The Solution
The HUB builds on the success of the Woodstock Area Relief Fund (WARF), a community project that addressed hardships brought on by Tropical Storm Irene and the COVID-19 pandemic. You might think about The HUB as WARF 2.0! Nearly 30 funders and service providers stepped up to design and build The HUB, a collaborative and efficient system to ensure community preparedness for future large-scale disasters and for the crises that affect residents daily. Trained community volunteer case advocates connect with families and individuals ensuring that appropriate and timely assistance is delivered respectfully and efficiently. The HUB connects people to both private and public sources of support.
Woodstock Community Trust and Ottauquechee Health Foundation are sponsoring organizations. Funding partners include Barnard Helping Hands, Faulkner Fund, King's Daughters, Pivotal Steps and Plymouth Memory Tree.
The Impact
The HUB began operations in December 2022, building on the results of WARF. In 2020 and 2021 our community raised and distributed nearly one million dollars of assistance to residents of Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading and Woodstock. Last winter, The HUB ran a pilot project to provide fuel assistance. Working with funding partners, we distributed $103,00 to 100 people.
Project Plans and Support
Fundraising efforts to secure funds through 2026 are underway. Three foundations have already provided operational funds: Cotyledon Fund, Green Mountain Foundation, and Vermont Community Foundation. Other private foundations and donors have contributed to The HUB Fund to help pay fuel, housing, child care, or car repair bills for individuals and families in need when other local organizations can't.
