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Our biggest news . . .
Groundworks has announced our plans to build this beautiful and much needed shelter in downtown Brattleboro.
This new building at 56 South Main Street will:
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Create a permanent home for the SEASONAL OVERFLOW SHELTER (SOS), which has been without a home of its own for the last 4 winters.
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Create an adequate space for our community’s Daytime Shelter: Groundworks Drop-In Center.
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Provide adequate space for Case Management services; our Healthworks collaborations with the Brattleboro Retreat, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and HCRS; our Representative Payee service; and other critical supportive services.
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Provide confidential meeting spaces for better connection with and quality of services for our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Visit our website for more information and updates on our progress.
With enormous thanks to all who've already made donations and multi-year pledges to support this project, we encourage everyone in this community to consider making a contribution here to help us open the doors in the fall of 2020!
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This building will convert from Day Shelter space—allowing up to 60 people to comfortably sit inside each day, year-round—to our 34-bed Seasonal Overflow Shelter each night from November - April. Although current funding allows us to operate our low-barrier shelter only in the coldest months, this space allows us the ability to someday offer nightly shelter year-round as long as it is needed.
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(above: The Community Room at Great River Terrace doubles as a Portrait Gallery, where tenants have displayed the portraits of themselves created by local visiting artists)
A note from Groundworks' Great River Terrace Case Manager, Alexis Husson:
It's been a fun and exciting time over here at GRT the past few weeks. We've had several tenants successfully transition out of their GRT units into other housing options—some have moved to a bigger apartment in the community to accommodate their growing families, others have left the area. This is a great example of GRT being used to regain stability and achieve long-term housing goals.
I wanted to share one of my favorite moments at GRT this year:
We had a new tenant move in last week and a current tenant was acting as a "welcoming committee." In a sweet and neighborly act he said,
"Hey, do you like mozzarella sticks? Want to come over?"
"GRT" is a permanent supportive housing community on Putney Road in Brattleboro. Windham & Windsor Housing Trust purchased the old Lamplighter Inn and remodeled it into 22 units of permanent supportive housing for our neighbors who've been without housing the longest. Last year, the first residents moved into these beautiful units and many finally found a place to call home.
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We need volunteer Meal Teams for fast-approaching dates in December. Can you help?
We have many dinners throughout the season that are not yet covered—including dates before and after Christmas Day—and many openings in February through early-May.
Meal Teams prepare, serve, and enjoy a fresh hot meal with our community members staying at the SOS. Each team usually consists of 3-6 volunteers that get together and prepare or plan a potluck style meal off-site and bring it to the shelter.
If you are interested in this rewarding experience, please reach out to our SOS Coordinator Laura Chapman at lchapman@groundworksVT.org or 802-490-3935.
If you are part of an active Meal Team and you feel like you could put together a potluck style meal for an upcoming date, but cannot stay to serve, send Laura a message and we'll work out a plan! Thank you!
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The holidays are always a busy time at Foodworks, with donations coming in, our holiday food distributions, and an influx of generous people wanting to volunteer. With school vacations, increased utility costs, and holiday gifting, this is also a time when many people in our community are at their most food insecure.
We’re happy to support the community with the ingredients for holiday meals around this time in addition to our regular Foodworks hours.
In November, we gave over 250 turkeys and vouchers (gift cards to Hannaford) to our patrons. This week—today and tomorrow—we’ll be giving about the same number of hams and vouchers for the December holidays. Thank you to Pete’s Tire Barn for donating 75 hams and 75 bags of potatoes for this event!
Because we anticipate that many people will need food in the days leading up to and after Christmas, Foodworks will remain open on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and for our normal last Saturday of the month hours (9am-Noon) on Saturday the 28th, only closing on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
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Check out our slideshow video documenting the transformation of our food shelf program into FOODWORKS, which opened in its new location at 141 Canal Street in August 2019!
Photos by Liz Lavorgna, Core-Photo
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Help us stock the shelves of Foodworks this month by participating in the 2019 Project Feed the Thousands community wide food drive!
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Now through December 31, help Project Feed raise $80,000 and 250,000 meals to distribute to 9 area food shelves, including Foodworks. Bring food donations to any number of local collection points or drop something in the bin when you do your grocery shopping! Learn more here!
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Our greatest needs at Foodworks this month:
- Large Bottles/Cans/Containers of Juice
- Canned Proteins (chicken, tuna, pop-top ready-meals, etc.)
- Milk
- Cheese
- Eggs
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Each of our programs keeps a wish list of items we need or wish we could provide to our clients, guests, and patrons. Below is a list for each program and a contact person if you have items to donate:
GROUNDWORKS SHELTER
contact Randii: relie@GroundworksVT.org or call 802.257.0066 x1104:
- Bath Towels
- Twin-sized Sheet Sets
- Blankets
- Plates, Cups, Mugs, Silverware
- A Toaster
- A Coffee Maker
- Socks, Gloves, Hats
- Laundry Detergent
- Cleaning Products
- Shaving Cream & Razors
- Soap, Shampoo, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Tooth Brushes
- Feminine Hygiene Products
- Brand-New Pillows (still in the packaging)
- Over-the-counter Pain Relievers and Cold Medicines
THE SEASONAL OVERFLOW SHELTER
contact Laura: lchapman@GroundworksVT.org or text/call 802.490.3935:
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Gloves, all sizes and types ***
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Various cold medicines (nighttime and daytime) ***
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Personal care items - shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, shaving cream, etc.
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Antacids, Antihistamines, Sleep Aids (ex. Melatonin), Laxatives
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Excedrin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Benadryl, etc...
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Unscented Febreeze/Lysol Spray
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Ear Plugs
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Disposable cups, plates, tableware
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Hot Cocoa
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Ear thermometer with covers ***
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Table and/or floor Lamp
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Night lights
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Blankets (size twin or full—no comforters please)***
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Plastic reusable tumblers/cups
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Washcloths
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Silverware & a Silverware caddy
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A small table for outdoors
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Phone Chargers
*** indicates highest need
THE DAY SHELTER / GROUNDWORKS DROP-IN CENTER
contact the Resource Coordinator on duty at 802.257.5415 or drop off (Monday—Friday between 6am and 6pm, Saturday between 7am and Noon, or on Sunday between 8am and 4pm) at 60 South Main Street, Brattleboro:
- Adult Gloves, Hats, and Handwarmers
- Ground Coffee
- Milk & Sugar
- Adult Women's and Men's Boots
- Laundry Detergent
- Razors & Toiletries: Shampoos & Soaps
- Coffee Mugs
GREAT RIVER TERRACE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
contact Alexis: ahusson@GroundworksVT.org or call/text 802.490.6777:
- Blankets and comforters (full or queen size)
- Flannel sheets (full size)
- Small household furniture (coffee tables, end tables, etc.)
- Decorative household items
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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