Yours in Volunteering,

Mary-Katherine

The University Mall has informed us that they need the storefront space back by the end of August (which is a good thing economically!), so we need to move the approximately 21 pallets of diapers stored there. If anyone has leads on empty (free) space in the Burlington area, please be in touch with Amanda as soon as possible (amandaherzberger@gmail.com).

Our next distribution is on Friday, August 6th from 9AM-12PM, and there is still a volunteer spot left if anyone can help out. It is really rewarding to actually see the diapers go out the door to the appreciative community partners. We’ll be doing some repackaging in between the agency pick-ups.

Next, we have a repackaging session set for Tuesday, August 17th, to load up the UHAUL for the trip to Norwich the following day. Of note, our state legislators have encouraged us to continue state-wide distribution to bolster our advocacy for funding and other legislative support.

If any members, family, or friends would like to do their own repackaging session, please get in touch with Amanda or Jessica Rossi. It’s a feel-good time!

Each month the JLCV newsletter will feature a different committee or chair position to assist members both new and old in understanding the League and all its moving parts. This month's spotlight is on the Community Projects Committee.

Who We Are 
The Community Projects Committee supports the Diaper Bank, Advocacy, and Done in a Day (DIAD). Previously, these were three separate committees within Community Projects but beginning this fall, everyone on the Community Projects Committee will contribute to any or all of the three areas as needed. Because the Diaper Bank is the most active project in our organization at the moment, there are two Diaper Bank Operations Leads, Amanda Herzberger and Jessica Rossi. Lindsay Cahill Lord continues her expertise as the Advocacy lead. These three amazing ladies, along with me, Agnes Kuo, Becky Monty, Cathy Foutz, and Krystal Granzow make up the Community Projects Committee. 

What We Do
Within Community Projects, key responsibilities for the Diaper Bank include planning and leading repackaging and distribution events, managing diaper donations - both in terms of space and diaper needs, purchasing diapers based on community need, communicating with the food banks, providing data for grant proposals, working on events such as the "1 million diapers distributed", and so much more. 

Last year Advocacy created a one page "splash piece"  which provided high-level details on what the JLCV does. Please see the latest version HERE. Their goals include finding ways to advocate for the establishment by the 2022 Vermont Legislature of a Diaper Need Working Group, consisting of various stakeholders and government agencies, to make recommendations to the Legislature to address diaper need in Vermont, including meeting with Vermont State Representatives and to advocate for the finances necessary to fund this state-wide. 

Additional volunteer opportunities include DIADs such as the Feeding Chittenden turkey drive in November, assisting with the Ronald McDonald House Room Redecorating, and more. Hopefully, restrictions will continue to ease and allow us to resume some of our annual events from years past. Keep an eye on the Facebook Page and JLCV events page for these opportunities.

How YOU Can Get Involved
Although this group takes the lead in organizing volunteering opportunities, we need the whole JLCV organization to volunteer for Diaper Bank and Advocacy events and DIADs to contribute to the success of the League. If you ever want to come in to help with diapers but the repackaging events do not align with your schedule or you want to try to bring in family or a group to volunteer, just contact Amanda or Jessica. They can try to organize a time that works to let you into the Diaper Bank and to provide information on what needs to be done. Also, if you hear of a volunteer opportunity within the community that you think would fit with JLCV values, please feel free to contact me with the information and we can decide how to try to get involved.

Why did you join the JLCV?
We had just moved to the area and I was interested in finding ways to help my new community as well as meet some new, amazing people. After attending the New Member Social at Waterworks and meeting some current members I knew this was a great fit and attended my first GMM in September 2019!

Tell us about the position(s) you hold in the League.
After my first year in the League, I volunteered to join Amanda and co-chair the Diaper Bank. In the midst of Covid, Amanda took me under her wing and has led the diaper bank to so much success including distributing our one millionth diaper. I have written grants to purchase more supplies and facilitated dozens of repackagings with other hard working members!

What's your favorite JLCV memory? 
Every diaper repackaging I’ve attended! We play music, chat, and work like crazy! When I get in the car afterwards, I always get this immense sense of exhaustion mixed with gratitude and accomplishment - it’s the best feeling ever and it’s why I keep coming back!

What have you learned from being in the League?
I have learned how many wonderful, incredible women we have in our community who will move mountains not only for each other, but also to better our community as a whole. I feel grateful to count myself among you all.

What are some other activities you do outside the League? 
When I’m not at the bank, I’m a teacher at a preschool in South Burlington, which keeps me plenty busy! On the weekends I enjoy skiing and hiking with my family and getting maple creemees down on the waterfront - yum!

Who doesn't love supporting local businesses?! 

Community Nights are a fun fundraising effort that the Junior League participates in a few times each league year to raise money through the support of a local eatery. In recent years, we've had success through partnerships with Panera Bread and Chipotle, to name a few. Last league year, the Fundraising & Finance Committee began brainstorming local eateries to partner with for these Community Nights as many members and Vermonters truly love supporting local. This gave us the opportunity to try out a new restaurant and form a new partnership and the results spoke for themselves! We would love to continue this effort this league year and broaden our relationships with local restaurants. 

• Do you have a relationship with a local restaurant that you believe would be a strong partner? 
• Do you know of any local restaurants that already hold community nights for other non-profit organizations that we could contact? 
• Do you have a restaurant that you would absolutely LOVE to eat at while supporting the Junior League? 

Our committee welcomes any and all suggestions and recommendations!