The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) hosted its Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, Oct 26, at the First Congregational Church of Burlington. The event is an opportunity to honor the extraordinary contributions by volunteers, community partners and local businesses that support COTS work to end homelessness. The recipients were chosen for their outstanding service and commitment to assist and advocate for our neighbors struggling with homelessness or those who are marginally housed.
COTS Executive Director Rita Markley gave the keynote address, while Mayor Miro Weinberger gave a welcome to the 100+ attendees at the event.
The honorees for 2018 were:
· Community Award: Love & Blessings
Dee Physical Therapy’s Jason Fitzgerald of Essex, who champions the annual community-wide diaper drive for COTS now under way in its 11th year, presented the Community Award, on behalf of COTS, to another outstanding group, Love & Blessings, which is spearheaded by Tracie and Vince Carlos of Essex Junction. Love & Blessings have provided lunch for about 50 people at the Daystation every other Monday for the past several years.
The Carlos also spent Christmas Day with guests at COTS, as well as their 30th wedding anniversary earlier this year. Throughout the year, Love & Blessings also have routinely and generously donated essential items from the COTS Wish List to Daystation guests, including coats, boots, blankets and clothes. They have celebrated guests’ birthdays during their lunch visits. And, they have given COTS vouchers for meals at the New Moon restaurants for guests who are not able to make it to the Daystation for lunch.
“The folks at Love & Blessings give because they truly care, and their compassion runs deep,” said Tim Coleman, longtime COTS Daystation Coordinator. “They have created a community of non-judgment and acceptance by reaching out with a home-cooked meal and others supports, and they have built relationships with folks by learning their names and their stories.”
· Business Hero: Sherpa Foods
Sherpa Foods is a Burlington-based family food supply business that produces and supplies authentic traditional Nepalese food to various co-ops, health food stores, supermarkets, and Amazon.com. Nurbu Sherpa of South Burlington founded the business in 2014. Sherpa Food’s mission is to bring authentic Nepalese delicacy to their customers, using the natural and fresh ingredients.
They also have a clear commitment to giving back: In addition to supporting COTS, Sherpa Foods organized the Women Empowerment Project, helping women in a rural Nepalese village become independent; assisted communities affected by the 2015 earthquake in Nepal; as well as supported new Americans, sustainable food efforts, and the Dream project – all in Vermont.
In support of COTS, Sherpa Foods has donated a portion of the proceeds from the weekly stand at the Burlington Farmers Market. During the winter, they provided monthly lunches for the Daystation. The Sherpa family also has shared their important days with COTS: They have visited on their son’s birthday for the past two years and spent Sonam Losar, the Nepalese New Year, with COTS guests. On these occasions, the Sherpa family also donated items from the COTS Wish List, shared cake with us and made lunches for the guests at the Daystation in celebration of these special days.
· Wilma Rayta Volunteer of the Year Award: Evan Stainman
Evan Stainman, and his beloved therapy dog, “Hank the Tank,” have worked hand – and paw – to help to further COTS’ goal of creating “community” among the veteran residents at Canal Street Veterans Housing. On Thursday mornings, the residents of Canal Street Veterans Housing head to the program’s community room with baggies of sliced cucumbers. Hank – who LOVES cucumbers – will be there, waiting with Evan. For more than two years, Evan and Hank have hosted a coffee hour for veterans at Canal Street. Veterans nosh on bagels, feed cukes to Hank, and connect with one another over coffee and conversation.
That’s just one of the ways the Colchester resident supports COTS. You’ll find Evan and his family at the COTS’ night at the Lake Monsters. And, you’ll see Evan and his son again in August when they visit our offices to donate school supplies for our #172vt Back to School Backpack Drive. As the weather turns cold, Evan will return with donations of warm gloves and gifts to help families staying with us over the holidays.
Evan has worked with COTS to identify various needs within COTS and find a way to help the nonprofit meet those challenges, offering helpful feedback and guidance.
And, earlier this summer, when dropping off a donation of toiletries to COTS’ 95 North Avneue program building, a hinge on the front entry door broke. Evan immediately headed out to the parking lot to grab his tool box from the back of his truck and proceeded to repair the door in no time.
· Leahy Leadership Award: Rep Helen Head
Rep Helen Head of South Burlington was recognized for her outstanding efforts to alleviate homelessness in Vermont. Rep Head, who served as the Chair of the House Committee on General, Housing, and Military Affairs since 2007, retired from the Legislature this spring.
Rep Head was a tireless advocate for expanding affordable housing options statewide. She was a key part of Homeless Awareness Day at the Statehouse, and, more broadly, she has advocated for the kinds of changes that would prevent people from losing their homes in the first place: family leave, raising the minimum wage, paid sick days, and expanding the first state-funded rental subsidy. She has been a champion for working Vermonters and families with children.
Rep Head has consistently looked beyond quick emergency fixes to longer-term solutions for struggling Vermonters.
· Samara-Anderson Walk Award: Rock Point School
Rock Point School has supported COTS for many years. In 2005, the Burlington school created the Ooky Spooky 5K Run as a benefit for COTS held each year in October, complete with costumes and lots of fun. This past year, in addition to the Ooky Spooky, students did multiple community service projects throughout the year in support of COTS, including an MLK Jr. Service Day activity that involved creating kits for our guests based on our COTS Wish List. They have welcomed speakers from COTS to learn more about the issues of homelessness and the work COTS does to end homelessness. And, for the past four years, Rock Point has had a COTS Walk team – and a Challenge Team for the past two year. They also have participated in special COTS Walk preparation, like folding origami butterflies for the 2017 Walk.
· Youth Hero Award: Shelburne Community School
COTS will visit a school-wide assembly at Shelburne Community School on Nov. 28 to present the Youth Hero Award to students, faculty, and staff. Shelburne Community School has helped COTS in a multitude of ways from a variety of groups this past year. Team Wonder (coordinated by Natalie Lodge) organized a donation drive of items from COTS Wish List, which they delivered when they visited the COTS Waystation for a tour and to learn more about the issue of homelessness in our community. The Toasters – a Destination Imagination team – did a project around COTS, held a fundraiser and then purchased items from the COTS Wish List for families and individuals who are homeless. And the Girl Scout Troop, led by Naomi Williams with girls who are currently in 6th grade, invited a speaker to come talk to the troop about issues around housing and homelessness, and then participated in the COTS Walk in May.
At the Annual Meeting, COTS also recognized outgoing Board Member Laurie Gunn of Shelburne. Gunn, Vice President of Employee, Patient and Family Experience at the UVM Medical Center, served on the COTS Board from 2011 to 2018. She has also served on the COTS Human Resources Board Committee.
During her time on the COTS Board, Gunn helped COTS ensure the organization provided dignified services for guests while also addressing the impact of secondary trauma and compassion fatigue on the COTS direct service staff. Gunn helped COTS develop a supportive HR infrastructure, and she was a strong voice for helping guide COTS strategic and long-term planning. Laurie emphasized the value of partnership and pride in COTS’ work to end homelessness. Gunn also helped COTS transform the 95 North Avenue capital project from a vision into a reality.
Founded in 1982, COTS provides emergency shelter to homeless families and individuals, homelessness prevention, case-management and referral services to those who are homeless or marginally housed, and permanent housing to low-income families and individuals. Learn more at www.cotsonline.org.