Vermont Business Magazine An initiative to expand community playgroups for young children and another to support the growth of local news coverage – both Hinesburg-based initiatives – received support recently from the Vermont Electric Cooperative’s Community Fund. The Hinesburg Community Resource Center’s Friends of Families coordinates local playgroups and received $750 to continue the delivery of these services.
“Playgroups foster a ‘sense of place’ or affiliation in a community, especially for families who are new to town or new to parenting,” said Rachel Kring, the executive director of the Hinesburg Community Resource Center. “We hear many stories from families who met lifelong friends in playgroups or were able to engage in other community activities and programs because of connections made at a playgroup,” she said. “Our playgroups provide a nurturing environment to support children’s social and emotional wellbeing, as well as early learning,” Kring said.
Every year the Hinesburg Community Resource Center – the recipient of a recent VEC Community Fund grant – hosts a volunteer-cooked Welcome Baby Brunch for families with babies born in the past year so the families can socialize and meet other families with babies. Here, a mother and her daughter enjoy a recent brunch. Photo courtesy Hinesburg Community Resource Center.
The other Hinesburg-based grant recipient, the Community News Service, will receive $500 to support a collaboration with the Hinesburg Record to boost community news coverage. Specifically, the effort will include hiring a professional editor to support students to provide substantive multi-media content for the local news outlet.
“The overall goal is to ensure the paper remains a vital part of the community, providing information and engaging readers,” said Richard Watts, director of the Center for Research on Vermont, which coordinates the Community New Service.
The VEC Community Fund is a voluntary program supported by VEC members who choose round up their electric bills, donate their patronage capital dollars, or make one-time donations to the fund. The fund then makes grants to local organizations that support economic security, energy education, emergency and disaster relief, and community development.
About Vermont Electric Cooperative
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC), established in 1938, is a non-profit, member-owned electric distribution utility that provides safe, affordable, and reliable electric service to approximately 32,000 members in 75 communities in northern Vermont. Nationally recognized for innovative and advanced use of technology, VEC is the largest locally-owned electric distribution utility in Vermont.
Source: 2.20.2020 Johnson, VT – VEC www.vermontelectric.coop