The HUB makes it easier for residents to get the help they need during a personal or community crisis.
The HUB…
Financial insecurity is often a hidden problem in Vermont communities like ours. A veneer of community affluence disguises the harsh reality that many of our neighbors face, and pride can make it hard to ask for help. Right now, high costs for food, fuel, housing, and other subsistence needs force more people to live on the edge.
Plus, a lack of coordination among funders and service providers creates hurdles, inefficiency, and service gaps.
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 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.
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.
"Being a project in Woodstock Community Trust’s family is key to the success of the East End Park. It’s a great partnership!"
Joby Thompson, Friends of East End Park
“WARF's team could concentrate on raising money and distributing funds in just weeks thanks to Woodstock Community Trust.”
Liza Deignan, WARF
“Woodstock Community Trust's project sponsorship in our early stages was critical to launching our program.”
Seoka Salstrom, Equal Care Fund
“Woodstock Community Trust enabled The HUB leadership to focus on the essential challenges of our work – without being unduly burdened by administrative tasks.”
Denise Lyons, The HUB