubhouse play on a site that is getting a modest but meaningful upgrade. Vermont Business Magazine reported that the facility recently received a $1,000 grant from the Vermont Electric Co-op’s Community Fund to help finish off a new playground, complete with two new sandboxes.

That small allocation is part of a broader cycle of local giving across northern Vermont. The fund’s latest round of grants targets non-profit efforts ranging from early childhood education and local food security to recreational upgrades and community services.

Operating a facility that provides care and early education for 62 children—ranging from infants and toddlers to preschoolers and school-age kids—requires constant attention to infrastructure. The playground project aims to fill a direct need for the center.

“We really appreciate the support,” said Gina Lewis, president of the Alburgh Family Clubhouse. “Providing age-appropriate playground equipment will help encourage interactive play and support developmental skills.”

Across VEC territory in Sheffield, another $1,000 grant went to the local food pantry. Those funds are earmarked for purchasing a refrigeration unit and additional equipment required to store perishable food safely.

“Many thanks to VEC,” said John T. Gayton, secretary/treasurer of the Sheffield Food Pantry. “The funds will go a long way in helping our community members.”

Non-profit groups throughout the VEC territory have received upwards of 300 individual grants valued at up to $1,000 each, accumulating a total exceeding $200,000 since the initiative launched its first contributions in 2015. Roughly 2,500 co-op participants sustain the program by willingly opting to round up their monthly utility charges to the nearest dollar, contribute their member capital, or give single donations. These funds remain strictly separate from money collected by VEC through electricity sales.

Established in 1938, Vermont Electric Cooperative is a non-profit, member-owned electric distribution utility serving approximately 33,000 members in 75 communities in northern Vermont. Operating with an annualized 100 percent carbon-free power supply, VEC is the largest locally-owned electric distribution utility in Vermont.

Alongside the Alburgh and Sheffield awards, the recent funding round supports a wide mix of regional initiatives:

Amy’s Armoire, supporting temporary rental space for donated furniture for foster and adoptive children.
Champlain Islands Developing Essential Services (CIDER), providing meals for those in need.
Hard’Ack, supporting the recreational facility serving the St. Albans area.
Hinesburg Community School, toward the purchase of a 3D printer.
Johnson Haunted Forest, supporting their Halloween event.
The Kelly Brush Foundation, supporting adaptive mountain bike efforts for people with disabilities.
NEK Human Services, supporting an indoor garden program for people with developmental challenges.
The Northeast Organic Farming Association, allowing free or lower-cost admission to their annual conference.
RAMP-Town of Westmore, matching a Vtrans grant to make Route 5A through Westmore safer.
Sheldon United Methodist Church Food Pantry, purchasing food staples to prepare “holiday boxes” for food shelf clients.
Sk8Park and Bike Track, supporting the installation of a new skate park feature in the Johnson skate park.
The Vermont Farm Show, supporting their new Agricultural Exhibition this spring.